Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia Named to Billboard's 2025 Top Music Business Schools List
Image by Teddy Kent
Billboard has recognized Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia as two of its top music business schools of 2025.
The publication noted both the longstanding Music Business/Management program, as well as the Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation. Billboard also highlighted the Berklee Popular Music Institute's BPMI Live program, a year-long curriculum where "students scout, develop and tour with emerging artists at the industry’s largest music festivals."
“It’s an honor for the Berklee Popular Music Institute to be recognized by Billboard as part of what makes Berklee one of the top music business schools in the world," says Morgan Milardo, BPMI managing and artistic director. "Seeing our students perform at major festivals through BPMI Live, experience touring on an international level, and connect directly with artists like Lucius reflects what we do best: creating real-world opportunities that bridge education and the industry.”
Billboard mentioned the abundance of guest speakers that come to campus each year, including CD Baby President Molly Neuman and alumni band Lucius, who gave students a first listen of their self-titled album and a peek into the project's release strategy.
“The important work right now is pouring our time and attention to supporting the arts, youth, expression, and education. It was a beautiful experience going back to Berklee to speak with students and fellow musicians about the inner workings of music as a craft and as a business," says Lucius's Holly Laessig BM ’07. "They are the future, navigating a wildly ever-changing landscape where authenticity and value are constantly challenged, but Berklee and their students prove there is a lot to be hopeful for.”
This year is Berklee Valencia’s fifth in a row on Billboard’s list, highlighting the Master of Arts in Global Entertainment and Music Business, as well as the Global Career Summit, the 10th anniversary of which is happening on campus in January 2026.
The publication chose 45 schools in total for the unranked list, using “industry recommendations, alum information provided by honorees from [its] multiple power lists, years of reporting on educational options, and information requested from the schools themselves.”
Tara Bellucci is Berklee's director of content strategy. She has been a writer, editor, and digital media consultant for over a decade.