Music Industry Management and Promotion

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a 2:1 degree or equivalent professional experience or learning in a related field.

Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits in the light of the nature and scope of the programme.

A detailed admissions procedure will be forwarded on application.

Months of entry

September

Course content

If you have ambitions to make it big in the music business then this course will give you the knowledge and industry experience you need to manage your own career and commercialise your activities.

On this course you’ll study current practice in the music industry, both in the recording industry and in media and live events. You’ll look at different business models and explore the ways in which creative products are marketed and promoted.

You’ll also engage with the key issue being confronted by today’s music industry – the impact of new technology and the development of the digital marketplace – and explore the challenges and opportunities which have emerged. As you progress, you’ll have the chance to develop your own commercial, professional and industrial strategies.

Throughout the course you’ll get to engage with music industry practice at a professional level and in an industrial context, working on and contributing to commercial projects under the direction of experienced industry practitioners. By the time you graduate you’ll have gained lots of hands-on experience – previous students have overseen the generation, release and promotion of a compilation album, and the construction, management and promotion of live music events at Manchester’s Factory 251 venue.

Why study with us

• Practical sessions are delivered in our Media Factory, which houses fully equipped theatres, film and photography studios, sound recording studios and much more.
• This programme is taught by professional artists and theatre practitioners who are established leaders in their own field.
• You’ll gain real-world experience in the music business, working directly with leading organisations and industry experts while building up extensive networks of professional contacts.

What you'll do

• Incredible opportunities for real industry experience – previous students have overseen the promotion of national concert tours, book launches, films and celebrity appearances.
• Other students have worked with international artists and record labels, developed new music brands, organised festivals and other live music events, and much more.
• Opportunities to work alongside and be mentored by leading industry practitioners, attend talks and guest lectures, and work on collaborative projects with professional musicians.

Learning and assessment

You’ll attend practical classes at our Media Factory facility and attend lectures led by tutors with extensive experience in the music industry.

A key element of the course involves engaging in real-world, professional domain, industrial projects. You’ll be encouraged to develop your own projects which fit with your aspirations and career goals.

Examples of past student-led projects have included:

• Working with international artists and record labels
• Setting up collaborations between award winning international and British artists
• Development of business models for new and emerging markets
• Development of new music brands
• Project development for established music brands
• Development of innovative web-based music business applications
• Record label development
• Live music event and festival business development
• Music event management
• Niche market exploitation
• Involvement in the University’s Future Sound Music Conference, which brings together academia and industry professionals.

Examples of tutor-initiated projects have included:

• Organising live music events at Manchester’s Factory251 venue
• Presenting and pitching ideas to industry professionals
• Promotion of a book launch event for Unknown Pleasures - Inside Joy Division
• Promotion for the film launch of Nish Clish Banging - the MC Tunes Tapes, with a celebrity conducted interview/ Q & A session
• Promotion of a personal appearance / entertainment event featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Corky Lang
• A public domain project which saw students create and launch a physical and digital compilation album featuring 19 bands and artists from the North West, including both accomplished practitioners and new talent.

Pathway opportunities

• After completing 60 credits you can gain the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification.
• After completing 120 credits you can gain the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification.
• After completing 180 credits you can gain the full Master of Arts (MA) qualification.

These three awards are stand-alone qualifications, but they also form part of the Doctor of Arts programme. The MA Music Industry and Management qualification is integrated into the first year of the Doctoral programme, leading to a PhD qualification.

Industry links

The course is rich in industrial links, giving you many opportunities to work directly with professionals through private and group mentoring, real world industrial projects, and talks from visiting guest speakers.

Industrial mentors include: Peter Hook and Aaron Mellor.