Music Business Foundations Program
Next semester begins Tuesday, February 24, 2026
This is for you if:
You’re new to the music industry and need a beginner-friendly, 101-level program.
You’re curious about how the industry works but aren’t sure where to start.
You want to explore different roles and potential career paths in music.
You’re ready to learn the essential tools, terms, and responsibilities artists and their teams use.
What’s covered in the program?
February 24
How the Music Business Operates
You’ll learn the core components of the modern music business, explore how money is made in today’s music industry, and gain an understanding of foundational terms.
March 3
Key Roles & Responsibilities
You’ll learn about key, modern-day roles in the music industry. They will understand what each role does, see real-world examples, learn how these professionals get paid, and discover when to bring each one on board.
March 10
Record Label & Distribution Basics
You’ll learn about different deal types in the music industry, including distribution, label, licensing, and 360 deals, as well as understand basic contract terms and industry standards such as advances, recoupment, and royalties.
March 17
Music Publishing Basics
You’ll learn what music publishing is, including the division between the writer’s share and the publisher’s share. They will understand the role of performing rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) and how to collect different types of royalties.
March 24
Building an Independent Artist’s Toolkit
You’ll learn about digital distribution platforms available to independent artists and gain skills to read and interpret data dashboards on platforms like Chartmetric, Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, YouTube Studio, and TikTok for Artists.
March 31
Program Wrap-Up and Final Project
In the final week, we will recap the material covered throughout the class and provide detailed instructions for the final project.
What comes with career coaching?
✓ Three 1:1 sessions to dig into your challenges and goals.
✓ A personalized action plan that organizes your priorities and next steps.
✓ Monthly check-ins to support your progress.
The program also includes:
Music Business Foundations Certificate awarded upon completion of the program and final project.
On-demand video lectures from Philip Payne (former manager, Tory Lanez).
Guest lectures with industry professionals sharing real-world insights.
Immediate networking with current and past classmates for collaboration and support.
Tailored student pairings based on shared interests and career goals.