Music Industry

About the Major

The music industry curriculum is divided into four areas which are combined with co-operative experience: general education, music core, music industry core requirements, and concentration requirements.

In an industry where the process of career building often begins with a few key contacts, the co-operative education program provides Drexel students the chance to begin meeting people and networking. The program prepares students for employment in the music industry in such diverse positions as recording engineer, sound engineer, sound designer, music lawyer, business manager, personal manager, and music publisher. By working in various aspects of the industry, the co-op experience involves two three-month periods of full-time career-related employment, where students gain valuable insight into how the entertainment industry works.

About the concentrations

The music industry program of study combines mastery of the art form with practical preparation for employment. The major offers two areas of concentration: Music Industry Business and Music Industry Technology. Each student chooses from among these options to build an individual program of study that can be focused toward a specific career goal:

• The Music Industry Business concentration provides a rigorous academic foundation complemented by a real-world hands-on, highly-intensive business experience. This mission is realized through the students' participation in MAD Dragon Records, DraKO Booking Agency, MAD Dragon Publishing, MADKo Concert Promotions and a digital record label.
• The Music Industry Technology concentration focuses on the techniques and technologies of music and audio production found in record, television, and advertising industries. As well as providing the technology-oriented student with the necessary skills to perform as an audio engineer and record producer, the concentration teaches students how to conduct the studio management and production company management business. The concentration encourages the technology student to interact with the students in the other concentrations by recording music for the business entities, engaging in live performance technological activities, and mixing and mastering the recorded music product.

Special Admissions Considerations

Students wishing to be admitted to the music program must meet or exceed the general requirements for admission to the University and the College of Design Arts.

The program no longer accepts hard-copy portfolios. However, when applying to the Music Industry program, applicants can provide links in their application essay materials to electronic examples of pertinent activities (for example, samples of work accomplished via a MySpace or a Facebook page. ) The Music Industry program administrators will look at videos, listen to songs, look at photos, slide shows, presentations or other visual media, etc.

If an applicant chooses, he or she can create a special page or site for the Music Industry administration to view. The link should be mentioned in the application essay.

For more information about this major, visit the College's Music Industry page.