Mar 28, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Music Industry (B.S.M.)


Program:  Music Industry
School of Music  
College:  Visual and Performing Arts

Rhinehart Music Center 144  260-481-6714


A major in music emphasizing the structure of the music industry, with particular emphasis in entrepreneurship, marketing, management, and operation within the rapidly changing, multi-billion dollar music and entertainment industry.  Business practices, copyright/ownership, contracts, and many other issues pertaining to popular music will be investigated, along with media production, technology, musical study, and study of musical styles and histories.  Music Industry students may take a number of more general music courses, which may include applied study (lessons), participation in ensembles, and courses in other areas offered by the School of Music.  This program will prepare students for a variety of careers in music and its allied industries.  Students will have the opportunity to participate in the university-run record label, publishing company, as well as production and promotion of live music concerts and events.  This major will maximize a strong partnership with Sweetwater, a world leader in music technology, professional audio, and instruments.  The Sweetwater Music Center, an excellent new facility located on the Sweetwater campus, is the home for many of the classes in this program.  


Student learning outcomes:

  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of popular music styles with an understanding of the social, political and cultural impacts that shaped musical development. 
  • Students will demonstrate proficiency in utilizing appropriate technology to notate and create music, to investigate and report scholarly research, and to support the specific demands of their professional degrees.
  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of the legal problems and issues associated with the music industry, including case studies, modern/emerging business models and music licensing. 
  • Students will apply working knowledge of music event production and the functions and operation of the music publishing industry.
  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of marketing products in the music industry including online, distribution, advertising and promotion.
  • Students will demonstrate practices, and techniques for self-marketing and promoting the “independent” musical artist or group in order to succeed in the current music industry.  

Program Description

Enter the amazing and vast world of music industry, with particular emphasis in entrepreneurship, marketing, management, and operation within this rapidly changing, multi-billion dollar career field.  You will explore business practices, copyright/ownership, contracts, and many other issues pertaining to popular music, along with media production, technology, musical study, and study of musical styles and histories.  This flexible degree will allow you to create a program of music courses, which may include applied study (lessons), participation in ensembles, and courses in other areas offered by the School of Music.  You will also leave with a minor in business studies from the Doermer School of Business.

Your four years with us will prepare you for a variety of careers in music and the allied industries, as you participate in the university-run record label, publishing company, along with the production and promotion of live music concerts and events.  You will greatly benefit from our strong partnership with Fort Wayne’s Sweetwater Sound Inc., a world leader in music technology, professional audio, and instruments.  The Sweetwater Music Center, an excellent new facility located on the Sweetwater campus, will be the home for many of the classes in this program as you enter the professional world of music.  

BSM Music Industry students are expected to own a computer-based digital audio workstation that is compatible with the School of Music  high-end system, and that will allow students to work in their own space on their own time.  The Director of Music Industry shall maintain the list of current equipment and capability BSM-Music Industry students are expected to own.  Since such equipment is considered to be “tools of the trade”, this equipment expenditure can be included in Financial Aid loan calculations.

Accreditation:

  • Purdue University Fort Wayne is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the American Music Therapy Association.

Program Delivery:  

  • This major is offered on campus.

General Requirements:

Program Requirements:


  • A student may elect the Pass/Not-Pass grading option for non-degree elective courses only. The Pass/Not-Pass grading option is not available for General Education or any electives required for the major.

Music Industry 4-Yr. Plan:  

General Education Requirements: Credits 33


Music Elective: Credits 18


Choose from:

  • Any MUSC course. 
  • Music Industry majors can also use BUS 20002 in the Music Electives, when applicable. 

Senior Seminar: Credits 3


Required course:

Media Production: Credits 9


Required courses:

Business Studies: Credits 18


A Business Studies minor   is required with this major. 

BUS 20002 Computer Literacy Concepts For Business  is a prerequisite course for BUS 20101. Students can try to test out of BUS 20002 and if successful would take one additional Music Elective course.

Grade Requirements


  • Grades. Music majors must complete each required music course with a grade of C- or better and with an overall GPA of 2.5 or higher for all required music courses. Two unsuccessful attempts to attain a grade of C- or better in the same required music course will result in dismissal from the School of Music. 
  • A student may elect the Pass/Not-Pass grading option for non-degree elective courses only. The Pass/Not-Pass grading option is not available to General Education or any electives required for the major.

  • Exceptions to academic policies require a written request to the music faculty in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Total Credits: 120


Student Responsibility


You are responsible for ensuring that you satisfy all graduation requirements specified for each selected program.  Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career.  If you cannot complete all program requirements by your stated graduation date but fail to remove those from your plan of study, the Registrar’s Office in consultation with your academic advisor will remove unmet pursuits from your plan of study. Changing curricular records during the graduation term of application may affect state or federal financial aid awards. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.