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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
Virtual Open Day. Wednesday 27 November. 10.30 - 13.00 & 16.00 - 18.30 (GMT)

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.

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.

How you'll learn

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.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

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

See more about the University Library's special collections

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

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:

Search for funding

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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

How to apply


Using the application portal

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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.


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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.

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