Music Business Management MA

This cross-course module brings all the music post graduate students into one cohort and is an opportunity for students to share ideas and work together across disciplines in a creative entrepreneurial environment.

Students will develop systematic and critical understanding of entrepreneurial theories and practices within music and wider creative industries to enable them to pursue new enterprises and employment opportunities ethically and with confidence.

This core module critically examines the role of Intellectual Property and Copyright in today’s global music and entertainment market. It explores ways in which legal regulation impacts artist development and the management of the music business and the live music industries. This module provides students with a deep understanding and critical awareness of the complexities and debates around global IP and Copyright Management asking who and what is entitled to legal protection and how is IP and copyright protection applied and organised via contract law.

With a strong focus on students’ personal and professional goals and interests, the Final Project will consolidate the knowledge, skills, and insights gained throughout the course, culminating in an innovative piece of work which addresses a challenge or issue currently impacting the music business.

The Final Project takes the form of a Dissertation, but alternative formats are also possible, to be negotiated and agreed with the project supervisor.

This module equips students with a systematic understanding of music industries organisations and their labour relations and prepares students for work within the wider music industries. The module contextualises and critically evaluates current issues in business and management theory and practice.

This module is industry facing and supported by theoretical study alongside guided independent study in which students will evaluate and explore their own skill sets, developing an understanding of career development within music and wider creative industries.

The module contributes to the growing field of music and mental health. This module explores why and how the issues of mental health and wellbeing have taken centre stage across the global music and entertainment industry. It critically examines the importance of artist health, safety, and wellbeing in relation to the duty of care owed to artist by other music industry professionals. The module critically evaluates ideas around mental health and wellbeing and how they are applied in the music industries.

This module explores the popular music landscape and critically evaluates contemporary music practises as they apply to artist development. In this module students get the opportunity to listen, discuss and debate music building a holistic understanding of artist development in a contemporary landscape. This module is an option open to all MA Music Business Management students and is part of the informal pathway for students wishing to specialise in artist management.

The module covers contemporary critical theory and practice in the live music industry. Students will develop critical understanding of approaches to key roles and issues in the live music industry including regulations, ticketing, contracts, performing rights, sustainability and the relationship of live with recording. 

This module is an option open to all MA Music Business Management students and is part of the informal pathway for students wishing to specialise in live music management.

This module examines the landscape of global recorded and publishing music and live entertainment corporations. It explores how global corporations develop their brand strategies as they seek to exploit music-based products across international markets.  We will examine emerging global markets and discuss sustainability, decolonisation and social justice as applied through corporate practices and Big Tech. 

This module is an option open to all MA MBM students and is part of the informal pathway for students wishing to specialise in music business management.

This module examines the complex and evolving infrastructure of live music, from local to global scales, asking how and why this has become such an important and contested phenomenon. Drawing on London as one recognised leader in developing “music city” strategies, it develops conceptual and historical awareness and practical analytic skills to explore issues of regulation, development, entrepreneurship, diversity, environmental and cultural politics in a range of contexts, acknowledging learners unique identities.

This module explores the post-second world war history of recorded popular music through the lens of social change. The module critically examines the ways in which changing music practices coincide with social movements, migration and decolonialisation.

The module will critically explore issues of race, gender, sexuality, and social justice as they are communicated through local and global music scenes and events equipping students with a deep understanding of how music is embedded in social change and social justice.