Professional Music (Business) Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

The music business degree course for music lovers with a head for business.

The BA (Hons) Professional Music (Business) Degree at WaterBear prepares students for careers in the global music industry. With small classes of 8–12 students and a structured 1-1 mentoring programme, you’ll receive personalised support from industry-active tutors who understand the realities of working in music.

You will develop skills in music management, artist branding, digital marketing, live events, and entrepreneurship, while learning industry analysis, project management, and innovative business strategies. Through hands-on projects, live experiences, and mentoring, you will create a portfolio of real-world music business work, including event curation, promotional campaigns, and creative enterprise projects.

All WaterBear degrees are approved and awarded by Falmouth University, one of the UK’s leading specialist universities for the creative industries. Whether your goal is to become an independent artist, professional musician, entrepreneur, or build a diverse portfolio career, you’ll engage in a comprehensive and flexible learning experience designed to support your strengths, interests, and professional, artistic, and academic development.

WaterBear’s Sheffield campus provides professional studios, rehearsal spaces, and WaterBear-run live venues where you’ll gain hands-on experience in event management, live production, and music business operations. You’ll have access to meeting rooms for creative planning, Mac suites for digital marketing projects, and industry-standard equipment to support your learning.

You’ll curate your own live events at WaterBear-owned venues and access A&R panels, industry conferences, networking events, work experience placements, and masterclasses throughout your degree. Last year WaterBear secured 500 performance and work experience opportunities, attended over 20 festivals, and organised over 45 industry masterclasses and guest events. These opportunities connect you directly with venues, promoters, labels, and music business professionals across Brighton and Sheffield’s thriving music scenes, helping you build the industry contacts essential for a sustainable music business career.

This course is designed for anyone interested in artist management, tour management, events management, digital marketing and PR, branding, music journalism, social media management, or content creation. Whether you’re passionate about working with artists, running your own label, or building innovative music businesses, you’ll develop the skills and industry knowledge to succeed.

You don’t need previous music business experience, just genuine interest and ambition. WaterBear’s structured 1-1 mentoring programme means you’ll get personalised support whether you’re exploring different pathways or focused on a specific career goal. Students come from diverse backgrounds: some are musicians wanting to manage their own careers, others are aspiring managers or entrepreneurs.

This course is taught by WaterBear in Sheffield, and awarded by Falmouth University