Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation

The Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation program gives music business students a foundation in design thinking and strategic leadership within the music business and prepares them to identify new opportunities, develop innovative solutions to solve problems, and better meet the needs of both creatives and consumers.

A Music Business Major for Non-Musicians

With no audition or instrument proficiency required, the program provides access and opportunity for non-musicians/performers to pursue a career in the music industry.

Watch

Berklee's First B.A.

Listen to Tonya Butler, chair of the Music Business/Management Department, and R. Michael Hendrix, global director of design at IDEO, introduce the new Bachelor of Arts degree and how it equips students with the design-thinking skills needed to be leaders in today's industry.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Learn about financial aid, scholarships, and others ways of paying for your Berklee education.

Press Release

Berklee Announces Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation Program for Fall 2022

“The Bachelor of Arts in music industry leadership and innovation does not require an audition, yet is still a highly selective and competitive program designed for students with a strong desire to impact, change, and even disrupt the music industry of today."

—Tonya Butler, chair of the Music Business/Management Department

Getting an Edge

How Innovation and Design Thinking Boost Music Industry Careers

The new Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation program is training students to imagine and create the music business of the future.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation (MILI) at Berklee prepares students to identify and solve the industry's biggest challenges. The design-based curriculum provides the tools students need to spot new opportunities, analyze trends, and drive meaningful change in every sector of the business. Built on a foundation of innovation, this program develops the business fluency and creative thinking required to lead organizations, launch new ventures, and thrive in a fast-moving global marketplace.

MILI students will dive deep into a curriculum focused heavily on music business, combined with innovation methodologies that emphasize research, experimentation, and execution. They will learn within Berklee’s unique environment—a dynamic microcosm of the music world—where they will have access to over 5,000 musicians, allowing them to build practical experience from day one.

Students will work closely with world-class faculty and industry partners through:

Team-based innovation labs and applied projects.
Professional internships and industry collaborations.
Real-world experiential learning built directly into your classes.

MILI graduates leave Berklee ready to lead in established music business roles and excel in emerging careers at the intersection of innovation, strategy, emerging technology, and business development. Whether students are reinventing how music is consumed or leading global teams, they will have the skills to shape what comes next.

NOT SURE WHICH PROGRAM TO CHOOSE? Below is a brief overview of the ideal student for each program:

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Music Business/Management

The Musician-Entrepreneur
You are a musician first. You want to combine your artistic talent with a high-level understanding of how the industry functions.
Your goal is to manage artists, run labels, or lead music publishing—speaking the language of the studio and the boardroom with equal ease.
This path requires a formal audition and a background in musical performance.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation

The Strategist & Change-Maker
You are a visionary. You are fascinated by the "why" and "how" of the music business, even if you don't play an instrument yourself.
Your goal is to disrupt the status quo, lead tech-driven startups, or solve complex problems at the intersection of business and innovation.
This path is highly selective but does not require an audition. It focuses on your potential as a strategic leader and your ability to think systematically.

What Will I Learn?

Upon successful completion of the MILI program, students will be able to:

apply systematic and creative approaches to innovation and problem framing, using structured innovation methodologies and strategic management frameworks to identify opportunities, synthesize stakeholder insights, anticipate inflection points, and frame complex music business challenges into actionable problem statements;
generate ideas, build prototypes, and run experiments to evaluate feasibility, desirability, and viability and translate insights into solutions that can be implemented in real-world music business contexts;
lead cross-functional teams by setting strategic direction, aligning stakeholders, and cultivating cultures that support innovation, accountability, and execution in evolving music business environments;
demonstrate professional fluency in the music business by analyzing the structure, terminology, and roles of key stakeholders across the global music business and applying this knowledge to navigate professional environments, assess opportunities, and anticipate shifts in the marketplace;
identify, evaluate, and manage current and emerging revenue systems and analyze how value is created, monetized, and distributed across evolving music business models and market conditions;
interpret and critically assess intellectual property law, contract law, and standard music business agreements and apply this knowledge to music business practices, including rights management, deal evaluation, and professional decision-making;
apply core marketing principles and strategies to plan, implement, and evaluate branding, promotion, and audience development initiatives that support organizational and commercial goals across the music business;
analyze quantitative and qualitative data to inform strategic decision-making, evaluate performance, assess risk and opportunity, and support planning across marketing, finance, operations, and emerging areas of the music business; and
evaluate trends and emerging technologies—including data-driven tools and artificial intelligence—to develop artist-centered, organization-focused strategies that both leverage innovation and support human creativity, and apply ethical, inclusive, and socially responsible leadership practices.

