Music Business Degree
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.
Credit Transfer / Degree Completion
Berklee Online will accept up to 60 academic credits earned from an accredited institution, or earned from our certificate programs or individual courses.More about degree completion
Curriculum
(120 Credits)
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Required Online Courses (30 Credits)
Online courses are 12 weeks in length. They are taught by our world renowned faculty in intimately-sized classes of 20 students or fewer.
- OMBUS-110Music Business 101
- OMBUS-125Music Marketing 101
- OMBUS-240Music Business Trends and Strategies
- OMBUS-260Concert Touring
- OMBUS-360Music Business Leadership and Ethics
- OMBUS-380Legal Aspects of the Music Industry
- OENTR-391Creative Entrepreneurship
- OMBUS-475Music Business Finance
- OMBUS-496Music Licensing
- OMBUS-498 Music Business Capstone
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Specified Elective Courses (15 Credits)
Complete five Music Business courses from the following:
- OMBUS-235Artist Management
- OMBUS-385Copyright Law
- OMBUS-270Music Publishing 101
- OMBUS-495Music Supervision
- OMBUS-274Online Music Marketing: Campaign Strategies, Social Media, and Digital Distribution
- OMBUS-320International Music Marketing: Developing Your Music Career Abroad
- OMBUS-220Music Venue Management
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Specialized Courses in Your Interest (18 Credits)
Complete any six courses, except Liberal Arts courses coded with OLART, OLSOC, or OLMSC, in a given student's area of interest and professional development (e.g., music business, songwriting, arranging, orchestration, etc.).
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Five Core Music Studies Based on Placement (15 Credits)
Based on placement, these five choices must include at least one theory course, one harmony course, one ear training course, and the keyboard course. Proper sequencing is indicated by the order below.
- Complete one harmony course (OHARM) from the following:
- OHARM-110Getting Inside Harmony 1
- OHARM-211Getting Inside Harmony 2
- OHARM-100Music Foundations
- OHARM-101Music Theory 101
- OHARM-201Music Theory 201: Harmony and Function
- OHARM-301Music Theory 301: Advanced Melody, Harmony, Rhythm
- OHARM-412Reharmonization Techniques
- OCOMP-110Music Theory and Composition 1
- OCOMP-111Music Theory and Composition 2
- OCOMP-210Music Theory and Composition 3
- OCOMP-211Music Theory and Composition 4
- Choose one ear-training course (OEART) from the following:
- OEART-115Basic Ear Training 1
- OEART-120Ear Training 2
- OEART-320Harmonic Ear Training: Recognizing Chord Progressions
- OEART-215Ear Training for Live Performance
- Choose one keyboard course (OPIAN) from the following:
- OPIAN-100Berklee Keyboard Method
- OPIAN-220Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques
- OPIAN-315Jazz Piano
- OPIAN-230Pop/Rock Keyboard
- Choose any two additional from the above (OHARM, OEART, or OPIAN), or the following:
- OCWPR-130Arranging 1: Rhythm Section
- OCWPR-332Arranging: Advanced Horn Writing
- OCWPR-250Arranging: Contemporary Styles
- OCWPR-231Arranging: Small Ensemble and Horns
- OCWPR-333Arranging: Woodwinds and Strings
- OCWPR-334Contemporary Vocal Arranging
- OCWPR-335Jazz Arranging
- OCOMP-250Counterpoint
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General Education Courses (42 Credits)
- Complete the following:
- OLART-100Developing Your Artistry
- Complete one composition/writing course from the following:
- OLART-216Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
- OLART-201Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
- OLART-215Creative Writing: Poetry
- Complete one history course from the following:
- OLART-231Art History
- OLART-233Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
- OLART-234Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
- OLART-170Rock History
- OLART-220History of Film Music
- Complete three arts/humanities courses (OLART) from the following:
- OLART-3103D Design with Blender
- OLART-231Art History
- OLART-216Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
- OLART-205Game Design Principles
- OLART-201Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
- OLART-215Creative Writing: Poetry
- OLART-160Introduction to Digital Cinematography
- OLART-233Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
- OLART-234Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
- OMPRD-250Music Video Editing with Final Cut Pro
- OLART-170Rock History
- OLART-400Career and Job Success in the Music Industry
- OLART-220History of Film Music
- Complete four social science courses (OLSOC) from the following:
- OLSOC-200Business Communications
- OLSOC-307Music Cognition
- OLSOC-180Project Management for Musicians
- OLSOC-150The Language of Film and TV
- OLSOC-210Music, Self, and Society
- Complete four math and natural & physical sciences (OLMSC) from the following:
- OLMSC-101Music Production 101
- OLMSC-130Applied Mathematics for Musicians
- OLMSC-260Sampling and Audio Production
- OLMSC-215Acoustics
- OMPRD-210Audio Fundamentals for Recording
- OLMSC-150Introduction to Computer Programming for Musicians
How to Apply
- 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
Need more information? Learn more here.
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Online tuition vs. campus tuition
Affordable Tuition
Tuition is $59,880 for 120 credits. The degree program also includes a $75 (non-refundable) application fee and a one-time comprehensive fee of $350.
Available Financial Aid
Already started your degree, or want to transfer credits to complete your degree?
We will accept up to 60 academic credits earned from an accredited institution, or earned from our certificate programs or individual courses. Learn more here.
Get the Free Music Business Degree Handbook
Featuring Degree Program Lesson Material
- Understand music licensing
- Explore direct-to-fan marketing
- Publish your music
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Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
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