MUS 365 : Music Industry and Business

Creative Arts and Industries

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An overview of the music industry including music production, distribution and reception, music marketing and music project management. An examination of business practices in music including developing and managing events, tours, promotion, the Internet, the role of digital media, organising events and festivals and setting up successful pedagogical studios.

Course Overview

MUS 365 centers on the intersection of creativity and entrepreneurship, developed for students who aim to build sustainable careers in the arts. Through a mix of lectures, discussions, and insights from industry experts, this course provides an in-depth look into the structure, dynamics, and emerging opportunities of the creative industries in New Zealand and globally. Students will reflect on their artistic identities and examine how these intersect with economic sustainability, applying critical skills to analyze diverse business and organizational models. With a focus on resilience, adaptability, and innovative problem-solving, students will develop and communicate entrepreneurial approaches aligned with current and future opportunities in the arts. Hands-on learning throughout enables students to apply their skills and insights through interactive projects and collaborative experiences that reflect real-world creative opportunities.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Music

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Music

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and explore how artistic identity and creative vision intersect with economic sustainability in the creative industries (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 5.1)
  2. Understand and critically evaluate the structure, dynamics, and opportunities in the creative industries in New Zealand and globally (Capability 1.2 and 5.1)
  3. Develop and apply an entrepreneurial mindset, focusing on resilience, opportunity recognition, risk, and creative problem-solving, to support sustainable and fulfilling careers in the creative industries. (Capability 5.1 and 8.1)
  4. Analyse and evaluate diverse business and/or organizational models for innovative careers in the creative industries. (Capability 5.1 and 8.1)
  5. Envision and communicate an entrepreneurial approach that aligns creative vision with current or future opportunities in the arts and beyond. (Capability 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project 45% Individual Coursework
Presentation 15% Individual Coursework
Reflection 25% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 15% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Project
Presentation
Reflection
Quizzes

Next Offered

This course will be offered in Semester 2, 2025. 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or workshop preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities may not be available as recordings.
Attendance on campus is required for the presentation.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

SET Evaluations and newly introduced School of Music Course Review procedures will be the basis for the future evolution and iteration of this course. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.