Certificate in Music Business and Technology

Music Business and Technology Certificate program students have:

• Interviewed the agent for Norah Jones; the artist manager for Mat Kearney; and a professional violinist who has performed with Stevie Wonder at Madison Square Garden and on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
• Spoken with Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik about finding your niche in the music world.
• Been treated to a special backstage tour of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville before Cabaret, with a roundtable featuring Peace Center staff.
• Produced successful concerts including Striking Matches, a rootsy guitar duo whose music appeared on the TV hit Nashville, the fundraiser Cookin’ with Rock, and  “All You Need Is MUBs,” a tribute to The Beatles.

Converse’s Music Business and Technology students (“MUBs”) improve their chances to get jobs and internships, not only because of their hard work on actual music industry tasks but because our students meet and talk with multiple concert business rainmakers; from agents to performers, to artist managers, to recording and show production engineers and technicians.

Student-Produced Rock Concerts

The MUBs produced a first-of-its-kind show featuring the music duo Striking Matches, who were featured on the TV show Nashville and their producer, the legendary T. Bone Burnett, has produced the likes of Elton John to Counting Crows to Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. The show sold more than 150 tickets in less than two weeks.

In spring 2016, the MUBs put on an unusual concert experience, booking more than a dozen bands for “All You Need Is MUBs,” a tribute to The Beatles. Each artist performed tunes from the Fab Four in a variety of genres, from rock to classical to Americana. The show included a performance from Jim Avett (father of the Avett Brothers) as well as Converse professors and popular local bands. The MUBs booked all the bands, handled all aspects of concert preparation and production, including sound reinforcement and engineering, promotion/marketing, and they celebrated record-breaking ticket sales.

Create Your Own Ensemble

Converse has a new and unique type of performing ensemble that can be included in your program—the Creative Music Ensemble. You can receive college credit for singer/songwriter duos, YouTube, and social media-based performances or perform music with artists, dancers, actors, writers or videographers to create original group presentations.

Internships

The real-world experience gained during an internship broadens your experience, develops your skill set and can lead to professional contacts in the music industry. Three major music markets within driving distance of Spartanburg (Atlanta, Nashville and New York City) offer unlimited internship opportunities, as well as local, more intimate markets.

Converse Music Business and Technology students have enjoyed highly desirable internships both nationally and locally, including NPR in NYC and the historic Capri Theatre in Gaffney, SC.

The Music Business and Technology Certificate involves 18 hours of coursework, though many of the courses may also be used to satisfy degree requirements in your major.

The cornerstone courses of the program are Intro to Music Business, the Music Practicum, Microeconomics, and the all-important internship. You then have a generous selection of business-related, arts management and music technology courses from which to choose according to your personal interests. You can customize your certificate to hone in on concert promotion and venue management, or technology courses involving recording, sound reinforcement and performance. You’ll work across a complete spectrum of genres including singer/songwriter, EDM, rock, Contemporary Christian and even classical styles. You’ll get a chance to cross disciplines into accounting, economics and arts management.

Sample Courses

• Music Concert Promotion and Venue Management
• Music Business Practicum, actually producing an entirely student-run show or working behind-the-scenes with music professionals
• Electronic Music for Video and Performance
• Internship (choose from music media, music business, or arts management)

View the Music Business and Technology Certificate requirements.

Course Offerings & Academic Catalogs

What are common careers in Music Business and Technology?

• Booking Agent
• Artist Manager
• Recording Producer or Engineer
• Concert Sound Reinforcement Engineer or Technician
• Road Manager
• Tour Publicist
• Music Journalist
• Artists & Repertoire Representative