Music Business, B.B.A.

The Business of Music Starts Here

In Belmont’s Music Business B.B.A., your love of music becomes the foundation for a career in the industry that runs it. You'll learn the business behind the music just one block from Nashville's Music Row, where artists, managers, publishers, labels, agencies, venues and entrepreneurs shape the future of entertainment every day.

The degree carries weight where it counts. Belmont offers the only music business program built on an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Business Administration, combining the rigor of a respected business degree with specialized preparation for careers in the music and entertainment industries. The Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business was recognized among Billboard Magazine's top music business schools worldwide in 2025. You graduate with a full business degree, a specialization the industry trusts and a network you started building as a first-year student.

Your education extends far beyond the classroom. You'll learn from accomplished faculty with deep industry experience, engage regularly with executives and other music industry professionals, complete internships and begin building a professional network from your first semester. By graduation, you'll leave with more than a degree – you will have the knowledge, experience and relationships to launch a successful career!

No separate application required. Admission to the Music Business BBA program is included in Belmont's general undergraduate application. There is no audition or secondary process is needed.

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Your Classroom Is Music City

One block from Music Row puts the industry in your daily path. You learn from the executives, managers, publishers and touring professionals shaping the business right now, drawing on relationships Belmont has built over decades.

The Curb College is the only music business program located on Music Row, and its home just got bigger. A new facility of more than 37,000 square feet, made possible by a $58 million lead gift from Mike Curb, opened its first phase in August 2025.

Rendering of the Curb College on Music Row planned building expansion

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Access Leads to Outcomes

You build your professional network by doing the work. Students help backstage through the Service Corps Club at events like the Grammy Awards, CMA Fest and Sundance Film Festival, and you plan and run arena concerts through the entirely student-produced Showcase Series. Programs like Belmont East in New York City and Belmont at Bonnaroo along with internships and seminars allow you to gain real-world experience, build professional relationships and graduate with a resume that reflects real industry engagement.

Partnerships That Open Doors

You gain access to some of the most important companies in the industry through relationships Belmont has built over decades.

As one of the oldest programs in the country, Belmont has built relationships with many of the most important companies in the industry, including CMA, Live Nation, Amazon, Spotify, ASCAP, BMI, Big Machine, Creative Artists Agency, Morris Higham Management, the Music Business Association, Ryman Hospitality Properties, Sony Music Publishing, TriStar Sports and Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and William Morris Endeavor. In spring 2025, the college launched Dolly U, a partnership with Dolly Parton and the CTK management team.

Student singing on stage with stage lighting

Is Music Business Right for You?

This program fits several kinds of students:

The business professional, who wants to work on the business side of music and entertainment in such things as artist management, record labels, music publishing, live events, marketing, streaming, entrepreneurship or entertainment law. They want a respected business degree that will prepare them to lead the industry.
The creative, who is a songwriter, artist, producer, audio engineer or other creative who knows that talent alone isn’t enough. This student wants to understand contracts, royalties, branding, marketing and entrepreneurship so they can build a sustainable career on the creative side or on the business side.
The explorer who loves music but has not settled on a single path. The six emphasis tracks let you test directions before you commit.
The double-major who wants business rigor alongside a creative field like songwriting, audio production or entertainment industry studies.

This program is for anyone who wants a successful career in the music and entertainment industry and knows the import of the business degree.

Choose Your Emphasis

Still deciding between the business and creative sides of the industry? Compare all creative careers programs to see how Music Business fits alongside Belmont’s other entertainment degrees.

Choosing the emphasis that best fits your interests and future plans:

The Business Emphasis uniquely combines a professional business degree (B.B.A.) with a broad and flexible selection of electives, allowing students to tailor their studies to personal career goals within the music and entertainment industries. Students integrate core business fundamentals with specialized coursework in evolving areas such as digital and social media marketing, genre-specific industry studies (including hip-hop, blues, and the evolution of recorded music), DIY and entrepreneurial ventures, film and music supervision, and the international music business. This emphasis is ideal for students aspiring to lead, manage, or launch businesses across the global music and entertainment landscape.

The Creative Emphasis is designed for students who seek to blend artistic development and content creation with the business operations of the music and entertainment industries. Students engage in creative collaboration through songwriting, audio production and publishing while gaining practical insight into branding, digital marketing, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. This program prepares graduates to navigate both the creative and commercial dimensions of the industry with confidence and adaptability.

