Music Business (London) MA
- Level(s) of Study: Postgraduate taught
- Start Date(s): September / January
- Duration: One year, full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: Confetti London
-
Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
This degree is delivered at our Confetti London Campus in Whitechapel.
On this Masters degree you’ll be able to put theory into practice by developing your very own personal projects and ideas as part of the course, using the Confetti infrastructure and industry mentors to steer your career to the next stage.
What you’ll study
What to expect on this course
Confetti has been running its own commercial businesses for almost 30 years, which includes a live music and events venue in Nottingham, Metronome. Through these businesses, you’ll have access to amazing facilities and industry professionals working in the music and events industries.
You'll have the unique opportunity to take a leading role running our very own record label, Denizen Records, and collaborate with students studying courses in music performance, sound, production, and events.
At the start of your degree you’ll be paired with an industry mentor, matched to your project and/or specialism. They’ll work with you throughout your studies, acting as an external source of advice, support, contacts, and possibly employment opportunities.
Supporting your industry knowledge, we’ll provide you with regular guest lectures and the chance to experience Confetti Industry Week; the largest of its kind in the UK.
- Global Industry Structures, Functions and Issues
- Copyright, Contracts & IP
- Creative Marketing
- Creative Entrepreneurial Approaches
- Masters Dissertation
- Research for Creative Industries
This module will equip you to understand key components of, and issues within the global music industry. You will examine current and emerging structures, processes and trends through an international lens and will enable you to identify opportunities for your own activities the world over.
You'll examine broader contextual issues within the modern music industry and look ahead to the future, analysing and proposing solutions to problems such as gender imbalance, the ethics of operations and sustainability whilst predicting where key music industry infrastructures and relationships might go next. You will examine where your own practice fits in whether as a freelancer, sole trader, partner, Limited Company or employee allowing you to understand how you can positively impact the future of the industry
Understanding and applying appropriate legal frameworks protects you, the business you run and the artists you work with but they also allow you to monetize the art. In this module you will recognise danger areas, analyse copyright, IP, contracts and other relevant legal structures and apply them to your related activities over the years outputs: importantly, all of your music business activities in and out of your course can be fed into your portfolio for assessment making the module centrally relevant and vocationally applicable to you as an emerging professional.
You will have the option to apply your legal skills to real life projects within Confetti's working record label and publishing company, Denizen.
Whether you're running a label, self-releasing music, putting on a tour or planning on joining an established music business of any scale, music and marketing go hand in hand. During this module you will analyse and practice the theoretical and practical skills needed to arm you to make sure whatever you do, the right people will know about it! Whether it's the psychology behind customer behaviour, market research or analysis of data you'll have the knowledge to apply with the graphic design, photography, filming and editing skills you will gain and develop.
The Content Creation Boot Camp will boost your practical asset creation skills to empower you to create innovative marketing content throughout your course and beyond. As with your other modules, we know you may be working on many music related projects outside of your course: you'll be able to feed all you learn into those projects and what you learn from those into your Creative Entrepreneurial Approaches Module.
You will have the option to employ your marketing skills within Confetti's very own working record label and publishing company, Denizen on real life campaigns too.
This module is designed to reflect the interdisciplinary collaborative and entrepreneurial nature of music sector working practices. You will critically examine the current music sector practices most applicable to your own journey as a music industry professional, whether that's as an employee, a business owner, or a freelancer with one or more business activities: you'll look for your place in the sector and work towards finding a home there during your studies.
You'll work on relevant real life projects and these will provide you with the opportunity to examine key music sectors, industry stakeholders, and critically examine the work environment to identify relevant professional opportunities to support your development to give you the best chance to thrive. You will have an assigned mentor from industry to give you a vital insiders perspective, and you will also have the opportunity to work for and with Confetti's own label and publishing arm Denizen.
You will ultimately form an output plan and will pitch for a 'Confetti Employability Grant' to help you on your next steps.
Based on your experience in the Research for Creative Industries module and the resulting Proposal you will now embark on your Masters Dissertation journey which will be an independent study into your specific chosen area of interest.
You will have paths available to you to help you personalise your level 7 experience, for example a more traditional Desktop Study or a more practical Project Based approach to prepare you for an future in Industry or Doctoral study.
