Foundation Diploma in Music Business
A 1-year part-time diploma
The BIMM Music Institute Dublin Diploma in Music Business is designed to provide students with a skillset specifically aimed at future employment in fields as diverse as Music Promotion and Marketing, Artist Management, Tour Management, Physical and Digital Music Distribution, e-commerce in the Music Industry, Music Publishing and Recording, Live Music Events and Touring and PROs.
The course is perfectly suited to individuals with no prior knowledge of the industry who wish to use it as a springboard for further study or entrepreneurship.
It also offers music industry professionals and musicians the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the business side of their careers on a part-time basis, while continuing their professional practice.
An extensive range of tutorials, Masterclasses and industry workshops will complement the curriculum. This ensures that students are fully supported and connected to the existing BIMM community of artists and performers. You’ll also be exposed to a wider network of industry opportunities.
This course, like all qualifications at BIMM Music Institute Dublin, is delivered by tutors with experience working at the highest levels of the music business. This ensures that our delivery of this qualification will be distinctive, relevant and uniquely cutting-edge.
The course is fully validated by BIMM University and successful completion will gain you 60 CATS credits at Level 4 in the National Framework of Qualifications for England & Northern Ireland.
This is the equivalent to 30 ECTS credits at Level 6 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications.
It’s a great gateway to taking your first steps in a music industry career.
Course specification
Mode of attendance: Part-time
Length of course: 1 year
Awarding institution: BIMM University
Campus delivery: Dublin
Language of study: English
Final award and exit awards: 60 CATS Credits (Equivalent to 30 ECTS Credits)
Admissions Criteria: Successful completion of one module at Level 5. This is equivalent to one O6 (formerly one Ordinary Level D3) in any subject at Leaving Cert.
Minimum requirements
The minimum entry requirement is the successful completion of one module at Level 5. This is equivalent to one O6 (formerly one Ordinary Level D3) in any subject at Leaving Cert.
Applicants must be 17 on 1st January in the year of entry. All applicants are made directly to BIMM Music Institute Dublin. All applicants must also attend an interview to determine their eligibility for the course.
Mature students are welcomed and must be 23 on 1st January in the year of application in order to be classified as such.
Overseas students where English is not their native language must meet a minimum English language requirement of IELTS 6.0. We require a minimum of 5.5 to be achieved in each band.
Progression
Graduates can progress directly to a career in the music industry in entrepreneurial areas such as artist management, A&R, events, marketing, media law, merchandising, music publishing, journalism and tour management.
Course fees
Because we’re Europe’s largest and most prestigious music institute, we’re uniquely positioned to offer outstanding value and quality to all our students.
Module names and structure may be subject to change.
The rapidly evolving music business is a multi-facetted, technologically driven industry. Effective music industry practitioners must understand how the numerous businesses, organisations and professionals operate, how they work alongside each other and interconnect. Furthermore, due to the rate of change, it is essential to make informed predictions about the future of the industry and evolve operations accordingly. This module is designed to offer you a holistic perspective of the industry, from where you can clearly identify conventions, standard working practices and growth areas.
This module will help students make informed choices about their career and introduce them to fundamental topics within the music business. The current circumstances of the music industry require individuals capable of the kind of multi-tasking that might see someone tour managing a band, promoting independent recordings online, advising on or negotiating a wide range of contracts and deals, engaging with publishers or in synchronisation agreements, or any other business activity.
There will be a strong focus on copyright and how it underpins the wider music industry. Key stakeholders in the music industry will be identified, and their respective roles will be explored. Students will be given the opportunity to examine management contracts, and to chart the revenue flow of the wider industry. Topics introduced in the module will give students a firm knowledge base of the wider sector. These topics will then be explored in more depth in semester 2 with The Recorded Music Industry and Music Publishing modules.
Module aims:
– To identify and examine music industry structures and practices
– To examine key contemporary developments in the music industry
– To engage in an appropriate level of reading and research, demonstrating appropriate academic conventions
From developing emerging artists at a grassroots level to building fanbases through national and international touring and delivering career-defining moments at stadiums and festivals, the live sector is key to building and engaging audiences.
It is also responsible for generating substantial revenue, however, just as in other sectors there are new challenges arising all of the time and as such the live industry is constantly having to adapt and evolve.
This module will aim to contextualise and explore concepts introduced in the Music Business Fundamentals module to give you the tools and knowledge to navigate the Live Music Industry. Covering both ground-level insight into how live events work and the roles of those involved, through to industry trends and the challenges faced by everyone from small venues to world-renowned festivals.
The module is designed to give the student an insight into the workings of the live music industry, this module will help students make informed choices about their career and introduce them to fundamental topics within the live music sector.
Module aims:
– To identify and examine current live music industry structures and practices
– To examine key contemporary developments in the live music industry
– Engage in an appropriate level of reading and research, demonstrating appropriate academic conventions
This module will focus on the fundamentals of the music publishing sector covering areas such as: the definition of a song, the publisher’s role, the collection societies, the types of music publisher, and music publishing contracts. In this module, you will explore the relationship between these core concepts and current music industry developments.
This module will familiarise students with the fundamental issues in music publishing. The module will build on what students have learned from Music Business Fundamentals module in semester 1 and will delve deeper into the Music Publishing sector. It will begin with the history of the industry, defining what a music publisher does as well as reviewing the role of collection societies, collective licensing and what income is derived from these bodies.
As the module progresses it will cover more complex topics, including a detailed analysis of music publishing and licensing contracts, before moving on to other advanced subjects such as synchronisation and direct licensing all the while referring to examples of legal disputes that have come about from these documents.
The module will conclude with a comprehensive analysis of contemporary issues in music publishing such as the opportunities and challenges of digital, updates to copyright and new business models which offer choice to songwriters.
Module aims
– To recognise fundamental concepts in music publishing and copyright
– To interpret key terms in music publishing contracts
– To recognise important contemporary issues in the discipline
Out of the three key revenue streams in the music industry (the recorded music industry, the live music industry, and the music publishing sector), the recorded music industry is one of the most vital and visible sectors to industry practitioners. Releasing recorded music is an integral step in any professional artist’s career. As a result, there are numerous key stakeholders, businesses and operations in this sector of the industry, all performing many different tasks. A clear comprehension of these respective roles, along with the typical agreements and contracts used is crucial for a foundational knowledge of the music industry. This module seeks to explore all of the above topics in depth to prepare the student for a career in the recorded sector.
This module provides students with an in-depth exploration and analysis of the mechanics and structures of the commercial recording industry. Technological advancements in the sector have continuedly allowed recording artists multiple ways of distributing their recorded work. At the same time, many corners of the sector have become more consolidated, with a handful of large multinational companies dominating the market. This module will focus on the impact and importance of the digital tools, platforms and networks designed to enhance self-promotion have had on the wider sector. It will look at the value of copyright ownership in current and future marketplaces.
The module builds on what was introduced in the Music Business Fundamentals module. It begins by examining the building blocks of the recording industry from digital service providers and royalty collection, to the different structures and roles within record labels. There is a focus on recording contracts, and how consumer behaviour has shifted the structure of these contracts. The role of additional key stakeholders such as publicists, radio pluggers, and physical and digital distributors will be explored.
Module aims
– To provide the student with a thorough examination of the contemporary landscape of the recording industry, and to identify the importance of its key stakeholders.
– To examine the role and importance of digital services, platforms and networks supporting the recording industry.
– To provide the student with a comprehensive perspective on how to successfully navigate an artists’ career through the recording industry
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM Music Institute, please contact our Admissions Team on +353 1 5133 666 or email [email protected].