Undergraduate Degree Program

Bachelor of Arts

Music Business Degree

Apply for January 9, 2023 semester start • Get a decision within 2 weeks

Sharpen your knowledge of the concepts, skills, and methodologies needed to succeed in today’s evolving music business. You will study how the music business currently operates and where the business is headed in the key areas of music publishing, licensing, law, management, touring, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Through hands-on instruction from Berklee College of Music’s award-winning music business faculty and industry professionals, this degree will prepare you for a variety of music business-focused careers, including artist manager, booking agent, music publisher, business manager, concert promoter, music supervisor, label operations manager, entrepreneur, and more.

Upon completion of the Music Business major, you will be able to:

Draw on a deep understanding of the music industry and its various revenue streams, including touring, publishing, and music streaming
Promote and effectively market either your own music or the music of other artists using contemporary tools and communication technologies
Understand how music business finance operates and how to use an entrepreneurial mindset to further your career and the career of those who you represent
Protect yourself, your art, and your business ventures by thorough knowledge of how copyright law and other legal aspects of the music industry work
Recognize legal issues related to copyright, licensing, fair use and various contract types
Explore various fields within the music business such as publicly, music supervision, touring, artist management, and more
Apply leadership models that result in fruitful relationships, ethical decision-making, and a robust music industry network that wants to work with you
Scale your music projects to international audiences by understanding how to network and run a business abroad
Synthesize research techniques that create informed music campaigns and drive results

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Curriculum

Updated September 8, 2021

(120 Credits)

Concentrate Courses (45 Credits)
Complete the following (30 credits):
OMBUS-110Music Business 101
OMBUS-125Music Marketing 101
OMBUS-240Music Business Trends and Strategies
OMBUS-250Touring 101
OMBUS-360Music Business Leadership and Ethics
OMBUS-381Music Business Law for Artists
OMBUS-391Creative Entrepreneurship
OMBUS-475Music Business Finance
OMBUS-496Music Licensing
OMBUS-498 Music Business Capstone
Complete five of the following (15 credits):
OMBUS-220Music Venue Management
OMBUS-235Artist Management
OMBUS-270Music Publishing 101
OMBUS-274Modern Music Marketing: Music Promotion, Fan Relationships, and Direct-to-Fan Strategies
OMBUS-320International Music Marketing: Developing Your Music Career Abroad
OMBUS-385Copyright Law
OMBUS-495Music Supervision 1
OMBUS-497Music Supervision 2

Elective Courses (33 Credits)
Complete any 11 courses, except Liberal Arts courses coded with OLART, OLSOC, or OLMSC, in a given student's area of interest and professional development. (33 credits)

Liberal Arts Courses (42 Credits) +
Complete one Composition/Writing (OLART) course from the following (3 credits):
OLART-111 Introduction to College Writing or OLART-201 Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians or OLART-215 Creative Writing: Poetry or OLART-216 Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
Complete one History (OLART) course from the following (3 credits):
OLART-170 Rock History or OLART-220 History of Film Music or OLART-231 Art History of the Western European Tradition or OLART-233 Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque or OLART-234 Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
Complete any four additional Arts/Humanities (OLART, OMPRD, OCDAN, OCTHR) courses from the following (12 credits):
OLART-100 Developing Your Artistry
OLART-111 Introduction to College Writing
OLART-160 Introduction to Digital Cinematography
OLART-170 Rock History
OLART-201 Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
OLART-205 Game Design Principles
OLART-215 Creative Writing: Poetry
OLART-216 Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
OLART-220 History of Film Music
OLART-231 Art History of the Western European Tradition
OLART-233 Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
OLART-234 Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
OLART-400 Career and Job Success in the Music Industry
OMPRD-250 Music Video Editing with Final Cut Pro
OCDAN-103 Introduction to Iconic Dance and Urban Movement
OCTHR-103 Script Analysis for Theater
Complete four Social Sciences (OLSOC) courses from the following (12 credits):
OLSOC-150 The Language of Film and TV
OLSOC-180 Project Management for Musicians
OLSOC-200 Business Communications
OLSOC-210 Music, Self, and Society
OLSOC-226 New Media Economics: Music, Mobile, Gaming, and Online Markets
OLSOC-307 Music Cognition
Complete four Math and Physical/Natural Sciences (OLMSC, OMPRD) courses from the following (12 credits):
OLMSC-101Music Production 101
OLMSC-130Applied Mathematics for Musicians
OLMSC-150Introduction to Computer Programming for Musicians
OLMSC-215Acoustics
OLMSC-260Sampling and Audio Production
OMPRD-210Audio Fundamentals for Recording

How should I set up my schedule, based on the above requirements?

Check out this handy planning guide to help you understand which courses you should take during which semester.

View Sample Schedule

Apply for January 9, 2023 semester start • Get a decision within 2 weeks

Fill out the online application (15 minutes)
Create a 500-750 word essay, or a 3-5 minute video essay
Attach your official transcripts
Ask for two letters of recommendation

Read full undergraduate admissions requirement details here.

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Online undergraduate degree tuition vs. campus tuition

Affordable Tuition

Online undergraduate degree tuition is $60,600 for 120 credits (includes associated fees). To get started, this degree program includes a non-refundable $75 application fee.

Read full tuition and associated program fee details for this, and all other undergraduate programs here.

Available Financial Aid

Ready to Return to Berklee or Transfer in Credits from Another Institution to Complete Your Degree?

Students transferring in from an accredited institution can carry over up to 60 credits, and students with previous Berklee experience may be able to transfer even more.

Learn about our different transfer options: