Course units
Each course is divided into units, which are credit-rated. The minimum unit size is 20 credits. The MA course structure involves five units, totalling 180 credits. These are:
Unit 1 – Music Industry Practices (40 credits)
This unit investigates the structures, principles and practices of an evolving industry. This unit will cover the history of the music industry, its present and potential futures, drawing particular attention to the need for an inclusive and diverse industry with sustainable practices.
Unit 2 - The Multiple Roles of The Artist Manager (20 credits)
The unit will address the multiple roles of the artist manager, and how they have evolved with the industry. It will investigate the business role including management structures, commission and other deals, contracts and the ways in which the manager and artist interact in developing their career. It will also explore the expectations of artists and the limitations of the manager, in terms of emotional and critical support.
Unit 3 – Artist Development Strategies (40 credits)
This unit puts artist development at the fore of management and discusses the varied approaches to the role. The unit begins with the question ‘Is the music industry focused primarily on the artist or the song in the modern era’. This is a key area of discussion, and one that arguably the long-term future of the business is dictated by. From pop stars to sound designers, the unit will look at structures for developing the artist, and ensuring that their name is to the fore of any work done to develop the profile of their music.
Unit 4 - Collaborative Project (20 credits)
In this unit, you will identify, form, and develop collaborative working relationships with a range of potential partners, either within the University or externally. You’ll design and deliver a cross-disciplinary project to a bespoke brief, replicating the kinds of collaborative work that music management typically involves.
Unit 5 - Masters Project (60 credits)
This unit will provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate the development of your own theoretical and practical work relating to music management. With full support from tutors, you will take on an artist in a management capacity. You will plan and manage the artist’s career, agreeing a business structure and fixing boundaries for their role. You will build a development plan for an initial 3 years, focusing on developing the artist as a brand alongside any product or event that they may undertake to release. In doing so, you shall synthesise the practical, reflective, and conceptual development in your work throughout the course.