Entrance Requirements

This highly selective program is designed for students, especially those without prior formal musical training, who aspire to be leaders in the music industry, rather than performers. While it does not require an audition or instrument proficiency, we look for a high standard of academic and professional potential.

To apply, students must provide:

A minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
A resume highlighting prior industry or leadership experience.
A cover letter expressing your understanding of the program and your career goals.
A video interview to showcase your drive and perspective.

Students who are interested in this program will apply directly to the B.A. There is no audition required. For more information, please see the undergraduate admissions page.

Curriculum and Courses

There are 52 core required credits in addition to liberal arts and sciences courses (43 credits), and general electives (25 credits) for a degree total of 120 credits.

Music Industry Leadership and Innovation Core (20 credits)

MILI-110 Introduction to Design (2 credits)
MILI-210 Innovation Methodologies (2 credits)
MILI-211 Technology and Disruption in the Music Industry (2 credits)
MILI-310 Innovation Analysis and Application 1 (3 credits)
MILI-311 Innovation Analysis and Application 2 (3 credits)
MILI-312 Business Development & Strategy (2 credits)
MILI-410 Innovation Lab 1 (2 credits)
MILI-411 Innovation Lab 2 (2 credits)
MILI-401 Designing Your Path: Strategic Life and Career Planning (2 credits)

Music Industry Core (19 credits)

MB-101 Introduction to Music Business (2 credits)
ICE-125 The Creative Entrepreneur Mindset (2 credits)
MB-211 Legal Aspects of the Music Business (2 credits)
MB-301 Management, Leadership and Ethics (2 credits)
MB-325 Principles of Marketing (2 credits)
MB-331 Record Company Operations (2 credits)
MB-335 Music Publishing (2 credits)
MB-375 Artist Management (2 credits)
MB-391 Concerts and Touring (2 credits)
MB-433 Music Industry Trends and Special Topics (1 credit)

Major electives (10 credits) To satisfy this requirement, MILI students may enroll in any Music Business course (MB or ICE) not previously taken.

Practicum (3 credits; choose one set of courses from the following areas)

BPMI-401, BPMI-402, BPMI-403 Berklee Popular Music Institute 1, 2, and 3 (1 credit each) (BPMI Live; application required)

IN-299 Internship in the Arts and Entertainment 1 (1 credit)
MB-495 Internship in Music Business/Management (2 credits)

Liberal Arts and Sciences (43 credits)

Major-specific Liberal Arts

LENG-211 Effective Communication (3 credits)
LMSC-251 Data Management and Statistics (3 credits)
LSOC-225 Principles of Economics (3 credits)

General Electives (25 credits)

Updated for catalog year fall 2026.

Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation

Music Business/ Management

A Music Business Major for Non-Musicians

Berklee's First B.A.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Berklee Announces Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation Program for Fall 2022

How Innovation and Design Thinking Boost Music Industry Careers

Program Details

Full Description

What Will I Learn?

Entrance Requirements

Curriculum and Courses

Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation

A Music Business Major for Non-Musicians

Berklee's First B.A.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Berklee Announces Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation Program for Fall 2022

How Innovation and Design Thinking Boost Music Industry Careers

Program Details

Full Description

What Will I Learn?

Entrance Requirements

Curriculum and Courses

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