You shouldn’t have to figure out the music business on your own.
Navigating the Music Business
Certificate Program
A 6-week program that teaches you how the music business works. Next semester begins February 2025.
What the program covers:
Classes meet once per week virtually.
The Roles Around an Artist
We’ll identify the various roles of an artist’s team. You will gain an understanding of the independent and interconnected responsibilities of each role, how they support the artist, and how these specific roles on the artist’s team are compensated.
Marketing for the Modern Era
This week will train you how to market an artist’s music, build their brand, and attract the modern consumer. You will learn how to identify a target demographic and psychographic, and how to help an artist stand out in a crowded marketplace. You will learn, understand, and implement various marketing/branding philosophies.
Music Publishing Principles
This week will delve into the lucrative world of music publishing. You will learn how money is made in publishing, the difference between a co-publishing deal and an admin deal, and study some of the best publishing companies in the business.
Legal Aspects and Basic Deal Structures
This week will break down the various contracts and agreements that are given to, and created by, an artist and their team. You will learn how to identify and understand all necessary legal jargon and what to look out for in management, recording, distribution, and publishing deals
Concert and Festival Promotion
This week will give you an inside view of how concerts and festivals are produced and promoted. We will break down everything from how to sell more tickets to shows to the logistical aspect of producing a festival. We will also look at the history of how some of the most iconic festivals grew from humble beginnings as local show promoters.
Final class & course wrap
In the final week, we will recap the material covered throughout the class and provide detailed instructions for the final project.
Walk away with the official
Navigating The Music Business certification.
Program comes with immediate access to digital course materials:
✓Video lectures led by PHILIP PAYNE (Manager, Piff Marti & Jay Safari; Former manager, Tory Lanez)
✓Digital textbooks
✓Lecture notes
✓Quizzes, scenarios, and cheat sheets
Learn about the music business without going into debt.
Join an Individual
Week
$65
Per lesson
Or $32.50
for 2 months
✓ Access to one individual lesson of your choice
✓ Join the class for the lesson you selected during the specified week
✓ On-demand digital course taught by Philip Payne
✓ Digital textbook and lecture notes
✓ Scenarios, quizzes, and/or cheat sheets
Join the
6-Week
Program
$289
One time
Or $144.50
for 2 months
✓ Live weekly classes + networking sessions
✓ On-demand digital course taught by Philip Payne
✓ Digital textbook and lecture notes
✓ Scenarios, quizzes, and/or cheat sheets
✓ Walk away with the official FTS certificate
Join the 6-Week Program + Career Coaching
$349
One time
Or $174.50
for 2 months
✓ Live weekly classes + networking sessions
Everything included in the online course purchase plus
✓ Three hour long 1:1 career development sessions with our student success team
✓ Walk away with a personalized action plan AND certificate
Add on 1:1 coaching from our student success team.
✓Industry coaching for artists, managers, and teams
✓Resume editing and career development
Start your career and build relationships.
Sofia Martinez
Just a few weeks after completing the class, Sofia began managing Grace Sorenson - the course along with her operations role at Emo’s & Scoot Inn in Austin, Texas prepared her for artist management. “This was an extremely insightful course with helpful material and a hands-on approach. I will continue to recommend it to all my peers interested in learning more about music!!”
@sofiacmartinez on Instagram
Cassandra Lutz
After touring the Moody Center and connecting with the tour guide, Cass booked a 1:1 coaching session with Joel from our Student Success team and secured an opportunity at the Moody Center. “Meeting one-on-one with Joel really helped me take what I learned in class into the real world.”
@cass.c0m on Instagram
Smooth Nature
All three members commuted over an hour and a half each week to attend the in-person class, where they learned frameworks that have since helped them navigate management contracts and book more shows. “This is going to be so helpful going forward. Starting this month, we are planning out a mini-tour starting late July …This class directly correlates to it all, so we will be looking back at this all a lot!”
@thesmoothnature on Instagram
Mario Hernandez
Mario began his career as a manager by taking on an artist he met during the class. Joining the class was "the smartest decision I've ever made…Honestly, I'd say it's all that I could have hoped for.”
@promo_useonly on Instagram
Frequently asked questions:
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This is a six-week virtual class, meeting in early February on Wednesdays at 7pm CST.
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The next semester will be hosted in early February. Check back soon for specific dates!
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You will learn the foundational aspects of the music industry, including:
The roles around an artist
Marketing for the modern era
Music publishing principles
Legal aspects & basic deal structures
Concert & festival promotion
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You can access an individual week of class for $65, the full six-week program for $289, or the full six-week program + 1:1 coaching for $349.
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No! This program is open to adult learners, students, aspiring artists, and professionals.