Music Business, BA (Hons)

Course summary

This course is currently taught by Confetti, but from September 2025 will be taught by the Nottingham School of Art & Design (NSA&D). Course content and learning outcomes will not changeMake it in the world of music with this commercially-focused degree, designed in collaboration with experts from the music industry. If you’re serious about building a career in the music industry, you need to train in the industry. It’s at Confetti where you’ll get the best industry connections, real-life work experience and unrivalled facilities. We operate our own live music and event spaces – like Metronome – that are home to an eclectic mix of commercial-facing events and gigs. It’s here where you’ll learn your trade; the perfect space to learn, develop and connect.You’ll be immersed in the world of music, gaining valuable knowledge and techniques in discovering new talent, setting up your business, marketing and PR, music publishing, intellectual property, the live industry, music recording and distribution.You’ll be able to put your learning into practice through live projects, including the chance to work with Confetti’s very own record label, Denizen.Getting regular insights from leading industry figures is a given; none more so that during our annual Confetti Industry Week where we invite some of the biggest names from industry to deliver talks, masterclasses and performances.

Take a look at our modules during Year 1. For more information, visit the Confetti website. The Music Business (20 credit points) The music industry is an exciting world of interconnection and opportunities. In this module you'll explore the fundamentals of the key areas such as recording, publishing, distribution, consumption, live and artist management examined through a historical musical lens, but focussing on their current and emerging state. Who were the movers and shakers who made things happen and why did they happen that way? How can this apply to you at the start of your journey? Marketing & PR (20 credit points) Arguably, music's value is worthless unless people know it's out there. In this module, you'll explore the fundamental theory of marketing via a series of case studies through the ages of popular music and see how it's not necessarily the money spent, but the ideas that are the key to success. The lessons learned will be considered in your Content Creation Practice and Event Management and Production modules as well as your own external endeavours. Content Creation Practice (20 credit points) A modern entrepreneur is multi-skilled, and this module will give you the important practical skills in graphic design, photography, filming and editing on accessible technology to enable you to create and share marketing content for your creative endeavours in and out of your degree. As well as technical skills, you'll develop a more creative approach by supplying content for a media campaign for an artist as a client as part of the module Event Management and Production module. Economics and Enterprise (20 credit points) Behind every successful artist, tour or release is an actual economic structure. This module will examine the key elements of business theory using existing and historical music business case studies and will open your eyes to key business theories and structures for your future in the industry. Event Management and Production (20 credit points) Live music is the lifeblood of the music industry, and you'll be in good hands at Confetti as our team of experts put on events week in, week out! Regardless of genre, most artists need to perform live. In this module you'll work as part of a team to plan, market and host a live music-related event with one or multiple artists. There'll be a financial element, with all money raised benefiting Confetti's annual chosen charity. Your Music Business Career (20 credit points) You're at the beginning of your journey. You need to know your strengths and what you need to develop so you can focus your energies on filling those gaps. This module will empower you to supercharge the fundamental academic and wellbeing skills you need in your studies and personal adventure. You will explore potential job roles of interest and assess current suitability, and what you need to do to improve your chances of success in those fields. You'll also develop an online presence, which you'll work upon over the three years during your time at Confetti to support your professional profile.