Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Overview
The music industry is experiencing radical changes. These rapid changes demand that music industry professionals not only possess a solid foundational knowledge base with respect to historic music industry business and technological models, but those who are well-versed in the "new" music industry as well. This industry also requires its professionals to have an intimate understanding of how the music industry fits into the larger entertainment industry. It requires management skills; legal understanding; technological acumen; business savvy; comprehension of music principles; and the ability to innovate, integrate and adapt in an ever-evolving global industry. That's what Drexel's Music Industry program teaches our students.
Drexel's Music Industry program is unique. Its focus on real-world applications of cutting edge production techniques and the most current business/law developments, coupled with a basic music education, make it a vibrant, exciting educational experience for the student who has a passion for the music and entertainment industry.
Each student receives hands-on instruction starting the first day of classes using our latest equipment in our recording studios and digital audio labs. In addition, our students learn how to critically analyze all aspects of the music industry by immersing themselves in the industry's business and legal aspects when they work with MAD Dragon UNLTD, which contains:
- MAD Dragon Records
- DraKo Booking Agency
- MAD Dragon Publishing
- Mad Fire Music Video Productions
- MADKo Concerts
- all-digital online independent music label, D3 Digital Music.
The Music Industry program's technology students gain invaluable expertise with MAD Dragon UNLTD by assisting in the producing, recording and engineering of our nationally-released LPs, EPs, and music compilations under MAD Dragon Records and DreXagon.
Moreover, both the technology-oriented and business-oriented Music Industry students interact with other students in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design - Graphic Design, Film and Video, Digital Media, Photography, and Design and Merchandising - to gain a functional comprehension of how those fields are integrated with the music industry. Ultimately, the students collectively create artwork, music videos, games/animation with music, and music industry-related merchandise for MAD Dragon UNLTD. Radio is also important to the Program; we webcast, podcast, and interact with WKDU, Drexel's non-commercial radio station as well, through our Radio Management courses.
Finally, Drexel's Music Industry Program offers an accelerated BS/MBA program to qualified students who apply for this option with their initial application. The MBA is offered in Drexel's LeBow College of Business upon graduation with the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Industry All students who apply for this option must take the GMAT entrance exam, required by the LeBow College of Business.
Drexel Music Industry program's Co-Op Experience
The Music Industry program's co-op program (which occurs in two, three-month periods during the summers in between sophomore and junior years and then again in between the junior and senior years) offers a wide range of opportunities in the music and entertainment industries. Each member of our faculty works closely with our students in order to ensure meaningful co-op experiences. We place our students in entities such as:
- major and independent record labels
- artist management companies
- recording studios
- music publishing companies
- touring and concert promotion companies
- video game companies
- live sound companies
- music and entertainment venues
- entertainment publicity companies
- theatrical booking agencies
- policy-making organizations (such as the Future of Music Coalition and the Recording Industry Association of America)
- radio stations (terrestrial, Internet and Satellite radio)
- music and entertainment organizations such as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammy Awards organization)
- performing rights organizations (such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and SoundExchange)
- television stations, such as VH1 and MTV
Career Opportunities
Drexel's Music Industry Program prepares students for employment in diverse music industry positions such as:
- record label executive
- music marketing director
- radio station/broadcast industry executive
- recording engineer
- press relations and publicity director
- music publisher
- music supervisor for film and TV
- venue owner/manager
- theatrical agent
- music producer
- sound editor for film and TV
- entertainment attorney
- artist manager
- concert promoter
- tour manager
- live sound engineer
- .......and many more.
Explore your passion here, in Drexel's Music Industry Program.
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