Online Music Industry Management Degree

About This Program

The first graduate program of its kind in the Western United States – located in the heart of the nation’s professional entertainment community of Los Angeles – CSUN’s Master of Arts in Music Industry Administration is an excellent solution for professionals seeking careers in producing, distributing, managing, ... and promoting music, creative talent and music industry related businesses. It’s also one of the few contemporary music industry graduate programs in the world.

Programs Highlights

Leading Music Industry Graduate Program – The first of its kind in the Western U.S., offering expert-led online courses with exclusive networking opportunities in Los Angeles.

Convenient Online Learning – A 33-unit program completed in just 21 months, featuring live discussions, guest speakers, and on-demand coursework accessible from anywhere.

Industry-Focused Curriculum – Combines top-ranked MBA coursework with specialized content tailored to major music industry sectors and trends.

Job Outlook: Entertainment, Digital Media & Design

Between January 2019 to May 2020, there were 393,256 unique job postings requiring a master’s or bachelor’s degree. Employment in the sector is projected to grow 5% from 2018 to 2028.

Master of Music Industry Administration program at CSUN

The program is offered in the cohort format, which facilitates networking and the formation of lasting professional connections. You’ll also have opportunities to meet leaders in the music industry through our guest speaker class visits, Industry Insight panel discussions, and job placement services. With that, you’ll participate in numerous local music industry networking events that happen regularly in Los Angeles on a monthly basis.

About M.A. in Music Industry Administration

Now online, the 33-unit Music Industry Administration program takes only 21 months to complete, and you can finish the program all from the comfort of home. The program is taught by distinguished music industry and business professionals as well as educators with many years of experience in the field. While some of the courses are the same as those in CSUN’s MBA program, which is ranked among the nation’s best part-time MBA programs by U.S. News and World Report, most feature content that is specifically relevant to current major music industry sectors and trends.

In live online sessions, your instructors will lead discussions, teach learning modules, and connect you with like-minded students from around the world. Each day is a powerful opportunity to network. Guest speakers, who are leaders in the various sectors of the music industry, will also periodically attend sessions, guiding discussions and providing insight into the business.

Our user-friendly platform allows you to access course materials on demand. Conveniently review past lessons, watch class recordings, or catch up on the day’s studies anytime.

What do MIA graduates do?

This program opens the door to a range of exciting career opportunities, including—but not limited to—the ones listed below:

Music Business Administration – publisher, publishing administrator, music clearance specialist, music supervisor, business affairs
Marketing, Promoting and Publicizing Music – marketing or public relations specialist
Recorded Music Distribution and Promotion – record company executive, A&R rep, streaming services, finance, international distribution
Presenting Live Performances – concert producer, production manager, promoter or tour manager
Assisting performers with their careers – talent agent, personal manager, business manager, lawyer, publicist

Two music producers are discussing business in a recording studio.

Learn the business of music – all on a convenient, digital platform

Although the program is online, on three occasions, you’ll visit Los Angeles for rewarding networking events and coaching. The first visit will be a welcoming meet-and-greet and orientation, where you'll have the chance to meet your cohort colleagues, the program professors, and support staff. During the second visit, you'll get to know industry insiders and the company you'll be working with for your capstone consulting project. Finally, your third visit will involve presenting your culminating project to faculty, colleagues, and your subject company. This will be followed by a hooding ceremony and graduation.

Learn the business of music – all on a convenient, <span> digital platform</span>

Meet your Faculty

View more Faculty

Zhara Al-Nadaf

J.D.

Adjunct Professor, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Seven Bailey

M.A.

Assistant Professor and Mike Curb Endowed Chair of Music Industry Studies, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

David Bakula

Music Industry Research, Data and Analytics

Adjunct Professor, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Stacie M. de Armas

MBA

Adjunct Professor, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Daniel Degravel

Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Management, David Nazarian College of Business and Economics, CSUN

Daniel Lovejoy

M.S., CPA

Adjunct Professor, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Brian McKenzie

M.A.

Adjunct Professor, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Andrew Surmani

MBA

Professor, Music Industry Studies, Department of Music and Academic Lead of the Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Robert Teegarden

M.A.

Adjunct Professor, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Franck Vigneron

Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Marketing, David Nazarian College of Business and Economics

Gaelen Whittemore

Music Distribution and Promotion

Adjunct Professor, Music Industry Administration program, CSUN

Access course material at any time

On our user-friendly platform, you can access course material on demand. At your convenience, you can view recordings of previous classes, review lessons or catch up on the day’s study.

Access course material at <span>any time</span>

Career Connections

As a CSUN graduate, you become part of an extensive network of over 435,000 alumni—an invaluable source of support for your professional success.

CSUN's M.A. in Music Industry Administration graduates have built successful careers in these organizations and many others: Disney, Paramount Pictures, MGA Entertainment, Scorpion Agency, Tiktok, Berklee College of Music, Universal Music Group, University of California, HBO, and DCAT Music Company.

Diverse group of professionals reviewing job listings

A CSUN student smiles while seated at a table, working on a laptop, embodying a moment of academic engagement.

Student Resources

Students Success stories

Within two months of being in this program I knew like a million times more that I knew at the beginning of it.

Timothy Ketenjian MIA

You're going learn a ton of concepts that are unique just to the music business itself. That you're not gonna find in a traditional MBA.

Robert Teegarden MIA

We're here in Los Angeles, the Mecca of the music industry so it only makes sense to offer a master's degree in music business that this would be the perfect choice.

Brian McKenzie MIA

So many executives, so many different artist managers, so many different artists, came in and actually spoke to us and let us know what their experience was in the music industry.

Jessica Loyd MIA