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Ministry-approved title: Music Business Administration
The Music Business program prepare students to enter any field of the music industry equipped with a solid foundation of relevant knowledge and business practices, and plenty of hands-on experience. Students learn to manage revenue streams, book tours, draft and negotiate contracts, manage artists and venues, plan and execute events, design websites, market and promote artists and merchandise, build a network, and much more. Graduates enter the industry ready and eager to become astute music industry executives, well-informed musicians/songwriters, or both!
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math. Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
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The Music Business Management program provides comprehensive training designed to foster the artistic and business acumen necessary for a successful career in the music industry.
Throughout the program, students explore various aspects of the music industry, from understanding how to navigate complex royalty management and revenue streams to mastering the logistics of tour management and concert promotion. The program emphasizes real-world applications, allowing you to participate in practical projects such as booking live performances, coordinating with venues, and launching marketing campaigns for artists.
In addition to technical skills, the program places a strong emphasis on contract negotiation and artist management. You will learn the intricacies of drafting, understanding, and negotiating contracts, ensuring artists are fairly represented, and business agreements benefit all parties involved.
The digital age has transformed the music industry, and our program integrates modern digital tools and practices such as website design, online marketing, and social media promotion. Students explore how to create engaging online content, utilize analytics to track marketing effectiveness, and leverage social media platforms to enhance artist visibility. The skills gained in digital marketing and promotion will enable you to effectively promote artists and merchandise in today’s competitive market.
This unique business-based program provides plenty of experiential learning opportunities and in-depth knowledge of all areas of the music business, preparing you for a wide variety of music industry careers spanning:
You will develop skills in management, marketing, promotion, and small business operations while learning and practicing the essentials of copyright law and music publishing, event production, live sound reinforcement, and media and business communications. Challenging careers are available for skilled administrators and managers, as well as aspiring musicians and songwriters, who can market and manage entertainment events and revenues; maximize social media; manage tours; work directly with performers as booking agents or managers; prepare promotional materials; plan and organize itineraries; and negotiate, interpret and enforce contracts.
Networking is a critical component of success in the music industry, and our program ensures you develop a robust professional network. Through internships, industry guest speakers, and collaborative projects, you will connect with industry professionals and peers who share your passion. These connections can open doors to internships, mentorships, and job opportunities, helping you build your career from day one.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
The Music Business Practicum (MBP) course is unique; here, your textbook is life itself, and you are the author. You will have a job, and it will be your homework.
This music business course, which you take for four semesters, provides you with hands-on, practical, networking and business experience similar to what you will encounter in the music industry. MBP offers you the chance to learn by doing. In the process, you will learn plenty of useful and important things about the industry and yourself.
In MBP, first- and second-year students work together and with the community to operate our own music industry. There are several enterprises to which you can apply in order to become a valued team member and get a great learning experience. These include record labels, artist management companies, the campus radio station, a recording studio, a music magazine, a merchandising company, an event production company, a publicity and promotion company, photography and video production, and more.
In order to pass each MBP course, you are required to:
You will continually gain real-world experience for your resumé, which will greatly improve your job prospects. Employers want people with experience, and MBP gives you a great opportunity to get exactly that, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:
Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop.
A Mac laptop is recommended. Please see the hardware requirements document for details.
DO NOT PURCHASE THIS SOFTWARE PRIOR TO STARTING THE PROGRAM.
Creative Cloud brings together everything you need to create your greatest work. One simple membership gives you and your classmates access to the latest versions of all the Adobe professional creative desktop applications like Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Premiere Pro® and more — plus new features and upgrades as soon as they're available. And that's just the beginning. With Creative Cloud™, everything you need to create intuitively and collaboratively is included.
Free downloadable software (please download and install prior to the start of classes. Caution: To avoid malware, only download from the actual developer or use the links below):
NOTE: These requirements were accurate at the time of posting and are subject to change. Please be aware that hardware and software versions are subject to change and will be updated as needed. For further information and FAQ click here.
App Store
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