Mar 03, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Music Industry (B.S.M.)

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

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:

Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements
Academic Regulations
Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs. The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings. Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program. That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?151102-Purdue-University-Fort-Wayne&fos_code=5009&fos_credential=3

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: Credits 30

Effective Fall 2025, the General Education program at PFW requires 30 credits to be completed, such that students pass each course listed below with a grade of C- or better:

Category A. Foundational Intellectual Skills (Foundational Intellectual Skills Course Lists)
- One course in A1. Written Communication Cr. 3.
- One course in A2. Speaking and Listening Cr. 3.
- One course in A3. Quantitative Reasoning Cr. 3.
Category B. Ways of Knowing (Ways of Knowing Course Lists)
- One course in B4. Scientific Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B6. Humanistic Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B7. Artistic Ways or Knowing Cr. 3.
- One course in B8. Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing Cr. 3.
Six additional credits from any Foundational Skills (A1-A3) or Ways of Knowing (B4-B8) categories
At least one Ways of Knowing course that is designated as having a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or global awareness

Some programs recommend courses and/or require a specific course as part of the major that may also be used to fulfill General Education requirements. Please see below or your Academic Advisor for courses that fulfill both purposes. You can familiarize yourself with other program regulations at General Education Requirements .

Supporting Course: Credits 3

PHYS 10500 - Sound And Music Cr. 3. (also fulfills General Education B4 requirement)

Music Industry: Credits 33

Required courses: Cr. 18

MUSC 10500 MUSC 10500 - Soundscapes: Musical Traditions Of The World Cr. 3 (also fulfills General Education B6 requirement)
MUSC 18203 - Survey Of Music Industry And Copyright Cr. 3.
MUSC 28361 - Music Publishing Cr. 3.
MUSC 28362 - Legal Aspects Of The Music Industry Cr. 3 OR BUS 20300 - Commercial Law I Cr. 3
MUSC 38366 Music Business: Start Up To Success Cr. 3
MUSC 48401 - Music Marketing, Promotion And Entrepreneurship Cr. 3.

Electives (choose from): Cr. 15

MUSC 20700 - Electronic Music I Cr. 3.
MUSC 20800 - Electronic Music II Cr. 3.
MUSC 30500 - Practicum Cr. 1-4.
MUSC 30600 - VT-Special Topics Cr. 1-4.
MUSC 38363 Concert And Event Promotion Cr. 3.
MUSC 38364 - Music Products Merchandising Cr. 3.
MUSC 38365 - Artist Management Cr. 3.
MUSC 40400 - Internship Cr. 1-4.
MUSC 48403 - Independent Study Cr. 1-4.

Perspectives In Music: Credits 9

MUSC 40504 - American Roots To Modern Popular Music Cr. 3.
Select two courses from the following list (6 cr.):
MUSC 10600 - Film Music And Sound Cr. 3.
MUSC 28211 - Perspectives In Music Cr. 3.
MUSC 39300 - History Of Jazz Cr. 3.
MUSC 40501 - Music History I Cr. 3.
MUSC 40502 - Music History II Cr. 3.
MUSC 40503 - Music History III Cr. 3.

Music Elective: Credits 18

MUSC 10100 - Music for the Listener: Honors Cr. 3. (also fulfills General Education B7 requirement)
Students may choose any MUSC course sufficient to reach 120 credit hours.

Music Industry majors can also use BUS 20002 in the Music Electives, when applicable.

Senior Seminar: Credits 3

Required course:

MUSC 48499 - Senior Seminar Cr. 3.

Media Production: Credits 3

Required courses:

AD 10502 - Digital Imaging Cr. 3.

Electives

Sufficient additional credits to bring the total to 120.

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.