At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BM

As a music business major, you will prepare for successful professional careers in the music business industry.

Bachelor of Music in Music Business

Three musicians at the University Orchestra's "All You Need is Love!” Valentine's Day concert. Image by Tory Germann

UMass Lowell's Bachelor of Music in Music Business blends music industry training with an innovative music performance curriculum. 

You'll learn the core skills that matter, from music management, marketing and entrepreneurship to publishing, licensing and concert promotion.

Gain professional experience through internships, collaborate in performance ensembles and build confidence in cutting-edge facilities just minutes from downtown Lowell and close to Boston. You'll graduate ready for careers in arts administration, artist representation, marketing and media.

Please note: An audition is required for all majors in the Music Department.

Career Outlook for Music Business Majors

  • $84.9K

    Median salary for bachelor's degree holders in New England
    (Lightcast, 2025)

  • +8.5%

    Projected job growth in music business (2023–2035)
    (Lightcast, 2025)

What Can You Do with a Degree in Music Business?

Our program prepares students for successful professional careers, whether in long-established pathways or by developing bold, new ideas and approaches to connecting music to audiences.

David Chieh III - Verizon corporate recruiter looks over Jonathan Campelli's resume at the Career Fair at the Tsongas Center.

Jobs in the music industry include:

  • Record and concert promotion
  • Arts administration
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Music products 
  • New media
  • Publishing and licensing

Courses You'll Take as a Music Business Major

Sample course topics include: 

  • Media Development for Musicians
  • Music Publishing and Copyright
  • Music Promotion and Merchandising
  • Introduction to Business Law
  • Accounting/Managerial
  • Music Business Internship
  • Music Business Entrepreneur
  • View All Music Courses

Year-by-Year Course Plan

Check out our degree pathways, which offer sample plans for completing your degree in four years.

For students who entered fall 2024 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15-16
MUAP.1000Recital Attendance0
MUTH.1080Musicianship and Analysis 14
MUHI.1040Musical Practices 11
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I /
First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW)		3
MUAP.xxxxxApplied Music Elective2
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective2
xxxx.xxxxSciences with Lab Perspective (SCL)3-4

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
MUAP.1000Recital Attendance0
MUTH.1090Musicianship and Analysis 24
MUTH.1200Musicianship and Analysis Keyboard Lab2
MUHI.1050Musical Practices 2 (DCA)1
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
MUAP.xxxxApplied Music Elective2
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective2
MUSR.1100Introduction to Music Technology2

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
MUAP.1000Recital Attendance0
MUTH.2080Musicianship and Analysis 34
MUPF.2330Conducting 12
MUBU.3010Music Business 1 (SRE)3
ACCT.2010Accounting/Financial3
MUAP.xxxxApplied Music Elective2
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective2

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
MUAP.1000Recital Attendance0
MUTH.2090Musicianship and Analysis 44
MUPF.2340Conducting 22
MUBU.3020Music Business 23
ACCT.2020Accounting/Managerial3
MUAP.xxxxApplied Music Elective2
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective2

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
MUAP.1000Recital Attendance0
MUHI.2610Music History 1 (AH)3
ECON.2010Principles of Microeconomics (SS), (QL)3
MUBU.3150Media Development for Musicians (IL)3
MUAP.xxxxApplied Music Elective2
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective2
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)3

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
MUAP.1000Recital Attendance0
MUHI.2620Music History 2 (AH), (WOC)3
ECON.2020Principles of Macroeconomics (SS)3
MUBU.3030Music Publishing and Copyright3
MUBU.3040Music Promotion and Merchandising3
MUAP.xxxxApplied Music Elective2
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective2

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total17
LGST.2620Introduction to Business Law (SS)3
MUAP.1000Recital Attendance0
MUBU.4010Music Business Seminar3
MUBU.4040Music Business Entrepreneur3
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective2
xxxx.3/4xxxMusic Elective (3000-4000 level)3
xxxx.xxxxScience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Perspective (STEM)3

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total14-15
MUBU.4991Music Business Internship (AIL)6
MATH.2830Introdiction to Statistics (MATH)3
MUEN.xxxxEnsembles Elective12
xxxx.xxxxSciences with Lab Perspective (SCL)3-4

Total Minimum Credits = 126-128.

1Consult with your advisor. Depending upon internship placement, this course may not be required.

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty adviser to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Please see advisor or contact the Music Department for more specific requirements pertaining to Freshman Chorus, Recital Attendance, Applied Music, Ensembles and Internships.

Current UMass Lowell students should be using their Advisement Report in SiS. If you need assistance, please contact your adviser.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment.

See the catalog policy for details.

Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) Glossary

  • SS - Social Sciences Perspective - 9 credits
  • AH - Arts and Humanities Perspective - 9 credits
  • SCL - Sciences with Lab Perspective - 6 credits
  • STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Perspective - 3 credits
  • CW - College Writing I and II - 6 credits
  • MATH - Math Perspective - 3 credits

Read more about the Breadth of Knowledge requirements.

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO) Glossary

  • AIL - Applied and Integrative Learning
  • CTPS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • DCA - Diversity and Cultural Awareness
  • IL - Information Literacy
  • QL - Quantitative Literacy
  • SRE - Social Responsibility and Ethics
  • WOC - Written and Oral Communication

Read more about the Essential Learning Outcomes.

Why study music business at UMass Lowell?

Music students in a computer lab.

Expert Faculty

Work with our faculty, who are skilled music educators and talented professional musicians. Small class sizes ensure that students work directly with faculty throughout their studies.

The string section at the University Orchestra's "All You Need is Love!” Valentine's Day concert. Image by Tory Germann

Internships

Gain practical experience through internships at professional firms involved in the music industry. The internship experience is an important bridge between academic preparation and career development. 

UMass Lowell Image

Performance Ensembles

Join one of our many performance ensembles, including:

  • World Music Ensemble
  • Concert Band
  • Marching Band
  • University Choir
  • Chamber Singers
  • Jazz Ensemble
Young woman singing alongside guitarists and drummer

Advanced Facilities

The Moloney Performing Arts Center contains:

  • 1,200-seat concert hall
  • 225-seat recital hall
  • 30 rehearsal suites
  • 6 sound recording technology studios (including world-class tracking and mixing spaces)
  • Music technology laboratory (containing state-of-the-art Apple workstations with MIDI keyboards)
  • Classroom spaces
Sheet music for Pomp and Circumstance. Image by Meghan Moore

Career Connected Experience: The UMass Lowell Guarantee

Every first-time, first-year UMass Lowell student will have the opportunity to pursue at least one Career Connected Experience (internships, co-ops, clinical placements, service learning, study abroad and more) during their undergraduate career — earning pay, credits or both before they graduate.

Meet Our Students & Alumni

Music business major Brynne Santos plays the harp at UMass Lowell
Brynne Santos '22
Music Business

As a music business major, Brynne Santos performs in four ensembles while also learning about marketing, management and licensing.

Music is my passion, but it’s notoriously difficult to make a living at it.
Umass Student Sophia Cavalcante sings into a microphone.
Sophia Cavalcante '25
Music Business

As president of the student-run record label SevenSix, Sophia Cavalcante is preparing for a career managing recording artists.

When an event goes off exactly the way you envisioned it, it’s such an ‘I just did that moment.

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