The Legal Emphasis focuses on the legal and policy frameworks that shape the music and entertainment industries. Coursework examines entertainment law, copyright, contracts and artists’ rights, along with contemporary legislative and regulatory developments impacting the field. This emphasis is well suited for students seeking a strong foundation in how creative work is protected, negotiated, and governed by law, as well as for those planning to pursue graduate studies such as law school.

The 3+3 Program offers an accelerated and distinctive pathway for highly motivated students to earn both a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in Music Business and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in six (6) years. Notably, this is the only track at Belmont that allows students to move directly from a B.B.A. to a J.D. through a 3+3 structure. Through a collaborative partnership with the Music Business Department and College of Law, qualified students begin their first year of law school during what would traditionally be their senior year of undergraduate study. Designed for students seeking careers at the intersection of entertainment, law, policy, advocacy and business leadership, the program intentionally integrates music business education with rigorous legal training.

The Live Emphasis prepares students for careers in the live entertainment economy by combining focused instruction with hands-on application. Students examine the key players, processes and business models involved in concerts, touring, festivals, venue management and event promotion. This emphasis equips students with practical knowledge and industry insight essential to succeeding in live music and event-based careers.

The Production Emphasis blends creativity and business by exploring how music is created, produced and brought to market. Students study music production, publishing, studio practices and collaborative workflows with artists and producers. This emphasis develops the technical, creative and professional skills needed to work effectively at the intersection of artistry, technology and the music business.

Business Courses That Power Creative Careers

Curb College Showcase Concert Series is entirely student produced.

In the Music Business B.B.A., you learn to:

Apply copyright and entertainment law to real industry situations
Navigate copyright, contracts and entertainment law
Manage the business of live events, touring and venues
Navigate music publishing, licensing and streaming revenue
Build the accounting, marketing and management skills that run entertainment companies
Lead an artist’s team, a booking agency or a label

You take core courses such as survey of music business, copyright law, live events and music publishing alongside marketing, international business and ethics. You can also explore focused courses in AI in music & entertainment, music streaming, music supervision, PR, song creation, touring, artist management, the business of hip-hop and so much more – all taught by experts.

Program Details

Curious about your coursework? View requirements for this degree in the course catalog.

You complete the 128-credit-hour B.B.A. curriculum, combining a strong foundation in business, including such courses as management, marketing, accounting, finance, economics and ethics, with specialized courses in music business, including a survey of music business, copyright law, music publishing, understanding the live economy and label operations. Through electives and your chosen emphasis area, you can further tailor your degree.

Curb College’s Professional Development team supports you with one-on-one meetings, weekly workshops led by industry experts, off-campus networking events and hundreds of internships each semester. That support shows in the numbers: 98% of Curb College graduates are employed, continuing their education or serving in the military within six months of graduation, and 89% of employed graduates hold positions that align with their short- or long-term career goals (Class of 2025).

Every Music Business student completes a Career & Professional Development course designed to help them identify career goals, build a professional network, develop a resume and personal brand, prepare for internships and interviews and understand the expectations of today's music and entertainment industry.

The music industry comes to Belmont. Throughout the year, students interact with record label executives, artist managers, publishers, entertainment attorneys, touring professionals, entrepreneurs, producers and artists who regularly visit campus.

Guest speakers appear in classes, participate in department seminars, lead workshops, serve on industry panels and provide networking opportunities that connect classroom learning with today's music business.

You can produce arena concerts through the Showcase Series, work major industry events through organizations like the Service Corps Club and take part in immersive programs like Belmont East in New York City and Belmont at Bonnaroo.

aacsb logo You earn a B.B.A. in Music Business through Belmont’s business school, backed by AACSB International accreditation. Belmont is the only institution offering an AACSB-accredited BBA in music business.

AACSB International accreditation is held by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide. For you, it means your degree meets a globally recognized standard of quality that employers and graduate schools respect.

Qualified students can pursue accelerated pathways into graduate study, including the Legal 3+3 track toward law school at Belmont, an MBA in Music Business & Entertainment or a master’s in Media & Entertainment Industries.

3+3 for Music Business into Belmont Law

This 3+3 Program (B.B.A. to J.D.) connects the music business to the legal profession giving students to opportunity to earn a B.B.A and Juris Doctor degree in six years to, among other things, save tuition costs. Through this unique arrangement with the Belmont College of Law, this 3+3 program allows students to begin their first year of law school during their fourth year of undergraduate study (by completing their B.B.A. in Music Business, Legal Studies Emphasis).

