As the music market shifts to digital online and mobile products, a greater number of competent, highly-skilled executives and entrepreneurs are needed to meet the specialized demands of the reinvented music industry. The MBEI program is carefully designed to prepare qualified music business students for these emerging opportunities with many opportunities to gain hands-on experience during your study. MBEI graduates work for major record labels, independent record companies, music publishing companies and talent agencies in various business positions.

Ranked #1 in "The Best Online Master's in Entertainment Management Programs" by TheBestSchools.org

As a graduate of the Music Business program, you will gain:

• A real-world understanding of the complexities of the music business taught by extensively field-experienced faculty
• Access to a strong, active and dedicated alumni network
• A broad range of relevant knowledge and skills in live music promotion, music publishing and licensing, legal aspects of the live entertainment industry, and more

"Don't be afraid to follow a vision or a dream that you have that might encompass music. Frost can get you where you want to be." –Jerald Washington, Master of Music Business and Entertainment Industries, May 2016.

PLUS: You could receive up to 50% off your tuition! Speak with an Enrollment Services Specialist to learn more about our Life Achievement and Academic Performance Scholarships. Read More >>

In addition to the courses below, you will need to pass a Cumulative Exit Exam at the end of your coursework to be eligible for your degree.

• Music Copyright Law

  Course number: MMI 774 | Credit hours: 3

  A study of the essential provisions of the 1976 Copyright Act and subsequent amendments and revisions. Students examine the unique complexities of copyright law as it relates to the music industry.

• Music Publishing

  Course number: MMI 673 | Credit hours: 3

  An in-depth study of the international publishing industry with an emphasis on catalog development and exploitation.

• Music Business Agreements

  Course number: MMI 750 | Credit hours: 3

  A study of various music industry agreements and how they affect the artist and songwriter. Recording, music publishing, and personal management agreements are analyzed and discussed. Topics include negotiation considerations, deal points, record company economics, and profitability.

• Legal Aspects of the Live Entertainment Industry

  Course number: MMI 738 | Credit hours: 3 (*** May substitute for MMI 750)
  

  Students become familiar with various Artist, Client, Production, Vendor and Facility Contracts and Agreements commonly used in the industry.

• Music Licensing

  Course number: MMI 752 | Credit hours: 3

  Advanced music industry concepts and problems in music licensing. Personal rights and most varieties of music licenses and international licensing concepts are covered. Students acquire practical experience utilizing licensing parameters.

• Entrepreneurship for Musicians

  Course number: MMI 630 | Credit hours: 3

  Course explores a wide range of options for musicians who want to pursue music business careers in their regional music markets. Students examine opportunities in performance, recording, composition, education, and more. Emphasis is placed on the packaging of musical skills in the marketplace and on the financial management of a small proprietary music business. As a result, the student musician will be prepared to make career decisions with foresight and planning.

• Recorded Music Operations

  Course number: MMI 637 | Credit hours: 3

  A study of the activities involved in commercially exploiting recorded music. Includes an analysis of activities involved in the production, manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of a recorded music product; as well as related royalty accounting, mechanical licensing and master-use licensing activities.

• Marketing in the Arts and Entertainment

  Course number: MMI 643 | Credit hours: 3

  Students learn how to fulfill demand and influence consumer behavior through effective marketing techniques. The course provides the students with information on the latest technologies being employed to reach and communicate with target consumers.

• Performing Arts Center and Facility Management

  Course number: MMI 726 | Credit hours: 3

  Students learn the many aspects of managing a live entertainment and performing arts center facility. Logistics, management, budgeting, marketing and programming within a live entertainment and performing arts facility are addressed.

• Tour Management and Production

  Course number: MMI 641 | Credit hours: 3

  Students will become familiar with the responsibilities of a tour planner. Individual tour planning projects are assigned which will give the students insight into the management and production of a tour.

• Sponsorship, Development, and Financial Management in the Live Entertainment Industry

  Course number: MMI 736 | Credit hours: 3

  Students learn how to write and present a line-item budget for an arts presentation event, arts presenting organization, and an arts facility. Specific techniques and methods that are used to reduce event risk and safety are discussed.

• Legal Aspects of the Live Entertainment Industry

  Course number: MMI 738 | Credit hours: 3 (*** May substitute for MMI 750 or be used as an elective)
  

  Students become familiar with various Artist, Client, Production, Vendor and Facility Contracts and Agreements commonly used in the industry.

• Arts Presenting Project

  Course number: MMI 740 | Credit hours: 3

  In this course, we'll investigate the best-practices of event execution, including but not limited to time management, teamwork, planning processes, event supervision and evaluation techniques.

• Arts Leadership

  Course number: MMI 632 | Credit hours: 3

  Building a career in the twenty-first century and beyond creates challenges both exciting and daunting. The purpose of this course is to provide grounding, critical information, as well as planning and vision for shaping the key components of launching and sustaining a career in the arts.

• Peak Performance Strategies for Musicians

  Course number: MUS 745 | Credit hours: 3

  Become a more confident and expressive performer. This unique and forward thinking course will be both performance and research-based. Students will develop the tools to succeed by studying techniques and concepts in preparation, positive psychology, visualization, bodily kinesthetics, communication, mindfulness and weekly performance and practice assignments. The goal is to encourage fearless artistry, beginning in the practice room and continuing on stage and beyond.

• World of the Working Musician

  Course number: MMI 735 | Credit hours: 3

  This course is intended to provide immediate, important, comprehensive and detailed information and tacitcs in building a foundation for a lasting, meaningful career as a performing artist - one that not only exemplifies best-practices, but is unique to your artistic voice and vision.

• Communication, Marketing and Publicity for the Musical Artist

  Course number: MUS 755 | Credit hours: 3

  Effective communication skills are key for realizing your objectives in a competitive and dynamic music scene. In this course the concepts, techniques and conduits of communication will be defined and detailed - as they pertain to the musical artist and with an emphasis on the most up to date technologies and platforms for getting your message across. More traditional ways of interfacing will not be neglected: the honing of clear writing, speaking, and person to person skills will be stressed. We will also reveal the ins and outs of working with publicists and other marketing professionals in our field. By the end of this course, you should have the tools to execute a communication and marketing strategy appropriate for your own career goals.

• Media Creation

  Course number: MUS 735 | Credit hours: 3

  This course is intended to provide the student with the ability to record, edit, mix, and master content in both video and audio mediums, by using the most current, practical, and affordable technology available today.