• Postgraduate

Music Industry Management and Artist Development MA

Overview

Overview

Commercial success and a sustained career within the music industry increasingly depend on having the skills and ability to manage and develop career opportunities; either for yourself or for an act you represent.

On this music management Masters course you will study key concepts in managing and developing a music career and a broad range of entrepreneurial and transferable skills suitable for a variety of music industry jobs.

You will learn about setting up and managing an independent label, develop the skills and knowledge to facilitate live events as well as gain a more general understanding of the music business.

This programme is dual accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). More information below.

A female singing whilst a band perform in the background of a rehearsal room

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Music Industry Management and Artist Development with us?

Why study Music Industry Management and Artist Development with us?

What our students say…

The facilities were fantastic, lecturers really helpful, and the extracurricular activities were brilliant! The best part of being at LCM was the networking opportunities. I got to liaise with industry professionals in master classes, and I got job opportunities from these events. My course was fantastic.

Dr Jo Lord, former student
Next
£1m+ investment in the Paragon Annex Studios. Our studio complex is now one of the largest in Europe.
This course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute
In-house Record Label London Noise Records
London College of Music: founded in 1887
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

This artist management course has been specifically designed to meet the demand of students who want to develop their knowledge of the music industry alongside entrepreneurial skills.

It provides an advanced range of transferable skills and knowledge to help you develop your own artist management and development business or to work within specialist sectors of the music industry.

On the course, you will be taught by a team of dedicated industry professionals with unique insights and extensive experience. You will study key concepts in managing and developing your own career – or that of an act you represent.

You will also learn a range of specialist skills including independent label management, career-building strategies, live events management and copyright law.

While studying, you will have access to the London College of Music’s impressive music facilities, with an extensive complex of studios equipped to professional specifications.

Based in west London, the hub of the UK's music and media business, our innovative courses are taught by practising industry experts. This means we have close links with the wider music industry and are in touch with its latest developments and innovations.

When you graduate from LCM you will join an ever-growing and impressive list of alumni including:

  • Matt Tong, formerly of Bloc Party 
  • Matthew Hodson, founder of the London Synthesis Orchestra 
  • Ben Salter, who worked with Nile Rodgers in the United States  
  • Alexander Grant, aka Alex Da Kid, a Grammy Award nominee who wrote and produced Eminem’s Love the Way You Lie (featuring Rihanna).

Professional accreditation

This programme is dual accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Students who successfully complete and pass all mapped modules will be eligible for an L7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership.

Students will also graduate as a 'foundation' Chartered Manager (fCMgr), a springboard to full Chartered status, and have affiliate membership of CMI for the life of their degree. This provides a wealth of management resources and support including:

  • access to CMI's management and leadership community with regular industry updates and invites to events and webinars
  • access to ManagementDirect, CMI's management and leadership library of resources
  • access to CMI’s Career Development Centre and Employability Skills Diagnostic Tool
  • mentoring.

Compulsory modules

  • Independent Music Management

    This module provides a critical overview of the evolving infrastructure of the music industry and how to successfully set up, operate and grow an independent music-based company – such as a record label, artist management company or events company. This will include developing skills in business planning, entrepreneurship, artist development and financial management within the context of the music industry.

    There is an increasing move towards smaller specialised companies, short-term contracts and freelance project-based employment. Therefore, it is necessary for students to embrace the principles of digital entrepreneurship; incorporating the techniques of business planning, raising capital and marketing. Generating successful business ideas is a process of creative thinking and a critical awareness of the business landscape. This module will focus on both the theoretical and practical aspects of initiating and developing a creative enterprise in the modern marketplace.

    A study of entrepreneurial traits provides the framework for the module, which includes the development of a credible business idea and the presentation of a formulated and considered business plan.

  • Digital Marketing & Artist Branding

    During this module students will explore the skills required to create, manage and critically evaluate digital music marketing campaigns. Students will appraise essential marketing principles and critique their application within the music industry.

    Digital marketing provides students with a range of digital tools required to deliver cutting-edge campaigns and an awareness of project management, which focuses on strategies for how to successfully market and brand a chosen artist. Therefore, students will explore and analyse a variety of techniques - including the use of social media, viral and experiential marketing - with a view to creating their own campaigns.