This program is designed to allow qualified students, if accepted through application to Belmont’s College of Law, who complete the undergraduate requirements in Music Business/Legal Studies Emphasis B.B.A (including the BELL Core [general education]), the ability to matriculate to Belmont College of Law. Upon successful completion of the first year of law school (with at least 29 earned LAW hours), the student will earn their undergraduate degree (B.B.A), and, upon completion of the College of Law’s degree requirements in the College of Law, will earn the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

Accelerated MBA (AMBA)

Students in the Music Business Management major may pursue Belmont’s Accelerated MBA (AMBA) program after completing their undergraduate degree. This program enables students to earn both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration in an accelerated timeframe—often in as little as five years total. The AMBA pathway builds advanced expertise in management, finance, and leadership for students preparing for high-level careers in the music and entertainment industries.

Learn More About the Accelerated MBA

Master of Arts in Media & Entertainment Industries (MAMEI)

Take your business and creative expertise to the next level with Belmont’s Master of Arts in Media & Entertainment Industries. This advanced degree explores entertainment strategy, digital media management and global industry leadership—ideal for graduates pursuing senior positions in labels, publishing, streaming or live event management or a career teaching. Music Business majors are uniquely prepared to transition seamlessly into the MAMEI program.

Learn More About the MAMEI program

Career Possibilities

Whether you are drawn to the creative side or the business side, a Bachelor of Business Administration in music business opens doors across the industry. Belmont's location, partnerships and hands-on programs connect you directly to employers before you graduate — and because you earn a true B.B.A., that degree carries weight inside and outside the music and entertainment industries.

Here are the career paths you will be equipped to pursue:

Artist & Talent Development
Guide an artist's career from bookings and branding to business decisions as a manager, or discover and develop the next generation of talent for a label or publisher.
Labels, Publishing & Streaming
Manage song catalogs, licensing and royalties for songwriters and rights holders, or lead the teams that release, promote and grow an artist's work.
Live Entertainment
Connect artists with venues, festivals and tours as a booking agent, or plan, market and run the shows themselves as a promoter.
Marketing & Brand Partnerships
Build the campaigns, partnerships and brand deals that connect artists, labels and companies with fans.
Entertainment Law & Policy
Negotiate and structure the contracts that hold the industry together. This path typically requires law school after your B.B.A.
Creatives
Many of our students are artists, songwriters and producers who choose the Music Business B.B.A. to pair their creative talent with a strong business education — the same path taken by Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood and Ashley Gorley.
General Business
Because you earn a true B.B.A., your degree carries the same weight in consulting, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship as it does in music. Many graduates build careers outside the industry entirely.

These are just a few possibilities. Music Business graduates work across record labels, publishing companies, management firms, agencies, tech companies, live entertainment organizations, sports and entertainment businesses, startups and nonprofits around the world — and many are creatives themselves, working as artists, songwriters, producers and audio engineers.

Testimonials

Seth Holland

Class of 2028

Music Business

"I was torn between joining the family business or pursuing my dream in Nashville. Then I came to Belmont for my sister's orientation where everyone remembered our names. Two transfers later, I'm shooting content for artists at Nissan Stadium and at CMA Fest."

Ashley Gorley

Class of 1999

Music Business

Songwriter, Founder & CEO of Tape Room Music

“Belmont was so cool because in a class I would maybe manage an artist in a Showcase or I would write a song for somebody that was playing. And then I would find out somebody played fiddle and bring them into the studio and find an engineer... You kind of have to figure out how to how to relate to everybody, how to go talk and beg, trade favors back and forth, and all that kind of stuff which is kind of the way it is in the real world.”

Rusty Gaston

Class of 1998

CEO, Sony Music Publishing Nashville

“It never ceases to amaze me that there's not a day goes by that I don't work with someone directly that either I attended Belmont with or I know they attended Belmont.”

Blair Miller

Class of 2018

Founder & CEO, Chaos Creators Entertainment

"When I came to Belmont, I did not see myself working in the social media marketing side of the music industry. I was actually interested in becoming an entertainment attorney, but through all the classes at Belmont, I was able to study law. I was able to study marketing, and PR, and I realized that I really love the creative side of the industry. And that is where I am now."

Hailey Whitters

Class of 2011

Songwriter, Country Recording Artist

“To be right off the heart of Music Row in the thick of it in Nashville studying music business, It gave me so much confidence, I think, in getting out there and getting out into the industry and trying to make my way.”

Learn from Faculty

Your professors are practitioners. Belmont’s music business faculty have worked (and continue to work) as record label executives, publishing leaders, artists, entertainment attorneys, concert promoters and marketing professionals, and they bring that firsthand experience into the classroom. Because our faculty remain engaged in the music industry, students benefit from current examples, practical insights and relationships that extend beyond graduation.