Courses

An overview of the various aspects of the live music industry and how an artist and/or business person may start their career in live music. Topics include defining yourself as an artist and/or business person; self-promotion; performance development; DIY booking; DIY production; building a network; starting out as an opening act; merchandise and branding; the fundamentals of offers, settlements, and ancillary revenue streams; getting signed; history of the live industry; and current and future trends of the live industry. The course is designed to provide students with a fundamental knowledge of the live music business and to prepare students for entry into the music industry as a performer or business professional.

This course provides a comprehensive look at the principal functions of the key players of the live music and entertainment sector, as well as how they interact within the live ecosystem. Particular emphasis is placed on touring management, road crews, music agents, promoters, and artist managers. Other key players covered include business managers, tour accountants, sub-contractors, ticket agencies, venues, and unions. Students also learn about the federal, state, and municipal laws and regulations applicable to the production of concerts and tours; the primary contracts within the live music sector; as well as the key accounting principles within touring. This course is designed to expand students’ fundamental knowledge of the live music business and to prepare them for successful entry into the live music industry as a performer or business professional. Through interviews with industry professionals, students will benefit from first-hand accounts on best practices, current trends, and terminology, and will be given the opportunity to start building their network within the live music and entertainment sector.

An in-depth look at the business aspects of planning, producing and promoting successful music festivals. Topics include site operations; talent buying and artist relations; stage production; security and safety; ticketing and credential levels; developing a brand identity; selling food, beverages, merch, and art; sponsorships; marketing and press; accommodations and camping; permits and insurance; staff, labor, and volunteers; etc. The course is designed to expand students’ knowledge of the festival business, and to prepare students for entry into the music industry as a performer or business professional.

In this course, students will be introduced to the business fundamentals of strategic alliances between artists and brands with a special focus on live events. The course will provide a comprehensive look at the role music plays in establishing and strengthening meaningful connections between consumers and brands, how to measure the success of a strategic partnership using metrics, and how to leverage new partnerships with consideration of the cultural and social trends of the consumer market. Students will learn the differences between endorsements, sponsorships, and cross-promotions as they relate to the music industry. Specific course topics include tour partnerships, live event activations and fan engagement, VIP experiences, social media campaigns, brand ambassador programs, public relations campaigns, exclusive content and unique promotions, and corporate performances. The course will also address when an emerging artist may be ready for a brand partnership and if an artist is prepared for what brands may require. 

Students will be required to write a case study on an existing brand partnership identifying measurable outcomes such as KPIs (key performance indicators), ROI (return on investment), and other data. The course is designed to expand students’ knowledge of strategic partnerships and to prepare students for entry into the music industry as a performer or business professional.

BPMI-401 is the first part of the 3-semester BPMI Live experiential learning program. This course provides students the opportunity to scout, discover, and pitch artists of varying genres, who may have the potential to be "the next big thing" in popular music. Students will learn how to analytically listen to music, evaluate an artist’s potential for opportunity, and research relevant data such as social media and streaming statistics. Throughout the semester, students will evaluate as many as 300 artists with the goal of choosing 5-10 who will ultimately be booked into major music festivals across the continent, including Lollapalooza, The Governors Ball, and Osheaga. Admission to the course is by application.

Building upon BPMI-401 and continuing with an emphasis on experiential learning, this course provides students the opportunity to produce and promote a professional multi-artist showcase at a mid-sized, off-campus music venue. The showcase features the artists that have been selected for the BPMI festival slots. In preparation for the showcase, students will work with the selected artists to prepare promotional assets, plan and execute a PR strategy, create a tech rider, and put together a run-of-show. Additionally, students will continue the process of planning the upcoming festival performances. This includes advancing the festival, beginning artist rehearsals, and discussing the foundational elements of festival travel budgets and itineraries.

BPMI-403 is the final part of the 3-semester BPMI Live experiential learning program. This course provides students the opportunity to develop and prepare artists for their upcoming festival performances. A large portion of the class will take place in a rehearsal setting, where students will develop artist performances considering movement and blocking, set list, instrumentation, audience engagement, overall stage presence, and more. In addition, students will create press kits, design merch and swag, write tour itineraries, build press interview schedules, and map stage plots, all of which will be implemented in a real-world setting as students finalize the festival advance process. As the culminating experience of the program, students will travel to music festivals supporting artists as their tour managers, production managers, and/or press and media managers.

