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The 128-credit BM in Music Business combines cross-disciplinary coursework in business, finance, and the arts while providing real-world experience working with industry leaders. Graduates are prepared for careers working for music publishers, performance venues, music broadcasting organizations, and more. As part of this program, you’ll develop skills to uniquely qualify you for a fast-paced industry demanding highly trained personnel who can apply business and administration theory to problems with a strong aesthetic and artistic orientation.

Core Course Sequence

College Core Curriculum (CORE)

NYU’s College Core Curriculum provides undergraduates a foundational academic experience  in the liberal arts, including courses in expository writing, foreign language, and foundations of contemporary culture and scientific inquiry. In addition to these subject areas, you’ll have the opportunity to explore liberal arts electives, gaining the skills and breadth of intellectual perspective to flourish in your major program of study and, later as a successful professional in the field. 

Major Requirements

While studying for your BM in Music Business, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of music, developing the tools and vocabulary necessary to engage critically with global music traditions, while developing skills in  sight-singing, dictation, score reading, and harmonization. Your training as a musician is enhanced by coursework in music business and publishing, concert management, and entrepreneurship, as well as the opportunity to enroll in marketing, accounting, and entertainment law courses at the NYU Stern School of Business.

Culminating Experience

As a Music Business undergraduate, you’ll complete 300 internship hours in music business, combining hands-on experiential learning with industry experts. You’ll network with professional contacts working in music publishing, performance venues, music broadcasting, music production, talent management, and event promotion.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Liberal Arts Requirements
Expository Writing
EXPOS-UA 1Writing as Inquiry4
ACE-UE 110Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions4
Foundations of Contemporary Culture
Texts and Ideas4
Cultures and Contexts4
Foundations of Scientific Inquiry
MATH-UA 9Algebra, Trigonometry, and Functions4
Other Liberal Arts Requirements
ECON-UA 1Introduction to Macroeconomics4
ECON-UA 2Introduction to Microeconomics4
MPATC-UE 1068Music History II: Baroque & Classical2
MPATC-UE 1077Music History III2
Unrestricted Liberal Arts Elective
Select eight credits of Unrestricted Liberal Arts Electives8
Additional Requirements
SAHS-UE 1New Student Seminar0
Writing Proficiency Examination
Specialization Requirements
Required Music Courses
MPATC-UE 1301Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music2
MPATC-UE 1302Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music1
Theory and Practice II and Aural Skills II (Select one of the two options below)3
MPATC-UE 1311
MPATC-UE 1321
Theory & Practice II: Tonal Harmony & Voice Leading
and Aural Skills II: Tonal Harmony & Voice Leading
or MPATC-UE 1312
MPATC-UE 1322
Theory & Practice II: Popular Music
and Aural Skills II: Popular Music
Advanced Theory and Practice (choose two of the following)4
MPATC-UE 1331
Advanced Theory & Practice: Chromatic Harmony & Form
MPATC-UE 1332
Advanced Theory & Practice: Post Tonal and Contemporary Music
MPATC-UE 1333
Advanced Theory & Practice: Non-Western Music
MPATC-UE 1334
Advanced Theory & Practice: Counterpoint in the Digital Age
MPAJZ-UE 1039
Jazz Theory & Ear Training I
MPAJZ-UE 1040
Jazz Theory & Ear Training II
MPAPE-UE 72Keyboard Skills I1
MPAPE-UE 73Keyboard Skills II1
MPAJZ-UE 160XTwo 1-credit jazz music history courses by advisement2
Music Business Specialization
MPAMB-UE 100Business Structure of The Music Industry2
MPAMB-UE 200Concert Management2
MPAMB-UE 205Music Publishing2
MPAMB-UE 101Data Analysis in the Music Industry: Introduction & Applications2
MPAMB-UE 300Int'L Music Business Marketplace2
MPAMB-UE 1310Village Records:Pract Recorded Music Industry2
MPAMB-UE 1400Entrepreneurship for The Music Industry3
Core Business Studies
ACCT-UB 1Prin of Financial Acctg4
STAT-UB 1Stats F/Business Control4
MGMT-UB 1Management and Organizations4
MKTG-UB 1Intro to Marketing4
Select two of the following:4
MKTG-UB 4
Managing Creative Content Development
MKTG-UB 23
Technology's Impact On Entertainment & Media
MKTG-UB 24
Arts Marketing
MKTG-UB 25
The Business of Broadway
MKTG-UB 40
Entertainment & Media Industries
MKTG-UB 43
Deal Making in the Entertainment Industry
MKTG-UB 46
Globalization of The Entertainment Industry
MKTG-UB 56
Digital Business Strategy
MULT-UB 48
Entertainment Law
TECH-UB 38
Social Media & Digital Marketing
TECH-UB 60
Networks, Crowds and Markets
Application Studies
MPAMB-UE 1320Internship in Music Business (Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors) 15
Restricted Music Business Electives
Music Electives or Advanced-Level Music Business Elective Courses by advisement 214
Unrestricted Electives
Select 20 Unrestricted Elective credits20
Total Credits128
1

