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MA Modern Music Industries

Develop skills while building a portfolio to become an entrepreneur in the music industry. Discover how to network, communicate, and lead others in musical projects. Delve into a chosen area of study that'll prepare you to carry out research in a professional capacity.

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A student playing the keyboard
Course codeCID1535
Duration2 years
Fee(s)View fees
LocationOn campus

Course summary

Delivered by the Northern Academy of Music (NAME)(opens in new tab), the MA Modern Music Industries course blends academic study with hands-on industry experience. You’ll develop your skills to a professional standard, ready to collaborate with companies and experts beyond the classroom.

Taught by active music professionals, the degree reflects current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the modern music industry. You’ll learn how to build a portfolio career, lead musical projects, and communicate effectively within the sector. Through research, you’ll deepen your understanding of your own practice and gain a strong foundation in critical thinking.

You’ll also benefit from masterclasses with visiting speakers, and we’re involved in the curation of stages at various festivals and events, both regionally and nationally, that you can take part in. You can also access valuable placement opportunities through our network of music industry contacts.

By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped with the transferable skills needed to deliver masterclasses, teach others, and work with leading names across the music and cultural industries.

NAME is run by seasoned music professionals who are still active in the music industry, meaning the course content is carefully crafted from years of collective experience.

Northern Academy of Music Education (NAME) logo(opens in new tab)

What you'll study

Core modules

Many of our courses include a range of modules you can choose from. Some of these options may only be available if you’ve already studied specific required modules. If you’re not sure what you need before picking a module, your course leader can help.

Postgraduate module credits should total 180. If optional modules are available alongside core modules on your course, you should choose an amount that totals 180 credits.

How you'll learn

This course is based at The Peacock and The Fire Station in Sunderland's cultural quarter, and is delivered by NAME(opens in new tab). You'll have use of facilities including music practice rooms, performance spaces, classrooms, and sound recording facilities.

The degree allows you to lead on your artistic progression by focusing on your vocational interests in the field. You'll be taught in small group lectures and seminars, but will also receive one-to-one mentoring in your chosen area of practice. There'll be industry liaison guest lectures and guidance to prepare you to work as a self-employed entrepreneur for music-related companies.

Assessment will be mostly practical, requiring submissions of recordings and products, supplemented with evaluations of your work. The course requires a professional standard of practical engagement in the music industry, as you'll set, plan, and create your product, events, and collaborations. You'll be assessed on your ability to pitch, present, and critically think about music industry practice. This will be assessed to an industry standard.

Entry requirements

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UK students

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have clear and accurate information about our courses. Our website always shows the latest updates. If you’ve applied and been offered a place, we’ll contact you in writing if anything important changes.

View our programme specifications(opens in new tab) for further information about what the course covers, learning outcomes and the skills you'll gain when you graduate.