The MA Music Entrepreneur is a 1-year course. You can study remotely online via distance learning or if you prefer, with a blend of onsite and online activity. It’s up to you.
The course is constructed to focus on three fundamental elements:
Reflect upon and document your experience and knowledge.
Hone your skills. Sharpen your commercial edge.
- The Bridge to Your Future
Become a recognised expert in your field.
Who it’s for
This course is for musicians and creatives. Many want to develop the commercial and entrepreneurial side of their careers. Others are looking to upskill in areas like digital marketing, social media and other aspects of the modern music professional’s life. Whatever your reasons, gaining the MA will give you more professional choices, more potential income streams and those all-important letters after your name.
The course will take you on a journey of critical reflection, development of professional practice through mentoring, culminating in the completion of a major commercial project. Areas of focus include in-depth analysis of the music industry, development of personal skills and the realisation of ideas through submission of a major project.
You will develop autonomy whilst learning to apply critical thinking and research skills to your work. You’ll gain academic proficiency and professional credibility. You’ll also develop your entrepreneurialism to maximise areas of potential revenue and enterprise.
The MA is focussed on your own work and experience. That means you don’t necessarily need an undergraduate degree to study this MA if you already have the right amount of professional experience.
How you will learn
You’ll get access to all of your module content via WaterBear’s dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You’ll also be able to participate in tutorials, discussions and meetings using video conferencing. In term time, the on-site weekly seminar can be attended in person, or remotely online.
Online and on-site teaching and learning activities can include:
- Lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops
- One-to-one mentoring
- Assignments, assessments and feedback sessions
- Masterclasses
- Conferences and events
- Peer collaboration and networking
Career pathways
This course is designed to further develop careers in music and the wider creative industries. These typically include:
- Artist (e.g. touring, studio, digital, etc.)
- Music business and management
- Teaching
- Research
- Journalism and PR
- Publishing and record label
- Performance (e.g. session, commercial, corporate, etc.)
- Live sound
- Tour management
Further study
Further academic study routes available include Postgraduate Practice & Research (e.g. PhD, Professional Doctorate) and PGCHE (teaching programme).
Course modules
Module title: Your Goals
So, you’ve already achieved a lot and have lots more going on. Now it’s time to take stock, document and celebrate those skills and achievements. Then let’s figure out where you want to be. You’ve got more to offer than you think!
Module title: Your Niche
Having the right skills and abilities is only one piece of the puzzle. It’s also knowing how your area of the industry is operating, right now. Through case studies, action research and critical thinking, we’ll analyse and define your own space within the current scene.
Module title: Your Development
This is where WaterBear really goes into bat for you. Here you get high-level specialist 1-1 music industry mentoring. Mentors chosen by you. They’ll fill the gaps and join the dots. We want nothing holding you back in the lead up to your final project work.
Module title: Your Innovation
Working at postgraduate level will give your work the gravitas it deserves. We’ll show you how to produce business plans and project pitches that demonstrate professional credibility and are a). realistic and b). achievable.
Module title: Your Enterprise
This is the final double module that concludes the MA. Here we bring all the strands of work, reflection, research and analysis together to deliver a major professional project. This might feature your current real-world work. It is the bridge into your future.