    Key skills investigated include:

    • Entrepreneurial skills
    • Marketing and branding
    • Budgeting
    • Setting up and running small businesses
    • Teambuilding

    Using these skills, students will produce a digital marketing and branding plan with a budget to develop either their own career, or an act they represent.

  • Professional Career Development

    This module aims to develop skills in individual personal and interpersonal effectiveness to support future career entry and development, thereby enabling positive impacts in professional environments. The module seeks to develop not only technical and subject capacity, but also personal and professional capability.

    On this module, students will research companies, prepare CVs and covering letters for interview and work with an industry mentor to create a personal development plan and strategy. Students will examine contemporary working practices as well as build their online presence and professional portfolio of work. This module is part of other structured activities, which includes support from the UWL Careers Team, to develop employability and career progression as well as learning and pastoral support from tutors to maintain good academic progression.

  • Leadership in Event Management

    Comprising of a series of lectures designed to enhance students understanding of the live event environment within the music industry, and the income streams generated within, this module forms part of the key provision for Leadership in Event Management.  The module will also investigate and analyse business models and their formation, along with more specialist issues such as international touring and festival management. Students will undertake one assignment focusing on the issues of planning and executing an event, by way of a written report, budget, stage plan and technical rider.

    Students will be introduced to contractual obligation between the parties and how to construct industry standard documentation including riders, budgets, and routing plans. Close attention will also be given to government regulations on health and safety, work permits, and overseas taxation.

    The module will examine the UK and global live performance industry, focusing on its business models and working practices. Students will be introduced to the management and staffing structures of the sector with an emphasis on leadership in the purposeful design of live music events. Study for this module is a combination of lectures and self-directed work that requires practical research methodology, problem solving, and careful time management.

  • Intellectual Property Law & Practice

    This module will enhance students understanding of managing an artist’s commercial and artistic development and their engagement with copyright, intellectual property law and contracts. Students will consider the legal system within the music industry, both from the management and performer perspective.

    The module will also explore issues such as intellectual property law related to user-generated content, artist branding, music synchronisation and digital streaming. A highly experienced industry practitioner working within the media law and copyright sectors of the industry delivers the module. The lecturer is a practicing commercial music lawyer with many years’ experience constructing and negotiating contracts, working with high profile commercial artists from the UK and around the world.

    Each lecture will focus on a key element of Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988 and the laws relating to the artist, the industry, and the digital domain, as well as the areas of contractual obligation in relationship to the key providers of services within the music industries.

    The module will also investigate and analyse established legal doctrines and their concepts, along with more specialist issues such as confidentiality and the application to the music industries. The content of this module will inform and provide a legal foundation to contractual obligations and documents investigated in the other modules this semester.

  • Research Methods

    Research Methods is an integral part of your master’s course. It is a core module for all students undertaking taught master’s work at the London College of Music and the Ealing School of Film, Media and Design. It may also be pursued by students preparing for MPhil (leading to DMus).

    The purpose of this module is to train you in research methods and critical methodology as preparation for undertaking research, and is designed to support and advance the project work produced during the rest of your study through a developed investigation of research methods.

    You will define, articulate and critically reflect upon the research concerns of your own practice during this unit, thereby underpinning and enhancing your knowledge and understanding of the chosen field of study, as well as developing your ability to communicate this in a variety of ways. This will enable you to develop your writing and analytical skills.

  • Dissertation Project

    The aim of this module is to conduct a sustained piece of individual research related to a particular specialism within the subject of music management. The module allows students an opportunity to devise and execute an ambitious, personal, self-managed piece of written work, or artistic product equivalent, that expands and enhances the knowledge and many of the skills acquired during their course. It also allows students to explore some of these ideas and techniques in a more focused and detailed way. The exact brief is up to the individual, but a named project supervisor will guide students.

    The actual project offers students an exciting opportunity to both refine topic-specific skills and research at a high level, but also to embrace and develop the broad base of transferable skills needed for the execution of a large-scale project. These include planning, self/time/resource management, communication, creative and imaginative exploration and independent problem solving. This approach will prepare students to function as highly skilled professionals, ready to excel in the professional arena.

