Music Business Degrees: Are They Worth It?

[@kwantpaul]

James, as the current Ferris State University Music and Entertainment Business Program Director, I want to thank you for your continued efforts on educating individuals in the music industry. You have presented valid points and a few that call for a response. Yes, our Music and Entertainment Business program is a BUSINESS degree that features industry specific courses on the music industry. As a graduate of Belmont University, you are correct in your overview of both institutions. Our programs are very different in scope and pricing. To clarify: 1) A Bachelor of Science in Business is earned by our graduates. We are very proud of the degree and that our tuition rate is affordable, compared to many other academic institutions that offer MB programs. 2) The past Music Industry Management program (1995-2017) relied heavily on live show production and backline tech experience taught through the on campus Music Industry Management registered student organization. I replaced the former director in 2017. In his defense, the MIM program was appropriate for the time in operation. He put his heart and soul into making the program accessible to any student who had a desire to learn more about the foundations of the business. 3) The current Music and Entertainment Business degree was redesigned (2018) and intentionally structured to provide increased employment opportunities for our graduates. 4) There are multiple value-added benefits students receive with our academic offering (built in Minor, Certificate or specialized concentration courses) and even the option to reverse-transfer from a community college partner. Courses are being expanded in our program's major as well - offering more than just a few. As the music business is undergoing change, so are we. We celebrate 25 years of education in 2020, I am proud of our alumni and current students who have successfully gained employment in and out of the business. Feel free to contact me if you would like to learn more about our current MEB program. I love what you do. Thanks for being a great example in the "hustle" economy. Kindly, Paul Kwant

[@MusicBiz]

thanks, Paul! Would love to speak with the students sometime about my adventures and the lessons learned along the way. Feel free to reach out [e-mail]

[@paulyoungmusic1]

Preach on, Paul. I wish you the greatest success. I appreciate what you do. I am one of you and that’s a fine response.

[@jackprizant7704]

Great content mate! The level of audio for the intro and outro almost left me deaf though other than that I enjoyed it!

[@MusicBiz]

I appreciate the feedback, Jako. Still working on smoothing things out for you

[@angelvalenzuela7126]

This is very useful information

[@MusicBiz]

Glad you think so! Please subscribe for more info!

[@paulyoungmusic1]

Your video is fantastic especially as it continues. You’re giving good advice. I’m glad you made this.

[@paulyoungmusic1]

With all due respect. And I’m not mad at your school or your degree because I teach that degree and I have that degree. You got your degree in Michigan. There is no business there except in Detroit. If there’s any left, I have taught this degree, and now CSU Chico. I am Dr. Paul Young, with a bachelors in music industry. I lived it before I got my doctorate and I teach it now and I’m happy to do it. If you were outside of major market, and you live outside of major market, then… it is a degree that is valuable more than you have referenced in the first minute of video. Simply any degree is worth your time. It’s your test. And you are correct, to an extent… No one needs to agree in music industry to work in the music industry. But it would teach people about how this business works. This is wonderful business with billions in it , I just said music and billions. And I’m proud of it. And I’m proud to be a veteran of this music, industry and universal music group, have played on records and TV shows, and taught to fine university. I heard your podcast later in it and I think you’re absolutely correct. And I wish you well.

[@paulyoungmusic1]

And you were also correct, the music programs at universities are woefully out of date. For a music history degree. They make you take theory, history, all that other bull crap. That is for a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of music. But you went to a bachelor of science where you should’ve had 54 units out of 120 units, just about your business. This is a business. It’s a wonderful business. Don’t let anyone ever say that this music degree and process is worthless. I houses cars and great experiences being in the music business. Music. And I love it. And so do you because you are podcasting and I appreciate you .

[@paulyoungmusic1]

By the way, sometimes Siri is a terrible thing. I used voice to text and left many typos that makes me look stupid but I’m not. Well maybe. Lol. I appreciate that you do this.

[@prernasarin9207]

Great video! Very informative! Apart from Belmont University, would you suggest going to Berklee College of Music - Valencia Campus for the Music Business Master's program? If yes, which one would you suggest amongst the both?

[@heynongman1222]

I'm looking at pursuing a masters in music business, do you have any recommendations on the best schools for live performance/venue management?

[@BenvindadeJesus]

Me too! I want to know if it’s worth it to take the masters in Berklee or it’s better to take in some UK music institutions that provide de masters. I don’t know which institution to choose. The thing is I want an online masters.

[@satakieli13]

@@BenvindadeJesus Same. Did you make a choice?

[@paulyoungmusic1]

I wrote the masters degree program at USC. It is wonderful. I’m not there anymore, but I highly recommend it if you have 18 months and you want to live in a major market.

[@paulyoungmusic1]

If you’re gonna spend money getting a masters degree, don’t go to Boston. Go to New York Los Angeles for Nashville and do it live a real person, where your business is, and you will succeed.

[@VictoryAviation]

James, I really appreciate you entertaining my question! I guess now a smart move would be to explore different types of positions in the music industry to see where I would fit in the best. My ultimate goal is to write and perform electronic dance music. Do you have any suggestions for what type of job I could start working towards that would eventually set me up for success as an artist? In other words, what could pay the bills but keep me involved in the music industry all while paving the way to be a successful artist? Thanks again!!! Great video.

[@MusicBiz]

Honestly, anything in the world of audio production would be good.

[@VictoryAviation]

MusicBiz so you’re thinking either a sound engineer or master engineer... that kind of thing? I would actually love doing this more than a music business type job. My fear is (from what I’ve heard) that good audio engineers are a dime a dozen. So I hear a lot that the market is over saturated. That worries me, but truly I would LOVE working in a studio all day.

[@ritwq]

Hi! Could you please tell what all colleges offer music degrees, except Belmont?

[@jordynramos9043]

In Texas, Dallas Baptist University and Tarleton State University offer Music Business

[@jaimievillar205]

Loyola University New Orleans has an amazing program, although it can be a bit pricey w/out grants/scholarships

[@paulyoungmusic1]

USC, Belmont, NYU, Frost school of music at University of Miami… After that, go where you can go and afford it. Online degrees don’t work people who show up with people that are serious… Work. go to a major market.

[@pattygmartell1720]

I wanna work at gigs/festivals or anything in Columbia records and stuff , I’m currently on a career I don’t like and I live in Mexico I don’t know how can I get started or if I should do a master in anything else help:(

[@paulyoungmusic1]

Add value to other peoples lives and projects wherever you go. Columbia, United States, any country whatsoever simply add value to other musicians lives, and will pay you back. It’s not always the person that you worked with or for, it is what you did for people that won’t give you your future in music.