BA/BSC (HONS) MUSIC BUSINESS degree
Record artists, film music videos and learn how to produce, market and tour with a 2-year BA/BSC (Hons) Music Business degree. Available to start in January or September
January 2025: £11,100 per year
From September 2025: £11,440 per year
The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.
£11,440 per year
Partial funding is available for eligible home fee applicants who are residents of Scotland via the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
January 2025: £11,100 per year
From September 2025: £11,440 per year
The annual tuition fee is fully funded via Student Finance England for eligible home-fee students.
JANUARY 2025
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £15,000 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,100 per year
FROM SEPTEMBER 2025:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,500 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £12,500 per year
*Student visa required
For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £14,000 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £10,000 per year
*Student visa required
For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.
JANUARY 2025
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £15,000 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £11,100 per year
FROM SEPTEMBER 2025:
International students (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)*: £16,500 per year
EU/EEA/Swiss students*: £12,500 per year
*Student visa required
For more information regarding SAE’s EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy, please read the SAE UK EU/EEA/Swiss students bursary policy.
January and September 2025
January and September 2025
January and September 2025
Offers will be made to applicants who are expected to meet, or exceed the entry requirements below, in addition to supplying a personal statement:
SAE Institute will accept non-standard entry applications, which do not meet the 72 UCAS points or equivalent, and/or maths/English at level 2 or equivalent as required:
Students whose first language is not English will need a qualification that demonstrates competence in English, equivalent to UK GCSE (Level 2) grade 4 (c) or above.
Equivalent qualifications can be accepted, where these qualifications have been verified by ENIC and are adopted widely within the UK Higher Education sector, including:
- International ESOL C1 Expert – pass in all four components
- International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) – minimum 33 in all components
- ESOL Integrated Skills in English II – pass in all components
*Accepted on exceptional basis for the applicants whose local test centres are affected by closures due to Covid-19
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM YOUR DEGREE IN MUSIC BUSINESS
At SAE, our unique blend of academic and vocational education sets the stage for a thriving career in the music industry. During this accelerated music business degree course – which you’ll study in 2 years rather than the 3 of a traditional university – you’ll explore various facets of the industry, from music publishing and distribution to artist management and live performance.
With our highly practical approach to training, you’ll develop vital skills beyond those of a typical music management degree. Showcasing entrepreneurship at its core, you’ll gain advanced business, marketing and finance knowledge, covering a range of content creation and branding techniques, and even create your own comprehensive portfolio.
As one of our music business degree students, you’ll be guided by our team of Experts – each one with a wealth of experience in the music industry. You’ll also have complimentary access to the SAE Session Station, where you can record music and podcasts in our state-of-the-art studios.
In collaboration with fellow SAE students from other creative disciplines, you’ll undertake a series of specialised projects – from redeveloping an artist’s brand identity to planning, promoting and executing a live event. You’ll also delve deeply into an area of particular interest in your final Major Project.
Get your business head on
Whether you’re keen to become an agent, promoter, tour manager, A&R exec or work in another area of the industry, you’ll be perfectly placed with this industry-relevant degree in music business. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to launch straight into your music industry career, having gained real-world experience during course assessments and projects. You’ll also have an established network of peers and professionals across the creative industries – plus the professional agility you need to succeed in the ever-evolving music landscape.
What you'll learn
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of music recording, synchronisation, publishing and distribution.
- Learn the ins and outs of artist management, live performance and event management.
- Develop essential skills in marketing, plus knowledge of the financial and legal aspects of the music industry.
- Bring projects to life through collaboration with peers from other creative disciplines, including audio producers, filmmakers, web developers and marketers.
- Refine your problem-solving and teamwork skills.
- Develop a significant portfolio of work to present to industry.
- Connect with a network of peers and professionals across the creative industries.
- Graduate career-ready with a degree in music business from a recognised creative institute.
- Music business degree start dates available in January and September.
YOUR CAREER IN MUSIC BEGINS NOW
COURSE STRUCTURE
The BA/BSc (Hons) Music Business degree is a streamlined, 2-year course, taught across 6 trimesters. Its structure follows 3 distinct stages – each designed to help you develop specific skills. Dividing it this way ensures you graduate as a well-rounded music business professional with a solid understanding of the way the music industry works.• Stage 1 (T1 and T2) provides a foundation of core technical knowledge.
• Stage 2 (T3 and T4) broadens your skills, exploring new areas of the music business.
• Stage 3 (T5 and T6) is all-encompassing, covering every aspect of music business including entrepreneurial aspects like project management, finance, business law and marketing.
Topics include:
- The history of the music industries
- The recording industry
- Artist management
- Music distribution
- Live performance
- Music genres and their Impact
- Influential artists and technology
- The social, political and economic contexts of the industry
- Contemporary issues and future perspectives
Topics include:
- Music synchronisation
- Music publishing
- Copyright
- Contracts
- Licensing
- Negotiation
- Music Listening and analysis
- Talking about Music
- Royalties
Topics include:
- Accounting
- Marketing strategies
- Taxes
- Start-ups
- Funding
- Budgeting
- Online marketing
- Business legislation
- Business ethics
Topics include:
- A&R
- Photography
- Photo Editing
- Recording for release
- Graphic design fundamentals
- Concept development
- Branding
- Promotion strategies
Topics may include:
- Artist Management
- Publishing
- Event management
- Distribution
- Branding and marketing
- Social media management
- A&R
Topics may include:
- Live event management
- Audience analysis
- Music festival promotion
- Stage management
- Tour management
- Market analysis
- Business planning
- Data management
- HR
- Project management
- Marketing
Topics may include:
- Work experience
- Building a work-based portfolio
- Advanced marketing
- Recording management
- Business law and regulation
- Event production
- Cultural analysis
- Live branding
Topics may include:
- Advanced marketing
- Recording management
- Business law and regulation
- Event production
Tools & Software
Industry Partners
WHY STUDY MUSIC BUSINESS AT SAE?
Creative collaboration
Partner with your music industry degree peers, as well as SAE students from other areas, to supercharge your creative capabilities.
Career Outcomes
What Jobs will this course lead to?
- Artist Manager
- Music Distributor
- Music Publisher
- Sync Agent
- Record Label Exec (A&R, Production, Distribution)
- Booking Agent
- Promoter/Artist Booker
- Press and PR agent
- Marketing and Digital Content Creator
- Radio Plugger
- Tour Manager
- Music Supervisor
- Live Event/Festival Promoter
START YOUR MUSIC BUSINESS CAREER TODAY
Apply to study the BA/BSc (Hons) Music Business degree and get ready to land your dream gig with SAE.Course FAQs
Yes, our new course is designed to cover all aspects of the music industries, with input from industry professionals as well as our own practising industry experts.
We will supply you with all of the necessary tools to have a successful career in the creative industries.
Our Music Business students need to collaborate with other disciplines more than any other student. There are many opportunities and requirements to collaborate with students from other degrees throughout the course.
We believe in learning through doing, which is why our course is made up of many practical modules that are completed to industry standards. This is supported with a solid academic base to help you learn the theory behind the work and reflect upon it.