ICE-125 The Mind: The Creative Entrepreneur Mindset illuminates the harmonious intersection of artistry and entrepreneurship. This course ventures beyond traditional entrepreneurial principles, immersing students into a realm where creativity isn't just an advantage, but the very essence of innovative business endeavors. It underscores an artist’s core abilities—such as improvisation, listening, collaborating, and experimenting—as invaluable tools in the entrepreneurial arsenal. Through a blend of theoretical exploration and experiential learning, students will understand how to seamlessly weave artistic skills into the fabric of business strategy and innovation. By the course's end, students will not only appreciate the parallels between the worlds of art and business but will also be adept at harnessing their unique artistic talents to navigate and thrive in the entrepreneurial landscape.

ICE-225 The Blueprint: Foundations of Entrepreneurship invites students into the vibrant world of entrepreneurial thinking and practice. This course lays the foundation for understanding the intricacies of launching and operating successful startups, delving deep into essential business vocabulary, frameworks, and strategic theories. With an emphasis on real-world application, students will gain insights into the theoretical aspects and learn to craft foundational business plans using the Business Model Canvas. By course's end, students will be well-versed in the language and strategies of the entrepreneurial landscape and poised to transform their future creative ideas into tangible business ventures. 

ICE-235 The Scene: Opportunities in Entrepreneurship offers a multifaceted exploration of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, engaging students in the processes of forecasting trends, identifying innovations, and seizing market opportunities across diverse industries. The course synthesizes a spectrum of analytical frameworks, case studies, and current examples to teach students the critical skills of market analysis and trend prediction, emphasizing the impact of technological advancements and innovative operational strategies. Students will delve into the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, gaining insight into the structures and trends that drive successful ventures. With a particular focus on creative and emerging industries, the course presents a panoramic view of entrepreneurial best practices, encouraging students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. They will learn to navigate and influence the complexities of the entrepreneurial landscape by identifying opportunities that align with technological progress and market evolution. In essence, ICE-235 The Scene: Opportunities in Entrepreneurship equips students with the analytical prowess to conduct in-depth market analyses, the foresight to recognize forthcoming opportunities, and the strategic acumen to devise cutting-edge business strategies. It prepares students to be agile and forward-thinking entrepreneurs, capable of shaping the future landscape with their creative and innovative contributions.

RAIDAR is a Berklee/MIT music licensing platform designed by Berklee students, for Berklee students to make money from their songs. Berklee students, alumni and faculty can license their songs to visual media students. RAIDAR is powered by Open Music(Opens in a new window) technology, an industry consortium of 300+ members including streaming services and major labels, and is a tool for artist education and career sovereignty.

This course, the first of a two-course series, will use RAIDAR as a pedagogical tool to demonstrate experientially how the stakeholders across the music value chain interact and how intellectual property is distributed and commercialized across this chain. Through a grounding in the concepts related to RAIDAR, spread across many disciplines with the music industry, and then through experiential learning and work in the project itself, students will come away with an understanding of what it takes to build a business in the music industry, and the personal experience of helping to create a real-world startup themselves.

The first semester will focus on the ecosystem in which RAIDAR is built, including the legal, business and technical concepts, and the skills they will need to contribute to the development of RAIDAR as a business.

In the next course, students will work on the RAIDAR team through a practicum, drafting legal documents and intellectual property education tools, conducting business development, designing and implementing marketing and communication strategies, and participating in an interdisciplinary, student-led team that sustains RAIDAR, with guidance by BerkleeICE and Music Business faculty.

RAIDAR is a Berklee/MIT music licensing platform designed by Berklee students, for Berklee students to make money from their songs. Berklee students, alumni, and faculty can license their songs to visual media students. RAIDAR is powered by Open Music(Opens in a new window) technology, an industry consortium of 300+ members including streaming services and major labels, and is a tool for artist education and career sovereignty. This year-long course, split into two semesters, will use RAIDAR as a pedagogical tool to demonstrate experientially how the stakeholders across the music value chain interact and how intellectual property is distributed and commercialized across this chain. Through a grounding in the concepts related to RAIDAR, spread across many disciplines with the music industry, and then through experiential learning and work in the project itself, students will come away with an understanding of what it takes to build a business in the music industry, and the personal experience of helping to create a real-world startup themselves.  The first semester will focus on the ecosystem in which RAIDAR is built, including the legal, business and technical concepts, and the skills they will need to contribute to the development of RAIDAR as a business. In the second semester, students will work on the RAIDAR team through a practicum, drafting legal documents and intellectual property education tools, conducting business development, designing and implementing marketing and communication strategies, and participating in an interdisciplinary, student led team that sustains RAIDAR, with guidance by BerkleeICE and Music Business faculty.