Jump to main content

About The Program

UNC's School of Music offers you three choices for an undergraduate degree: bachelor of music, bachelor of arts and bachelor of music education. The trend in the music business is to put careers together through personal marketing and the use of technology. With a bachelor of music degree and an emphasis in business, UNC will help you link your unique talents with entrepreneurship skills integral to success in music today.

UNC's Bachelor of Music: Business Emphasis develops and inspires well-rounded music performance students who can market and promote their talent in order to sustain a long-term professional career in music.

  • Degree Overview

    Welcome to the UNC Music Business program!  In this rapidly changing and competitive music industry it is imperative that musicians enter the field fully prepared to succeed!  Along with becoming excellent musicians in each of your respective fields the music business program gives you the competitive edge you need to shine in the field of music.  You will leave with tools to help you build a career from your passion for music instead of just hoping things work out. 

    One of my favorite topics in class is “Advocacy”.  Sometimes as musicians wrapping our head around becoming savvy “businesspeople” can be challenging and feel a bit foreign.  However, the idea of advocating for ourselves as professionals and advocating for our art shouldn’t be unfamiliar to us.  Effective advocacy is vital to our sustainability and success as music professionals.  When we pair business savvy and knowledge with advocacy and our passion to create, serve and be present and active in our field of study we are more likely to succeed.  In the UNC music business program you will learn strategies to create a sustainable and fulfilling career as a musician by exploring topics surrounding all aspects of the music industry, gaining foundational knowledge in the field of business, hearing from a variety of leading music industry professionals and building and fostering your skills and creative identity as a musician. 

    Let’s do this!  See you in class.

    -Dr. Off

    Meet the Faculty

  • Beyond the Classroom

    National Repertory Orchestra

    Through a partnership with the National Repertory Orchestra, UNC Music Business Students have the opportunity to learn and work with one of the nation's premier summer music festivals. 

    "Partnering with the NRO is extremely exciting. UNCO and I have a lot of admiration for the NRO because of what they have done, the opportunities that they have given students across the United States and the world. Their artistic presence within the community and theirintegrity in the music industry is incredible. To have the honor and the pleasure of this partnership is pretty cool."~ Dr. Sarah Off

  • Curriculum

    Bachelor of Music in Business Concentration

    The Bachelor of Music in Business Concentration requires 120 credit hours. In addition to the Liberal Arts Curriculum Requirements students will experience the foundational music coursework such as music theory, aural skills, class piano and the history of music with the opportunity to take part in UNC ensembles such as chamber groups, the UNC Symphony Orchestra, UNC Bands, UNC Wind Ensemble and UNC Jazz Bands. The music business instruction will include principles of microeconomics, major musical organization, a survey of accounting, marketing, business finance and entrepreneurship.

    Learn More about the Bachelor of Musis in Business Concentration

    Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate

    The Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate can be incorporated into undergraduate studies and consists of twelve credits for completion including students' areas of interest. 

    Learn more about the Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate

  • Auditions and Scholarships

    Auditions

    In addition to completing the UNC Undergraduate Application, students will be asked to submit more information and audition on a primary instrument in the complete application process. To learn more about the audition process visit the music business audition page to find audition requirements for each instrument.

    MUSIC BUSINESS AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

    Scholarships

    The College of Performing and Visual Arts awards over $1.8 million in scholarships annually to undergraduate and graduate students in the arts. There are multiple scholarship types offered to students, including talent scholarships and foundation scholarships. To learn more, visit the PVA Scholarship page.

    PVA Scholarships

Questions? Get In Touch!

Request Information
Would you like to receive information about a program?
Loading...
Application Dates
  • Fall semesterAugust 1*
  • Spring semesterJanuary 1*
  • Summer semesterMay 1*
*Note: Application dates may vary depending on student status. Learn more.