MU1S45 - The Music Entrepreneur 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: MU1S45
Module Title: The Music Entrepreneur
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Music and Drama
Faculty Sub Group: Music
Module Leader: Lloyd George
Module Team: Lucy Squire
First Intended Intake: SEP 2020 Final Year of Intake: 2025
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100643 - music and arts management
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

This module aims to guide students understanding of the role, relevance and importance of research to their chosen academic and professional context. To develop student’s soft skills that various music industry organisations require. Students will learn the basic skills needed to help present ideas, network with industry and potentially acquire industry mentors.

Content Summary

Sessions address the following broad topic areas, though context and content will be driven by the particular student groups course, with a focus on the important role of Business and Music in a contemporary societal context. Overall this module will develop a critical, informed, scholarly and appreciative spirit of enquiry among Music and Sound students that is applicable in both academic and professional contexts. The context for this module focuses on a range of contemporary business issues in both Cardiff and the wider National environment. Through this, students are supported in asking critical questions and appreciating the academic tools available to address these issues.

This module will encourage students to actively research and map the local music ecosystem, immersing themselves in real-life problem solving using current case study examples to understand live challenges faced by venues, artists and audiences. Students will establish networks and understanding of the Music industry in Wales, which will support the entire course. This module also contains core academic skills students will need throughout their study, alongside professional skills to progress within industry.

This module contains a six-week immersive learning element.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Seminar 24
Independent Study 112
Directed Study 52
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate foundational academic, research and presentation skills.
LO2 Develop an understanding of the entrepreneurial and enterprising skills, relating to the Music Industry.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 Presentation to map the Cardiff music ecosystem, analysing active research and generating summary conclusions. 15 N/A 40 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Research document analysing the opportunities & threats for a local music business in order to develop solutions for challenges faced. 0 2400 60 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Asynchronous) 1
Essay 1

Reading List

Harrison, A. (2017) Music the business: the essential guide to the law and deals. (7th ed). London: Virgin Publishing
Passman, D. (2019) All You Need To Know About The Music Business. (10th Ed). New York: Viking
Herstand, A. (2019) HOW TO MAKE IT IN THE NEW MUSIC BUSINESS?: practical tips on building a loyal following... and making a living as a musician. S.L.: Liveright Publishing Corp
Eriksson, M., Fleischer, R., Johansson, A., Pelle Snickars and Vonderau, P. (2018). Spotify teardown?: inside the black box of streaming music. Cambridge, Ma: Mit Press.
Eamonn Forde (2019). Emi, terra firma & the battle for the soul of britain’s most iconic record company.
Anderton, C., Dubber, A. and James, M. (2013). Understanding the music industries. London: Sage.
Acooke, C. (2018). Dissecting the digital dollar. Music Managers Forum, London.

Witt, S. (2016). How music got free the inventor, the mogul and the thief. London Vintage.
Baskerville, D. and Baskerville, T. (2020). Music business handbook and career guide. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications, Inc.
Cotrell, S. (2017). Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument. 3rd ed. London: Palgrave.