The Music Business course is designed for both aspiring music business people and music makers alike, in fact anyone who wants to make money from music.
The course is ideal for people who want to make the jump from amateur to professional, or for those looking to take existing professional activities to the next level and beyond.
Brilliant ideas and good decisions come from a solid platform of knowledge. There is no point in having a great idea and a plan without the skills to back it up; and if you don’t have a plan – well, you need to make one. Wouldn’t it be great if we could spend all of our time being creative, making music, and get paid loads of money for it?
Sadly, but for a privileged few, this is not very realistic. In order to make a living out of the music industry there are other things that aren’t as sexy but nevertheless they must be taken care of.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could spend all of our time being creative, making music, and get paid loads of money for it?
Tony Rigg is the Head of Music Business Education at SEM.
He has worked across the spectrum of the music industry, holding command positions in market leading organisations including Operations Director for Ministry of Sound.
He has overseen the management of 100+ music venues, delivered thousands of events, has a chart pedigree, and founded the MA Music Industry Management at UCLan.
He is an active music business consultant, and has most recently celebrated his book ‘Popular Music in the Post-Digital Age’.
Tony brings not only his expertise to the classroom, but a desire to guide and mentor each student to ensure their ongoing success.
We have scholarship funding that could partly or fully fund this course.
“I’m really glad I did the Music Business Course. It was brilliant! Before the course I was doing ok but since doing it my career has moved onto a new level. I really feel it has helped me unlock my potential.”
“Tony Rigg’s knowledge of the music industry and the help and advice he gave me has proven invaluable, and now I get to play the music I want to play, in some of the coolest places and venues around the world. Shanghai, Dubai, Bahrain, to name a few.”
Since completing the course Charlie has moved her DJing onto a global platform. Currently based in Andorra, she has also setup a DJ agency, a Media Agency and is running her own club nights.
“I was quite disillusioned with the industry before I did the course but the experience really transformed my career and great things are happening. I strongly advise anyone wanting to work within the music industry to do this course.”
Shortly after completing the course Danny had its first Beatport top 30 entry, his Soundcloud quickly broke the 250,000 play mark (and counting) and his music is being championed by authoritative players and networks in the music industry.
He launched a new promotion network, in the first month achieving 100,000 plays and 5,600 followers. Other projects include record label commissions for Danny to work on new material with their artists, remixes, creative alliances and collaborations with other big hitters in the industry and so on….. There’s no stopping him now.
“One of the most important things I found during the course, besides the knowledge, was that Tony really encouraged me to pursue my ideas.”
Less that a month after completing the Music Business Course and returning to India, Novlik was the subject of an article in the second largest English language Indian News Paper (rival to the Times) “The Hindu”, speaking as an authority on Psytrance and about his activities including the release of his first album.
“My time at the School was completely worthwhile and I enjoyed every lesson. The Music Business Course gave me important facts and key information about the business but, above all, it gave me the inspiration and encouragement to take the plunge and start doing what I always wanted to do.”
“Tony Rigg is such a good and experienced teacher. He really knows how to listen and pays attention to your interests and potential skills, in a way that really helps you develop what’s relevant to you. I’ll always remember one of his encouraging quotes: “The only difference between something happening or not happening, is YOU.”
On completing the Music Business Course, Amaia returned to her home town Bilbao and landed a job with a long established and culturally important Spanish Record label ‘Baga-Biga’ as Communications/ Community Manager. She continues to develop her own expanding portfolio of music related activities and projects including music journalism, event promotion, and artist management.”
“I was actually a gas safe engineer when I signed up for the Music Business Course. I loved every second and left with a greater knowledge about music business and also more confidence within myself to pursue a career within the industry.”
Since completing the Music Business Course, David has worked for Guild Promotions (Preston Guild Hall) where he has booked and delivered events with many artists, including Bob Geldof, Rick Astley, Midge Ure, Toploader, Sigala and DJ Fresh.
He has also worked for Cuffe and Taylor on events including ‘Symphony at the Tower’ (Houghton Tower), ‘Concerts By The Lake’ (Tatton park), ‘Lytham Festival’ and Betley Concerts, and also worked with Culture Liverpool on events such as the Liverpool International Music Festival. In addition to that David has delivered corporate events for Team Spirit and also runs his own successful music events.
