I'm at freshman in college about to enter my second semester. I want to apply to colleges for music industry, but I need advice and facts. I'm looking at Drexel, Middle TN State, Northeastern, SUNY Oneonta, and Syracuse. Pros? Cons? I'd really appreciate any bone you can throw me.
One of the things you might want to consider is whether you want to be near a city. Oneanta is in a pretty rural area. Other than that, you need to have a good look at the websites for these programs. They are pretty informative.
I think proximity to a city is a personal choice. As you say, internships are feature of all of these programs. You did not say if you are a musician yourself. Some music business/indusrty programs require significant study of music and an audition.
Belmont University in Nashville has a music business program which is entirely separate from its music program, so no proficiency on an instument/vocals is required. Northeastern University's program also does not have an audition requirement.
Some of the programs focus more on the business aspect, and some more on the technical aspect like recording engineering. Some are a mixture. I think you have to figure out exactly what you are interested in as far as those aspects go.
I've been classically trained in voice, but I would like to stray from the performance side of things and venture more behind the scenes. When I hear music business, I automatically think there will be tons of math involved, which I'm terrible at and hate. I also have to consider price since I'm funding college myself.
Don't know much about the other schools but SUNY Oneonta is very strong academically but not one of the top SUNY music schools. SUNY Potsdam and Fredonia have music business and SUNY Purchase is a great performance school. In general, I think you would have a better chance coming from one of top three SUNY music schools because they have long established relationships in the industry instead of SUNY Oneonta. Potsdam has a relationship with SONY for internships and, according to the music business prof, they like to hire classically trained musicians.
Another school to look at in NY for music industry, would be the College of St Rose, in Albany, NY. They have strong academic scholarships and several of son's friends have had internships while attending there and have been offered full time employment.
My son is doing music business at the Hartt School. The majority of his classes are music classes, but he also has statistics and a business class this year. I don't think there a lot of math. He will have to take economics and marketing.
They also have arts management as a major, which does not have music classes as part of the requirement.
He also applied to and was accepted tp College of St. Rose. I agree with momofbassist that you might want to look at that school.
