In the first year, you will look at how the principles of marketing and promotion have been developed to take advantage of online media and technology. You will learn about the different theories which drive marketing and promotion in an ever-evolving industry. You will examine the history of music and how it has shaped culture and society.

This is very much a ‘live’ course and you will be working directly with bands and breaking artists on their marketing, brand and promotion, as well as managers, record labels and other industry partners. That includes creating your own music podcast and promotional video and practising the skills involved in audio and visual content, which are increasingly used to market and promote acts. You will also get to know how to use data as a tool for creative artist development.

You will have access to audio recorders, video and still cameras and photographic studios as well as laser cutting and 3D printing. Our Virtual Reality headsets and software mean you can experiment with ground-breaking VR/AR technology. All this will ensure you can explore the development of music product for marketing, ecommerce and unique fan experiences.

In your second year, you’ll gain deeper understanding of branding within music, as well as the role of marketing and Public Relations. You will learn about the live music industry and how it fits in with the recorded music sector and you will be organising your own gigs or music events. As part of the Professional Practice unit you will spend two months at a work placement/internship with a music company.

You will gain a deeper understanding of the current working structures and operations of global music markets, explore how music industry practitioners and executives interact with artists and gain an understanding of how music companies are managed. 

If you opt to complete a professional practice year, this will take place in year three. You will undertake a placement within the creative industries to further develop your skills and CV.

While you study the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee for that year. This fee will be determined using government funding regulations. Based on current regulations, we expect this to be a maximum of 20% of the tuition fee rate that you are charged for your second year of study. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during this year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this as you approach your Professional Practice Year.

In your final year, you will combine all these skills, knowledge and experience into your Final Major Project, where you’ll demonstrate your understanding of the music market and how your ideas can be successful in the exciting, ever-changing world of today’s global music industry.