The music industry as we know it is evolving, and the music business program at the University of St. Thomas combines coursework and professional development in music, business and entrepreneurship to prepare you for future changes in this exciting field.
You learn to apply business thinking to the music industry, cultivating practical and innovative business and entrepreneurial skills while fostering your creative musicianship. The university’s location in the Twin Cities places us in a vibrant music scene which gives you the opportunity to build your professional network. Our graduates have gone on to careers with record labels, music publishers, concert venues and festivals and more.
You blend your music coursework with business classes, focusing on topics like music media, popular music, financial accounting, marketing and entrepreneurship. At the same time, you nurture your performance skills and music theory knowledge in ensembles and advanced music coursework. At the end of your career at St. Thomas, you will have the needed skills for an exceptional and fulfilling career.
Management and Creative Leadership Track
There is no audition required for students pursuing the management & creative leadership track in Music Business. If a student would like to be considered for a departmental scholarship, they may submit one of the following:
Sound Arts and Music Production Track
Students seeking to pursue the sound arts and music production track in music business are required to submit representative samples of 3–5 tracks that they produced, recorded, performed, or engineered. For scholarship consideration, all required or optional audition materials must be submitted by February 1st.
We recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your degree early on in your college career at the University of St. Thomas.
Bachelor of Arts in Music Business
All music business students are required to complete an internship at some point during their time at St. Thomas. Our students have interned with companies like Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, iHeartMedia, Periscope Management and Paradigm Artists. You will work closely with faculty on finding an internship matching your interests.
You blend your music coursework with business classes, focusing on topics like music media, popular music, financial accounting, marketing and entrepreneurship. At the same time, you nurture your performance skills and music theory knowledge in ensembles and advanced music coursework. At the end of your career at St. Thomas, you will have the needed skills for an exceptional and fulfilling career.
Management and Creative Leadership Track
There is no audition required for students pursuing the management & creative leadership track in Music Business. If a student would like to be considered for a departmental scholarship, they may submit one of the following:
Sound Arts and Music Production Track
Students seeking to pursue the sound arts and music production track in music business are required to submit representative samples of 3–5 tracks that they produced, recorded, performed, or engineered. For scholarship consideration, all required or optional audition materials must be submitted by February 1st.
We recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your degree early on in your college career at the University of St. Thomas.
Bachelor of Arts in Music Business
All music business students are required to complete an internship at some point during their time at St. Thomas. Our students have interned with companies like Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, iHeartMedia, Periscope Management and Paradigm Artists. You will work closely with faculty on finding an internship matching your interests.
Faculty are not just your teachers, they are your mentors. Alumni want to help you build your network. Your peers will challenge you to deepen your musical and business knowledge.
Alex earned a coveted Nashville internship at Red Light Management, an independent music management company. After completing the rigorous essay-based application, Alex worked on graphic design projects and VIP events for big names in country music, including Lady Antebellum, Chris Stapleton, Jake Owen and Jon Pardi. He credits his career to the Music Department at St. Thomas inspiring him to be a step ahead of his peers.
Hannah combined her passions for the music industry and social change into her job as a cultural impact consultant with Effect Partners. She used her experiences in the Music Industry Club, as a College Marketing Representative for The Orchard and volunteering with Big Brothers and Big Sisters to gain the skills she needed for her unique career.
Dr. Cole has performed at numerous venues, including the JVC Festival, Blue Note Jazz Festival, the Hollywood Bowl, Benaroya Symphony Hall, Bass Performance Hall and Chicago Symphony Center. Initially classically trained, he performed as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the age of 18. In addition to a continuing career as a recording artist and writer, he directed the music business program at Columbia College in Chicago.
We will provide you with the academic knowledge and practical skills to be successful in a variety of careers after graduation.
We offer renewable competitive and performance-based scholarships for four years of study at St. Thomas.
The Music Major Scholarships range from $1,500 to $10,000 per year. Admitted students planning to major in music, music performance, music business or music education are encouraged to apply. Supporting materials are due by February 1, and selected applicants receive an audition invitation for the scholarship invitational in the spring.
This award is available to any current St. Thomas student demonstrating great potential in their ability to instigate and sustain artistic creativity through music performance, composition or production. Music faculty can nominate any candidate.
This scholarship is available to any current St. Thomas student pursuing a major or minor in music. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Music faculty can nominate candidates, and students participating in ensembles receive preference.
Dr. Cole leads music industry studies at St. Thomas, as well as the recording arts minor.
Brian focuses on songwriting and composition, while also teaching courses on music media.
With a degree in music business from the University of St. Thomas, you set yourself up for long-term success by gaining deep knowledge of the inner workings of the music industry.
You build a professional portfolio and network by working closely with the music industry inside and outside of the classroom.
One-hundred percent of our students complete internships in the music industry.
You have access to a network of students and alumni working with record labels, management companies and more.
Our students have had unique opportunities to see another side of the music industry they have never seen before.
The Music Industry Club traveled to Austin to be a part of South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival.
Whether it is your internship or one-on-one interactions with professors, our program will prepare you with a variety of tools needed in the modern workplace.
Andrew Julkowski ’19 and Cole Guimont ’19 have internships with Pulse Events and Promotions and In the Groove Music this year. Mitch Roers ’19 has been working as a College Marketing Representative for Sony Music Entertainment as part of his internship.
The practical experiences and knowledge you gain in the music business program sets you up for a successful career in the music industry. No matter what you end up doing after graduation, you will be a flexible and confident professional that is ready for anything.
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.