Music Industry Studies

• ARTISTRY: Acquire the compositional, listening, technical, and performance skills necessary to master chosen areas of applied music study (digital audio workstation, guitar, piano, voice, etc.). While the Artistry curriculum focuses on popular music and the commercial music industry, students of all musical interests and ability levels are welcome. 
• CULTURE: Develop appreciation and understanding for the socio-cultural meanings of music around the world and throughout history, including how music is used to communicate messages, reinforce senses of belonging, and amplify other aspects of a society’s or community’s way of life. Studying music as culture is highly interdisciplinary and connects to Albright’s commitment to liberal arts education.
• INDUSTRY: Sharpen the critical thinking, research, and writing skills required to become an effective communicator and contributor within the contemporary commercial music industry.
• BUSINESS: Acquire and develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the industry-standard business practices at work within the contemporary commercial music industry.
• TECHNOLOGY: Apply a working knowledge of the terms and processes specific to the use of music technology within the contemporary commercial music industry.

Full Course Catalogue  Course Descriptions

Major Requirements

• Artistry (5 courses)
  • MUS 209 Applied Lessons (four semesters required)
  • MUS 211 Commercial Music Theory I
  • MUS 212 Commercial Music Theory II
  • MUS 311 Commercial Arranging
  • MUS 312 Songwriting
• Industry (5 courses)
  • MUS 243 The Business of Music: An Introduction
  • MUS 244 Entertainment Marketing
  • MUS 344 Artist Management
  • MUS 345 Music Law
  • MUS 391 Event Promotion
• Technology (4 courses)
  • MUS 250 Introduction to Music Technology
  • MUS 251 Recording Technology
  • MUS 350 Mixing & Mastering
  • MUS 351 Music Production
• Capstone Experiences (2 courses)
  • MUS 482 Internship
  • MUS 495 Senior Seminar 

Learn the nuts of bolts of music technology and music production from introductory to advanced techniques in audio mixing and mastering through an Albright College co-major in Music Production. Then apply this knowledge through experiential learning labs and commercial music ensembles.

• Four semesters in one of the following ensembles or applied lesson sections (each semester  counts as ¼ credit)
  • MUS 103B Commercial Music Workshop
  • MUS 103D Rap Collective
  • MUS 209K Applied Lessons in Music Production
• MUS243 The Business of Music
• MUS250 Introduction to Music Technology
• MUS251 Recording Technology (prerequisite: MUS250)
• DIG250 Sound Design for Visual Media
• MUS350 Mixing & Mastering (prerequisites: MUS250 and MUS251)
• MUS351 Music Production (prerequisites: MUS250 and MUS251)
• MUS495 Senior Seminar   

For those students who wish to augment their academic experience with an added focus in the rudiments of Applied Music, we offer a five-course minor.  

• MUS 120 Music Appreciation: Introduction to Western Music
• MUS 211 Commercial Music Theory I
• Two (2) courses from the following (chosen with consultation of Department Chair):
  • MUS 113 Rags, Rock and Rap: Popular Music and American Culture
  • MUS 212 Commercial Music Theory II  
  • MUS 250 Introduction to Music Technology
  • MUS 251 Recording Technology
  • MUS 312 Songwriting
• Four (4) Semesters of Study in Applied Music
  • MUS 103 Symphonic Band (requires four semesters of study for credit
  • MUS 104 String Chamber Orchestra (requires four semesters of study for credit)
  • MUS 105 Albright Chorale (requires four semesters of study for credit)
  • MUS 109 Applied Music Lessons (requires four semesters of study for credit) 

Lion Records

Lion Records is a multidisciplinary record label that is led by faculty and operated by students, with the goal of providing experiential learning opportunities in tandem with the Music Industry Studies major, co-major, and Entertainment Industry Business Administration track. Students are given the opportunity to work as part of a fully functioning record label and use skills gained in the classroom to create, perform, manage, promote, market, mix, and produce quality content that is distributed to the global music marketplace. Albright College is one of only a handful of institutions that offers a certification in the industry-standard recording software, Pro Tools before graduation.

Internships and Career Support

Students can connect with the Career Development Center to find internships. As our Music Industry Studies students prepare to graduate, they must put their course work and creative experiences to the test by completing a pre-professional Internship. Recent students have gained hands-on experience (not to mention invaluable networking opportunities) by interning for such prestigious music industry companies as:

• Atlantic Records
• Columbia Records
• Broad Street Music Group
• Warner Music Group
• EMI Gospel
• Sony Red
• The Mann Center for the Performing Arts
• Bad Boy Entertainment
• Allure Media Entertainment
• Radio One Incorporated
• +Vibes Productions
• Rhythm & Blues Foundation
• KG Enterprises
• Win Win Global
• Della Music Publishing LLC
• Cheri Media Group/Hip HopDX
• Reverb
• Primary Wave
• Haverford Music Festival
• AMLA (Artists/Musicians of Latin America
• ASCAP
• ‘stache media
• Doghouse Records
• Cross Keys Recording
• WRAT 95.9 FM
• DRP Record
• Rockwood Music Corporation
• Elam & SCott LLP
• WMGK 102.9 FM
• Worldwide Entertainment Group
• MVD Entertainment Group
• Helene Blue Musique Ltd.
• Great Scott Broadcasting
• Propulsion Media Labs
• Tempo Music Therapy
• Wired 96.5 FM
• Radio One — 92Q Jams
• All Star Music Empire
• Premiere Studios NY
• Astral Werks Records

ACRE Undergraduate Research

Students in any major can engage in interdisciplinary undergraduate research through the Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE), partnering with faculty mentors to pursue independent research or creative projects and present their work beyond the classroom.