Online Music Business Course
Flexible Guidance to Help You Get Ahead in Just 20-Weeks
If you’re eager to learn the business side of the music business but NOT keen to temporarily relocate, commute or commit to a strict fulltime schedule, this program could be your ideal solution.
This unique 20-week certificate program is a combination of high quality pre-produced lessons and live mentorship with an industry veteran instructor. It’s a flexible deep dive into how the entertainment industry really operates and a perfect fit for busy schedules.
Modern Approach
Modern independent musicians and entrepreneurs, like yourself, are forging new ways to make and market their music. As an online student at DHI, you’ll learn the road-tested principles of the past plus innovative solutions to succeed in an evolving music business.
Personalized Mentorship
Classes are deliberately kept small to ensure you receive personalized attention and support throughout your program. You’ll pick up new skills quickly with so much direct support from industry experts passionate about helping motivated new professionals get ahead.
Instruction from Working Industry Experts
You’ll learn directly from music industry professionals with more than 30 years of experience who are passionate about helping motivated individuals get ahead. Your instructors will share their hard-won tips, tricks, and tools of the trade with you firsthand.
Enhance Your Resume
You’ll leave this program with a professional portfolio of projects to prove to potential employers you have the know-how AND the practical, hands-on experience it takes to succeed.
Flexible Guidance to Help You Get Ahead in Just 20-Weeks
If you’re eager to learn the business side of the music business but NOT keen to temporarily relocate, commute or commit to a strict fulltime schedule, this program could be your ideal solution.
This unique 20-week certificate program is a combination of high quality pre-produced lessons and live mentorship with an industry veteran instructor. It’s a flexible deep dive into how the entertainment industry really operates and a perfect fit for busy schedules.
Modern Approach
Modern independent musicians and entrepreneurs, like yourself, are forging new ways to make and market their music. As an online student at DHI, you’ll learn the road-tested principles of the past plus innovative solutions to succeed in an evolving music business.
Personalized Mentorship
Classes are deliberately kept small to ensure you receive personalized attention and support throughout your program. You’ll pick up new skills quickly with so much direct support from industry experts passionate about helping motivated new professionals get ahead.
Instruction from Working Industry Experts
You’ll learn directly from music industry professionals with more than 30 years of experience who are passionate about helping motivated individuals get ahead. Your instructors will share their hard-won tips, tricks, and tools of the trade with you firsthand.
Enhance Your Resume
You’ll leave this program with a professional portfolio of projects to prove to potential employers you have the know-how AND the practical, hands-on experience it takes to succeed.
How It Works
This program, run out of the Dark Horse Institute located just outside Nashville, is designed to fit your busy life and is loaded with unique lessons that work around your schedule. As an online student at Dark Horse Institute, you’ll have the flexibility to balance your learning around things like work, family and other responsibilities – but you’re far from left on your own.
Each day the content will be clearly laid out with video lessons, reading, and customized hands-on projects which immerse you in the industry. When combined with twice weekly two-hour Live Online classes hosted by an industry veteran instructor and mentor, the Music Business Online course will help you enter the industry with a competitive edge.
In these live classes, your instructor will not only make sure you fully understand the content, but also help direct your learning to meet your unique goals. Frequently guest speakers will be brought in to provide front-line updates on various facets of the industry.
You'll Learn
As a student in the music business online course you’ll follow the journey of an artist and their team from obscurity through negotiating deals at the highest levels. We explore marketing, social media, branding, building a team, contracts, merchandising, and touring. We navigate DIY,
Indie, and Major Record Labels, as well as the worlds of publishing, distribution, and Motion Picture Sync.
Courses include:
- Orientation and Course Overview
- The Recording Artist
- The Artist Team: The Manager
- The Artist Team: Attorneys, Agents, Bus. Mgr
- Entertainments Law Pt. 1: Contract Basics
- Leave it to the PROs
- Social Media Pt. 1
- Tin Pan Alley: Publishing Companies
- Record Labels Pt. 1: The Majors
- Record Labels Pt. 2: Indie and DIY Labels
- Entertainment Law Pt. 2
- Music Production
- Understanding Sync and Streaming Rights
- Distribution
- Social Media Pt. 2
- Visual Content Creation
- Touring Pt. 1
- Touring Pt. 2
- Music Merchandising
- Finals
Note: A laptop computer with Microsoft Office is required for the program.