This module runs across multiple creative Masters degrees, enabling cross course collaboration and reflection. Throughout the module you will be scaffolded to arrive at a fully formed Proposal for your Masters Dissertation module.
How you’re taught
The three key approaches to learning and teaching for this course are:
- Active Collaborative Learning
- Learning through Research
- Online or Blended learning
You will participate in workshops, lectures, small group and one-to-one tutoring designed to help you develop the practical and thinking skills that you will need in your chosen career. There is also a collaborative project along with online practice supporting portfolio development.
How you’re assessed
You will be assessed in a number of ways, including:
- Written Assignments
- Reports
- Presentations
- Creative outputs/production
- Portfolio
Formative assessment is what we call the opportunities you have to produce and get feedback on work that will help you to prepare to complete your summative formal assessment. There are specific named activities in your assessment and feedback plan which you will be asked to complete and submit for feedback. Additionally, peer, class and individual feedback on your ongoing work is formative.
Assessment tasks are designed to challenge you over the year to increasingly demonstrate your own creativity, reflect your own interests and include independent research.
Careers and employability
Graduates will be equipped to take up roles working for/with record labels, publishers, venues, distributors, digital aggregators, artist manager, tour manager, marketing and comms, catalogue manager or setting up their own music related business.
Campus and facilities
As part of our London campus, we're creating a purpose-built multi-discipline events and production space with the versatility built-in to function as a 600-capacity live venue, or a virtual production studio complete with LED volume.
Similar to our Nottingham venues, Metronome and Confetti X, it's here where you'll gain valuable work experience and access world-class facilities.
Check our Confetti Nottingham campus facilities below.
Entry requirements
Entry & admission criteria:
- A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree, or an appropriate equivalent, i.e. a professional qualification, from a recognised British or overseas institution, in a related subject.
- Non-standard applicants with at least three years' industry experience are also welcome to apply.
- Applicants who do not fully satisfy the general criteria will be considered if they are able to demonstrate that they are capable of successfully undertaking and completing the programme at the required standard. Eligibility may be determined by means of an interview for some applicants.
- Applicants who have been taught and assessed in languages other than English should have an English language equivalent to IELTS 6.5.
Interview:
You'll be invited to an informal interview after you submit your application, to determine your project ideas, your fit with the course, and to discuss your aspirations.
- Bachelor’s degree grade 2:2 or equivalent qualification.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
Fees and funding
Postgraduate fees and living costs
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there is no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding page will answer your questions.
We are pleased to offer a 20% alumni discount for graduates of Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies and Nottingham Trent University. Terms and conditions apply.
Postgraduate loans
The government introduced a new postgraduate loan scheme for Master degrees. The loan will be a contribution towards the costs of study and it will be at the student's discretion to use the loan towards fees, maintenance costs or other costs. Find out more on our postgraduate loans page.
Scholarships
We award scholarships to those students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies. To find out more visit our Postgraduate Scholarships web page.
Postgraduate fees and living costs
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there is no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding page will answer your questions.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
How to apply
Applications for this course can be made via the NTU Applicant Portal - click on the Apply button at the top of the page to be taken straight through to the Portal.
For a step-by-step guide to making an application through our Applicant Portal, please visit our postgraduate application pages.
Writing your application
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. Make sure you include as much information as possible, including uploading evidence of results already achieved, as well as a personal statement.
Advice for non-standard applicants
We welcome applications from applicants without prior qualifications. However, in this instance, you must have proven experience in industry, which demonstrates appropriate knowledge and skills at honours degree (undergraduate) standard.
If you are applying without prior qualifications, you will need to submit comprehensive details of your achievements with evidence to substantiate your claim (any documentation can be uploaded to the My Documents section of the Applicant Portal). This type of application will be considered with respect to the University’s provision for ‘accreditation for prior experiential learning’. Decisions regarding the accreditation of prior learning are a matter of academic judgement.
Keeping up to date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process - so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or support, you can call our Admissions Team on +44 (0)115 848 4200, or email applications@ntu.uk.
Good luck with your application!
Apply online through our NTU applicant portal.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.