“…learnt from the best Mr Tony Rigg! The course is phenomenal!”
Since completing the Music Business course at SEM, Nick began to produce material with the likes of K-Klass as well as performing as a DJ across the North of England.
Nick furthered his industry knowledge initially working with Goodgreef, PFA & Fire It Up, delivering music events, and contributing towards the day-to-day activities at a Music Booking agency. Nick then progressed into a key position at Venus nightclub, handling all corporate & promotions related duties.
Aims of the Course
BUILD A CAREER
To help you identify relevant opportunities for work within the creative and media industries, and prepare you for the commercial application of your skills.
BUILD A BRAND
To develop a tailored personal plan for how you may achieve your goals within the context of the music industry, enabling you to take the actions needed with clear direction.
KNOWLEDGE
To provide you with a solid grounding of the institutions and practices within the industry; to understand how the money flows, and use this to your advantage.
Subjects Covered
Plan development
How can you be unique?
Developing your brand
Who to work with
Fitting to the industry
Your music industry
Key Institutions
Business practices
PRS, PPL, MCPS, & the MU
Labels, aggregators, publisher
Revenue streams
Income from music activities
The potential revenue streams
Business protocol
Contractual arrangement
Modern music
Using your skills
How to make money
Viable business projects
The benefits of planning
Business planning
How to asses a plan
Putting a plan together
Public funding and grants
Executive Summaries
The initial weeks are designed to give students a solid platform of knowledge and understanding of the music industry. This will provide the basis for informed decision making with regard to career planning and working as music professionals.
The flexible program of activities means that the Music Business Course will cater to each student’s individual needs.
Students will also receive one to one mentoring in order to create a personal professional development plan, which will provide evaluation and feedback on competencies and skills required to work in students chosen areas. This will enable students to maintain development of their creative skills throughout the program.
Designed to give students a solid platform of knowledge and understanding of the music industry. This will provide the basis for informed decision making with regard to career planning and working as music professionals. The management and planning module will teach you that having a brilliant idea is a great starting point, however a comprehensive and well thought out plan to execute can determine the success or failure of any enterprise.
Whereas most Music Business Courses are designed to create ‘business people’ the SEM Music Business modules are so much more than that. They have been designed for anyone who wants to make a living out of music.
The module offers a unique curriculum based on providing essential music industry insight, established business planning techniques adapted specifically for music professionals and your own personal professional development program. Such tools and methodologies will enable you to scrutinise, plan, and structure, your proposed music related activities and to maximise both the creative and commercial potential of your ideas.
Tony will show you how to monetise your creative skills and unravel many of the mysteries that stand in the way of you and your career in the constantly changing place we call ‘The Music Business’. It is also ideal for people who have already started with their business enterprise and want to take their venture to the next level.
The Music Business modules are restricted to small numbers in order to ensure excellent student to tutor ratios, excellent student support and the best possible outcome for each student.
You will receive one to one mentoring in order to create a personal professional development plan, which will provide evaluation and feedback on competencies and skills required to work in your chosen areas. This will enable you to maintain development of their creative skills throughout the program. It will also teach methodologies and techniques that will help to keep ahead of the constantly changing environment that is the contemporary music industry. You will work in group workshops to create a plan for their own musical enterprise.
Course Information
DURATION
3 Months
START DATES
25th September 2021: Saturdays, 3pm–6pm
16th June 2022: Thursdays, 6pm–9pm
LEVEL UP
The Music Business Course is often studied as a module within a larger course. For example, our Complete Music Production, Music Business and DJ Course is extremely popular with those looking to become DJ/Producers. You can view the courses which have the Music Business module here.
SUITABILITY
Anyone interested in working in the music industry. You do not have to be a music producer, or a DJ, but simply have a desire to learn the business skills that will help you create a career for yourself within the music industry. 16+
A MIXTURE OF SEMINARS AND ONE-TO-ONE SESSIONS
Teaching on our Music Business course uses a mixture of seminars and one-to-one sessions.
Seminar weeks: Lectures from our Head of Music Business Tony Rigg, as well as guest lecturers, with breakout discussion groups where you can apply the material to your own interests.
