Music Industry Programs for Undergraduates and Graduates: Located in the heart of one of the nation’s premier music and entertainment capitals, California State University, Northridge offers dynamic and innovative undergraduate and graduate programs, the Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Studies (MIS) degree and the Master of Arts in Music Industry Administration (MIA) degree. Jeffrey Izzo is the Mike Curb Endowed Chair of Music Industry Studies overseeing the undergraduate MIS program and Andrew Surmani, Associate Professor, Music Industry Studies is the Academic Lead of the MIA program. Surmani says, “we’re pleased to be one of only seven universities in the world that have graduate, non-arts administration based music industry programs. With students born in over 28 different countries and six continents, we’re one of the few to educate students from all over the world. People often say when it comes to getting a job and launching a career, it’s who you know who will get you the job – but it’s what you know that will allow you to keep the job and progress in your career. We offer the tools, knowledge and amazing opportunities to learn critical concepts and to go out and network with the people you need to know in the industry.”
Music Industry Studies Option: Founded in 1994 by Jazz Program Director and Professor Emeritus, Joel Leach, the Music Industry Studies Option for undergrads offers a unique blend of the art of music and the discipline of business. Students not only participate in traditional music courses such as music theory, history, individual applied music lessons and performing ensembles but are also immersed in an interdisciplinary curriculum that provides a foundational understanding of business and how it operates in the music industry. With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, students have ample opportunities to put their classroom education into practice through internships, student-produced events, and a student-run, faculty-advised record label (Five of Five Music Entertainment). Requiring a three-part audition (including a performance on instrument or voice) to be accepted, this 4-year degree culminates in a music industry internship experience that often leads students into full-time employment following graduation.
MIA: The Master of Arts in Music Industry Administration curriculum, founded in 2012 by Joel Leach and Carey Christensen was the first graduate program of its kind in the Western U.S. It is an optimal solution for early to mid-career professionals seeking new opportunities in distribution, research, data and analytics; management, music promotion and other related sectors. Because this program focuses on the industry itself – current trends, music publishing and copyright law, live performance, recording distribution and promotion, marketing management, accounting and finance, organizational behavior, entertainment law, and entrepreneurship–there is no performance requirement for admission. Offered by the Tseng College of Graduate, International and Midcareer Education, in collaboration with the academic component delivered by the Department of Music in CSUN's Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication and the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. The 33-unit MIA program takes 21 months to complete. Taught by distinguished music industry and academic professionals, the program is offered in the cohort format, which facilitates networking and the formation of lasting professional connections.
Wealth of Guest Speakers and Events: Surmani, a former longtime marketing executive at Alfred Music, says the university’s proximity to the industry allows for an unparalleled opportunity to learn from guest speakers who are major movers and shakers – including hit songwriters, legendary producers, songwriters, and top executives from L.A. publishing, live performance, and recording industry companies. There are also additional networking events on campus and numerous L.A. events that are presented on a monthly basis in town.
For more: MIS program - csun.edu/mike-curb-arts-media-communication/music/music-industry-studies-option and MIA program - tsengcollege.csun.edu/programs/MIA
