BA (Hons) Music and Live Events Management
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Three or Four Years
- Start Date: September 2024
Do you want to discover what it takes to put on a live music event? BA (Hons) Music and Live Events Management is your backstage pass to the industry. From global festivals to intimate events, you’ll learn from both seasoned event production professionals and experienced academics.
Get hands-on with music and live event management. You will gain a deep understanding of the live music events business, from the roles and responsibilities associated of management, to the operation and logistics of live events. You’ll be producing events from your first year.
Why study this subject?
Music and Live Events Management can help kickstart your career in the world of music and live entertainment. We will equip you with the skills to turn your love of live events into a successful and fulfilling career. Whether you dream of organizing the next big festival or managing your favourite artist's tour, this subject will provide you with knowledge and experience to help bring your ambitions to life.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
BNU offers a unique experience in Music and Live Events Management. We stand out due to the hands-on expertise of our teaching staff, comprising industry professionals with diverse backgrounds, including a Mercury Music Prize winner, award-winning concert promoters, and digital marketing specialists. Plus, you’ll benefit from guest lectures and workshops from visiting industry associates, which can introduce you to new and emerging issues across the sector.
Our course combines theory and practical work, covering all the fundamental principles of live music event management. You’ll learn key transferable business skills such as Marketing, Risk, and Licensingri, as well as work on the real-life, real-time production of small, medium, and large-scale events. From the beginning of your studies, you’ll collaborate with fellow students on other degrees, such as music or film courses, to bring events together.
At BNU, you'll have access to an extensive network of alumni, guest lecturers, and industry experts, providing you with valuable insights into the industry and career opportunities. We emphasise practical experience throughout the degree. Past students have gone on a range of exciting placements, such as working at renowned events like Reading Festival, Wireless Festival, and BBC Radio 1 Weekender.
The lectures went above and beyond for everyone in order to provide the best support. This was done through many workshops and 1-1 support. I succeeded purely from the support I received over the three years of my degree. I gained all the knowledge that was required, alongside them telling me about their own experiences within the industry. I have now taken everything from my university experience and have used it since leaving university, which has no doubt helped me gain a job in the event industry.Shauna Reid PR and Events Executive
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in your first year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
BNU actively engages in collaborative opportunities with industry partners via schemes such as the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme, supported by UK Research and Innovation. Industry collaboration enables us to support innovation and R&D projects that support the growth of the creative industry while also feeding new knowledge and expertise into our courses. Read more about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships at BNU here, or email us.
I graduated in 2019 having taken part in both the first Winterland and the first Bucks Live events to be taken onto another site - SubWoofers. Both of these events were highly valuable to the course and I think they give great advantage to students as I don't know anyone else who has been given these opportunities.Lauren Robinson
Our Specialisms
Buckinghamshire New University gives you the opportunity to choose your specialism for your future career after your experience of the core curriculum in year one. Rather than having to make the big decision before you join us, we introduce you to various specialisms and offer you the flexibility to choose which one suits you the best. You can choose between BA (Hons) Music and Live Events Management and BA (Hons) Events Management.
Music and Live Events Management will be for you if you love the music industry and want to work hand in hand with everyone from musicians to producers and managers. If you are interested in the wider events industry, where you can organise and run everything from corporate conventions and exhibitions to bespoke weddings, Events management is the course for you.
These specialisms are also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree
What will I study?
Music and Live Events Management, covers a comprehensive range of topics that will equip you with the practical and theoretical knowledge needed to succeed in the ever-evolving live music and events industry as well as more broadly across more mainstream businesses and enterprises.
Your first year will explore the basics of how various types of events work, including live gigs, tours, and festivals. You'll learn about the fundamentals of marketing and promotion for different event types as well as explore core management skills, both for personal development and for the growth of venues, artists, and companies. You'll gain valuable insights into public relations, risk assessment, and the necessary legislation for safe and responsible operation within the event industry.
Moving into the second year, you'll have the opportunity to engage in real-life, real-time production of small, medium, and large-scale events. We will guide you through the process of taking an idea from first thoughts to a real event. This year also has a focus on fostering communication and interpersonal skills, as well as problem-solving in high-pressure situations.
In your final year, the focus will be on an individual project, where you'll have the chance to develop analytical, synthetic, and research skills. Emphasis will be placed on individual and independent learning, with modules dedicated to strategic and long-term thinking that informs the industry.
In previous years we’ve been able to offer our students a range of different opportunities to work at a range of different events, festivals & projects. Including, but not limited to:
- Reading Festival - Assistant Zone Managers
- Wireless Festival - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
- Hyde Park British Summertime - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
- Wembley Arena
- Creamfields - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
- Download Festival - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
- Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
- Mind Body & Spirit
- Common & Steelyard - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
- Ginger Owl Productions - Various Roles and Opportunities across a wide range of events.
- BBC Radio 1 Weekender - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office & Production Office
- ILMC Conference - Assistants roles at the biggest Music Industry Conference in UK, with all major Artists Agents, Promoters, Artists Management companies, Venue and Arena Operators and Festival Organisers.
It would have been near impossible for me to have already experienced being an event manager for an event that drew in over 3,000 customers if it wasn’t for Bucks Live. It puts the students on this course a step ahead of those on other event courses across the country, and I imagine it must have a significant impact on the immediate employability of graduating students.Jessie Hall
How will I be taught and assessed?
During your time studying on this course, you will be taught and assessed with a mixture of:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Event planning tasks
- Individual and group studies
- Practical exams
- Written assignments
- Presentations.
You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working world.
Having lecturers who are or have been in the events industry was great, seeing how passionate they were about it was always so encouraging. Before I started my degree, getting a job within the industry seemed so far away. Now to be working in the industry shows all the hard work pay off. I am so exited to now continue my career!Caitlin Barry Event Sales Executive
What are the course entry requirements?
A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.
A minimum of 2 A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.
For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
This course has Opportunity modules.
Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in your first year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.
You must choose 2 x 10 credit Level 4 Opportunity modules from the Opportunity module catalogue.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £9,250 per year
International
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025: £15,150 per year
What are my career prospects?
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.
Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a range of career possibilities. Using the skills and knowledge learnt on this course, you could find yourself performing the following roles all over the world:
- Event Marketing & PR
- licensing Officer
- health & Safety Consultant
- concert and Live Music Events Promoter
- festival Manager
- venue Manager
- tour Manager
- event Planner.
Previous BNU Events students have gone on to work for companies and events including Glastonbury, the SEE Arena Wembley, Broadwick Live, Coda, Festival Republic, IMG, Eventim Apollo, and Ginger Owl Productions.
Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course.