Music and Management MA

University of Leeds

Overview

This course caters for a wide range of musical interests and tastes and enables you to build the specialist skills necessary to progress in the music-management business.

Core modules in live music management and promotion and creative industries management will develop your understanding of the industry through real-world examples, leading to a major music management project. Supported by a supervisor you will devise, manage and deliver a project in music management, applying the theory and skills developed across the course in a practical way.

You’ll explore digital business, entrepreneurship or intellectual property law, gaining knowledge and skills that you can then apply in your project work and in your future career. You’ll also have the opportunity to pursue modules in other areas of music such as performance or musicology, or explore audience engagement and impact.

The University of Leeds is ideally situated for studying music and management owing to the city’s great musical diversity. Leading venues include the First Direct Arena, O2 Academy, and the Grand Theatre. The University also has existing relationships with the Leeds International Piano Competition and Opera North.

The course is ideal for students wishing to pursue a management career in the music industry, and for existing music-industry managers wishing to enhance their skills or undertake continuous professional development.

Your Music Management Project will give you the chance to put all of your learning and research into practice, as well as offering you an opportunity to develop your music-management CV.

Whether you’re looking to launch a management career in the music industry or you want to enhance your skills and promotion prospects, the content and experience gained on this course will help you to attain the diversity of skills you need to succeed.

Our staff have substantial practical experience working in the area of music management, and we also have a variety of excellent facilities to support your learning including rehearsal, performance and practice spaces, and studios for sound recording.

Additionally, we have good working relationships with a range of prestigious arts organisations: we host BBC Radio 3 concerts, Leeds Lieder and the Leeds International Piano Competition, as well as enjoying a close partnership with Opera North and many others in a city with a thriving music and cultural scene.

Learning and teaching

This course is diverse, so you’ll come across a range of teaching and learning methods.

These will include lectures, seminars and tutorials as well as group learning.

You’ll also take instrumental or vocal lessons in some modules, depending on your choices. Independent study is also vital to this course, allowing you to build a variety of skills and express your creativity

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll also be assessed using a range of methods, including presentations, bibliographic exercises, essays and group project work. Leeds University Business School modules may include written exams. Specialised music modules will also use relevant methods of assessment, such as compositions, recitals, critical editions and commentaries on musical sources.

Career opportunities

This course will equip you with in-depth knowledge of economic and management issues, both within and beyond the music industry. It will also equip you with transferable skills in research, analysis, interpretation, communication, cultural and commercial awareness that are valuable to a wide range of employers.