     

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You need:

  • an honours degree (2:2 or above) in music, music technology or a related subject 
  • a portfolio of degree level or professional work 
  • a written statement

We may also offer you a place based on relevant experience or training, normally from within the work environment. All applications are considered individually.

Find out more about our processes for recognising previous experience.

6.5 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement of 6.5 overall score for IELTS, with a minimum of 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept.

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents.

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements. Find out more about our English Language courses.

Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

If you are studying a Masters course you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan, this may help contribute towards your course fees and living costs.

Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as disabled students or those with dependants.

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, including awards for specific subjects.

Awards for music students are also on offer.

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

{{ formatCurrencyValue(currentVariantData.field_p_cv_int_main_fee.name) }} per year

The fee above is the cost per year of your course.

If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year. If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.

Government regulation does affect tuition fees and the fees listed for courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year are subject to change.

If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A man playing a trumpet on stage surrounded by other bandmates

MA Music Industry Management and Artist Development graduates have gone on to set up their own businesses as well as working in a diverse range of exciting roles within the music industry. When you graduate you could work in:

  • artist management  
  • agency and promotion  
  • music publishing and PR  
  • tour management 
  • teaching  
  • radio station management 
  • creating new businesses.

You may also choose to study for a PhD or DMus in Popular Music Production or Electronic/Electroacoustic Composition.

How to apply

How to apply

Our alumni

Manny's music management drives social transformation

UWL’s Graduate Award winner for 2023 Emmanuel Ebokosia – Manny, is using music management to enact social change. At twelve years old, he discovered his love of music when he came to the UK from Nigeria. For Manny, music became a way of dealing with emotions and expressing his struggles, a skill honed during playground rap battles at school.

Manny suffered from a stutter and relied on the rhythm of rap music to allow him to speak with a flow. This experience taught him that music could be used to support other people and improve their lives.

Having applied to UWL to study music management, Manny knew he needed to learn more about social enterprises. A one-year course at Social Arc helped him set up his own business - True Cadence.

True Cadence started in September 2019, working with young people between 8 and 25 years old, running various music-related activities including songwriting, sound recording, music therapy, live performance, and the Music Industry masterclass program, which was inspired by Manny’s experiences at UWL.

True Cadence is now offering free courses that are funded by various organisations. There are big plans to grow the Music Industry masterclass into a Higher National Diploma, offered both privately and through subsidisation.

Emmanuel Ebokosia

Facilities

Facilities

Lawrence Hall, a black box theatre at the University of West London

Performance spaces

Our flexible, professionally-equipped performance spaces include Lawrence Hall, a 200-seat black box studio theatre, and Vestry Hall, a classical music performance space featuring a Steinway B Concert Grand piano, concert tuned percussion and seating for up to 150 

Production Studio 1 at the University of West London

Production studios

We have four black box production rooms featuring performance dance floors, ballet barres, wall mirrors and ¾ drapes. All rooms have PA and AV support in all rooms. The digital stage pianos are by Roland.

A music practice room at the University of West London

One-to-one teaching pods

We have five acoustically isolated teaching pods featuring Roland and Korg digital pianos and mirrors to facilitate one-to-one teaching in voice.

A music performance room at the University of West London

Music performance rooms

All music performance rooms feature drums and backline plus PA support.

  • Drums by Roland and Pearl.
  • Backline by Marshall, Orange, Line 6, Fender and Gallien-Kruger
  • Stage pianos by Korg and Roland
  • Synths by Roland and Kurzwiel
  • PA by Yamaha, ABT and Nexo.
Basement practice room at the University of West London

Basement practice rooms

  • All LCM practice rooms benefit from LCM’s All Steinway School status to bring you the very best instruments.
  • Three percussion practice and teaching rooms.
  • Percussion rooms feature Pearl kits with recording and playback systems.
Media Resource Centre at the University of West London

Media Resource Centre

At our Media Resource Centre (used by all subject areas) you'll find extensive portable audio recording systems, including up to 24 track digital HD recording and portable Focusrite RedNet systems.

There is also video-camera and accessory support, including LED and tungsten lighting systems, track and dolly systems and stedi-cam rigs.

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2022 and 2023 - Based on an average of all 27 questions. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.