Why Choose Music Business at Bethel University?
Music Business is for the person who loves music and wants to build a career in the industry behind it. This degree pairs with a genuine business education with deep knowledge of how the music world works, so you graduate ready to manage artists, market releases, handle publishing and licensing, or run the operations that keep the industry moving. It is the rare program that takes both music and business seriously.
That balance is its strength. You study management, marketing, accounting, and economics alongside music industry law, publishing, touring, and the history of popular music, then put it together through a required internship and a senior capstone. You leave with the practical business skills employers expect and the industry fluency that sets you apart in a competitive field.
Your Backstage Pass to the Industry
Bethel's musical range gives you a place to explore that work. You will encounter artists and performers in classical, country, contemporary Christian, bluegrass, traditional, jazz, modern a cappella, and musical theatre. That exposure helps you understand how different audiences, venues, and markets shape a musician's career.
You can also gain experience where performances happen. Through Bethel's Renaissance performing arts programs, Music Business students—and students in other majors—can pursue scholarships while participating in the Renaissance Choir, Rhythm Section, Bluegrass Band, Country Band, worship team, marching band, concert band, musical theatre program, or production team. These opportunities let you build relationships with performers and see the work that goes into rehearsals, events, and live productions.
What You’ll Learn
In this program, you will learn:
- Musical versatility through exposure to a wide range of styles and performance opportunities
- A working knowledge of the music industry's history, structure, standard practices, ethics, and technology
- An understanding of music publishing, including agreements and how they operate across media
- Familiarity with the legal side of music, including contracts, copyrights, royalties, and licensing
- Insight into touring and merchandising, from organizing live events to designing tour merchandise
- A historical and cultural understanding of American popular music across genres
- The fundamentals of music production and how recordings are made
- Core business skills in management, marketing, and organizational behavior
- A foundation in accounting and economics that supports sound business decisions
- Human resource management knowledge for leading people and teams
- Real industry experience through a required internship and a culminating capstone project
Courses You'll Take
These are the main courses that define the major:
MUS 238, Survey of the Music Industry
MUS 330, Music Publishing
MUS 332, Touring and Merchandising
MUS 440, Music Industry Law
MUS 331, Popular Music History
MUS 261, Introduction to Music Production
BUS 301, Principles of Management
BUS 302, Principles of Marketing
BUS 412, Human Resource Management
MUS 460, Internship
MUS 497b, Senior Capstone Project
Beyond these, you will also complete foundational business coursework in accounting, economics, and computer applications, along with management information systems and organizational behavior, plus ensembles and the music theory foundation.
Career Possibilities
Artist Manager
Guides an artist's career, coordinating bookings, promotion, finances, and long-term strategy.
Label or A&R Coordinator
Works for a record label to discover talent and support the development and release of recordings.
Music Publishing Professional
Manages catalogs, licensing, and royalties, helping songwriters and rights holders earn from their work.
Tour or Event Manager
Plans and runs the logistics of tours, concerts, and live events, from scheduling to on-site execution.
Licensing and Royalties Coordinator
Tracks usage, manages agreements, and ensures rights holders are paid accurately.
Music Business Entrepreneur
Launches and runs a music-related venture, from a label or studio to a management or events company.
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