One-to-one weeks: Personal development meetings with Tony where you can discuss your own interests in the world of music and business, what you want to achieve from the course and beyond, and get tailored advice.
YOUR TUTOR
Taught by former Operations Director for the Ministry of Sound, Tony Rigg.
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Start dates and course fees
Start Dates
September 2021 3 months Music Business : Saturdays 3pm – 6pm
June 2022 3 months Music Business : Thursdays 6pm – 9pm
Scholarships
We have scholarship funding that could partly or fully fund this course. Book a call with a course advisor to find out more.
Course fees
Option One : Advanced Payment £300 registration fee to secure your place. If your course starts within 1 calendar month, the remaining balance of £1050 is also payable. Total course fees: £1350.
Option Two : Termly Payment £300 registration fee + 2 x 10-week instalments of £575. If your course starts within 1 calendar month, the first install is also payable. Total course fees: £1450.
Option Three : Monthly payments from 6 – 48 months We can offer payment plans from 6 – 48 months, subject to passing our criteria. Plans from 0% finance, and from £17 per month. Credit check not always required.
Select this option and a course advisor will give you a call to discuss the best financing option to suit your circumstances. Alternatively you can book a call directly.
When should I enrol?
In short: enrol as soon as you are ready. All live course dates are available for you to enrol on.
Unlike most training centres SEM has a limit on lecturer to student ratio and keeps its class sizes small. We therefore have limited availability and courses fill up in advance. We would recommend enrolling as soon as you are ready, to avoid disappointment.
We would always recommend chatting to one of our friendly course advisors prior to enrolment. Book a call now.
Next start: 26th February 2022:
Study: Saturday 12pm–6pm
Course FAQs
Monthly Finance Calculator
You can use the finance calculator to try the potential options that suit your budget.
There is a minimum of 5% non-refundable deposit (downpayment for the course fees) required from the student at the point of successful application. The calculator will tell you minimum deposit required on the right hand side. To pay a bigger deposit pleasecontact the school.
EG: Music Business Course. Fees: £1350
£1350 over 12 months : Deposit £67.50 : Monthly instalments of £106.88. Total finance £1282.50.
Do I get any student discounts?
This course is not full-time, so you are not automatically entitled to student discounts.
However if you did this module within a larger full-time course such as any ‘Complete‘ or ‘Master‘ Course, then yes you would be entitled to student discounts. Even if you work full-time, on one of these larger courses you can still qualify as a full-time student whilst you study which means:
Either full exemption or discount from council tax depending on your living situation
NUS Totum card and all the discounts that come with that (eg. Apple, Spotify)
1/3 off rail travel
Discounts off musical equipment (speak with us about this) including 40% off Ableton Live and Native Instruments discounts
An external hard-drive or USBs to save your work, and writing materials are the only equipment you need
If you need advice on what headphones to purchase, please contact a course advisoron +44 (0)161 833 4722.
Every student has access to their own iMac workstation in the school which contains all the software, samples and plugins that you will use throughout the course.
I am an international student. Can I apply?
UK and EU Students
Students from within the European Union, or who have joint nationality with the UK can enrol via the normal way, by clicking ‘Enrol Now’ on their chosen course. You can see our international students page for further information regarding Britain’s exit from the EU.
International Students
As a school we cannot provide you with a Tier 4 visa. This means you cannot travel to the UK for study with us, if your main purpose for travel to the UK is to study.
However, if your main purpose to the UK is as a visitor ie. for leisure, and studying a course is something you wish to do in addition (and is not the main reason for your trip), you may be able to still travel to the UK on a standard visitor visa.
Alternatively, we also offer a range of online courses that may be of interest to you.
Do you provide student accommodation?
Student accommodation is not provided with the course.
Please see our accommodation page which has detailed information on both student halls, and private renting in and around Manchester.
It is advised that if you are moving to Manchester from abroad or a different city, the atmosphere of student halls might be better for you.
We can help you with other aspects of re-locating, such as advising you on the best transport links to find us, and where some of the best musical venues around Manchester are.
You can see the next available date and sign up for ithere.
There’ll be free music production and DJ workshops, a range of industry seminars, and a chance to get lots of career advice. All are welcome.
However, if you’re keen to get started quicker than when the open day comes around, particularly if you’re looking to study this course, you can book in for a personal tour of the school here.
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