Students take this 1-3 credit course multiple times for a minimum of 5 credits. Students may complete an additional 3 credits of internship for a maximum of 8 internship credits. These 3 additional credits would be applied towards electives.

2

Examples of Advanced Music Business Electives include:

  • MPAMB-UE 105 Strategic Music and Branding
  • MPAMB-UE 1306 Interactive, Internet and Mobile Music
  • MPAMB-UE 1305 The Economics and Law of Music Copyright Regulation
  • MPAMB-UE 1223 Production/ A & R in Music Industry
  • MPAMB-UE 210 Music in Media Business
  • MPAMB-UE 1312 Writing in the Music Industry
  • MPAMB-UE 1307 Stress-free Living & Working in the Music Industry

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPATC-UE 1301 Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music 2
MPATC-UE 1302 Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music 1
MPAPE-UE 72 Keyboard Skills I 1
EXPOS-UA 1 Writing as Inquiry 4
MATH-UA 9 Algebra, Trigonometry, and Functions 4
MPAMB-UE 100 Business Structure of The Music Industry 2
Restricted Electives 2
SAHS-UE 1 New Student Seminar 0
 Credits16
2nd Semester/Term
MPATC-UE 1311
or MPATC-UE 1312
Theory & Practice II: Tonal Harmony & Voice Leading
or Theory & Practice II: Popular Music
2
MPATC-UE 1321
or MPATC-UE 1322
Aural Skills II: Tonal Harmony & Voice Leading
or Aural Skills II: Popular Music
1
MPAPE-UE 73 Keyboard Skills II 1
ACE-UE 110 Advanced College Essay: Educ & The Professions 4
ECON-UA 1 Introduction to Macroeconomics 4
MPAMB-UE 200 Concert Management 2
Restricted Electives 2
 Credits16
3rd Semester/Term
Advanced Theory Elective 2
ECON-UA 2 Introduction to Microeconomics 4
MPAMB-UE 1310 Village Records:Pract Recorded Music Industry 2
MGMT-UB 1 Management and Organizations 4
Restricted Electives 2
MPAMB-UE 1320 Internship in Music Business 2
 Credits16
4th Semester/Term
Advanced Theory Elective 2
Cultures and Contexts 4
MKTG-UB 1 Intro to Marketing 4
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits14
5th Semester/Term
Texts and Ideas 4
Liberal Arts Electives 4
MPAMB-UE 101 Data Analysis in the Music Industry: Introduction & Applications 2
ACCT-UB 1 Prin of Financial Acctg 4
Restricted Electives 2
 Credits16
6th Semester/Term
MPAJZ-UE 16XX Music in Contemporary World Cultures 2
MPAMB-UE 300 Int'L Music Business Marketplace 2
STAT-UB 1 Stats F/Business Control 4
Restricted Electives 2
Restricted Electives 2
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits16
7th Semester/Term
Liberal Arts Electives 4
Music History 2
Music History 2
MPAMB-UE 205 Music Publishing 2
Selected Stern Elective 2
Unrestricted Electives 4
 Credits16
8th Semester/Term
MPAMB-UE 1400 Entrepreneurship for The Music Industry 3
Selected Stern Elective 2
Restricted Electives 2
Unrestricted Electives 4
Unrestricted Electives 4
MPAMB-UE 1320 Internship in Music Business 3
 Credits18
 Total Credits128

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