Below are some of the hundreds of insights and practical skills you’ll learn at Dark Horse Institute:
Understanding the Entertainment Business
- The History of Recorded Music
- The Impact of Digital Recording and Distribution
- The Current State of the Music Industry
- Trends in Digital Downloads and Streaming
- Key Roles in the Music Industry
Succeeding in Artist Management
- Discovering and Developing TalentBuilding an Artist Roster
- Developing Revenue Streams for Artists
- Career Management
- Personal Management
- Managing non-artists
- Developing Ancillary Revenues
Understanding Record Companies
- Major Labels
- Indie Labels
- DIY Labels
- Acquisitions
- Product Development
- Marketing
- Sales and Distribution
- Key Roles in the Record Industry
Succeeding in Touring
- The State of the Touring Industry
- Key Roles in Touring
Succeeding in Marketing
- Imaging and Branding
- Packaging and Manufacturing
- Marketing to the Company and Consumer
- Understanding the Product
- Understanding the Marketplace
- Understanding Consumers
- Key Roles in Marketing
Succeeding in Music Publishing
- Intellectual Property
- Copyright
- Mechanical, Performance, Sync, and Print Royalties
- Licensing Deals
- Songwriting Splits
- Sync Deals
- Music Supervision
- Key Roles in Music Publishing
Understanding Entertainment Law
- Artist Management Agreements
- Recording Agreements
- Producer Agreements
- Booking Agency Agreements
- Live Performance Agreements
- Performance Riders
- Publishing Agreements
- Songwriting Agreements
- Band Agreements
- Corporations and Not-for-Profits
- Fictitious Names and DBA Permits
Understanding Music Industry Finance
- Manager and Booking Agent Commissions
- Business Manager and Ent. Attorney Fees
- Recording Artist and Producer Royalties
- Advances and Recoupment
- Record and Tour P&Ls
- Artist/Promoter Splits
- Federal, State and Local Taxes
Do-It-Yourself
- DIY Booking
- DIY Record Company
- DIY Publishing
- DIY Marketing
- DIY Website Creation
Get an Inside Look at DHI's Music Business Program
Learn By Doing
As a Music Business Online student you’ll work to scout, recruit, and develop indie artists. You’ll advise artists on imaging, branding, and marketing, and develop web and social media tools to support the release of their new recordings. You’ll also get to pitch an artist to record label A&R representatives and industry professionals.
In just 5 months you’ll have the skills you need to pursue an exciting job in the music business or to start your own entertainment company.
Pitch Perfect
Our Music Business program will take you behind the scenes where your class will PITCH an artist to the head of a major record label and the A & R Department.
Nothing is more important than receiving hands-on, real-world experience. In our music business program, you will scout out talent which has the potential to make it big.
Here’s how it works… over the course of this program you will:
- Search the internet and performance venues to scout out the talent you believe in
- Help them choose one song that that could be their breakout single
- Create a bio and press release for that artist
- Research and build campaigns for radio stations, media, social media platforms,
streaming playlists, international content, and brands - Create graphics based on branding strategies
- Help to create a lyric video and/or music video
- Compile a thorough and professional presentation
- Present to major record label via Zoom
- Through Zoom you will be watching the artist you pick perform for record executives, handle a Q&A session, and experience first-hand what it is like to get that big break!
You will be right there watching the artist perform for record executives, handle a Q&A session, and experience first-hand what it is like to get that big break!
An Exciting Time for New Professionals
The music business is going through dramatic changes—and that means opportunity for you. The advent of digital recording and distribution forced major labels to rethink their traditional methods, and now independent musicians and entrepreneurs like yourselves are forging new ways to make and market their music.
At Dark Horse Institute, you’ll learn the road-tested principles of the past plus futuristic solutions as to how you can succeed in the new music business.
Is a Career in Music Business Right for You? Find Out!
This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for.
Learn From Leaders in the Industry
All DHI instructors are leading practitioners with years of experience in their field. