Music Industries Management MA
Develop the practical skills and knowledge needed for a career in the music and wider creative industries.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Develop the advanced knowledge and skills you need to work in the global music industries.
Whether you're looking to pursue a career in management or as a self employed professional, on our Music Industries Management MA you'll gain a solid understanding of current industry trends and challenges in regional, national, and global contexts.
You’ll explore key elements of the music sector, such as:
- live music events
- music policy
- marketing and distribution
- recording and publishing
Newcastle’s music department has a long tradition of future-focused education informed by cutting-edge research and practice.
You’ll utilise our extensive connections with global professional and industry bodies. The valuable insights of our network influences our teaching and provides industry research projects, engaging with contemporary issues.
Your studies will lead towards a major research project. On this project you can dive deep into a topic of interest, or tackle a project set by one of our industry partners based on a specific research brief.
Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you'll learn
As a Music Industries Management Master’s student, you’ll learn about:
- Employment, self-employment and freelancing in the music industries
- Current issues facing the music industries and creative sector
- Key approaches to theorising, analysing and formulating research problems for the music industries
- The social, cultural, economic and political contexts in which music and creative sector practitioners and organisations are working
- Production processes and professional practices relevant to live and recorded music
- The past, present and future development of the music industry
- The types of organisations the global music industries interact with
Through collaboration with researchers, policy experts and industry professionals and organisations, you’ll explore innovative responses to challenges and opportunities in the music industries. You'll gain a versatile set of skills applicable to the music and wider creative sectors.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
All students will take all of the following compulsory modules:
All students will take one of the following modules:
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| MUS8028 Pedagogical Technology in Music Education | 20 |
| MUS8029 Music Education, Community, and Wellbeing | 20 |
With the approval of the Degree Programme Director and depending upon the academic background of the candidate, alternative optional modules to those listed above may be selected.
Year 1
All students will take all of the following compulsory modules:
Year 2
All students will take all of the following compulsory modules:
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| MUS8020 Researching Music | 20 |
| MUS8032 Music Research Project | 60 |
All students will take one of the following optional modules:
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| MUS8028 Pedagogical Technology in Music Education | 20 |
| MUS8029 Music Education, Community, and Wellbeing | 20 |
How you'll learn
You’ll be taught using a range of methods, including:
- Lectures
- Interactive seminars
- Practice-based workshops
- Small group tutorials
- Guided independent study
- Case studies
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Case study
- Essay
- Oral presentation
- Portfolio
- Report
- Research paper
- Written exercise
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Your future
Professional skills
Develop problem-solving, analytical and planning strategies for the music industries through professional research and optional real-world project-based learning
You’ll write confidently for a range of audiences and enhance your teamworking and collaboration skills.
Practical skills
Gain the confidence to work with peers, musicians, and creative professionals, communicating effectively across cultures.
You’ll learn to advocate for the music industries and their significance within a variety of contexts relating to the cultural and creative sectors.
You’ll also gain experience of industry-relevant project planning and skills in network building.
Careers
On our programme you'll prepare for a career in the music industry or other creative sectors. You'll have the opportunity to build networks and apply your skills in practice. You could find work in a range of roles including:
- artist management
- live music
- music publishing
- project and event management
- music marketing
- creative production
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
We have outstanding specialist music facilities including studios and performance spaces. Our £4.5m purpose-built Music Studios were designed with performance, multimedia and studio-based work in mind.
Read more about out the facilities in our Music department
Our facilities include:
- two professional-grade recording studios
- a range of recently refurbished rehearsal and performance spaces
- a work area with PCs featuring specialist music software
- a project room equipped with 5.1 mixing system
- a full range of recently refurbished teaching facilities, including a 100-seat lecture theatre, two 50 seat lecture theatres and three 25-seater seminar room
- a large student common room and a new refreshments and social lounge
The University Library provides access to:
- extensive music collections (including a number of important manuscript and microfilm collections)
- subscriptions to many specialist music journals
- a significant body of online resources
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
The School of Arts and Cultures is pleased to offer £2,000 tuition fee awards for outstanding home applicants who apply to commence full-time studies on this degree. Read more.
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You will be eligible for a scholarship worth 15% off the international fee.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course
Our Business and Humanities Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course.
How to apply
Using the application portal
The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.
You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
Apply Online
Open days and events
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually
Overseas events
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.
Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
School of Arts and Cultures
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3509
Email: pgmusic@ncl.ac.uk
Online
For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.
Live chat
Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.
You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.
Keep updated
We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.
Receive regular updates by email
Social Media
Get involved with the Music social media.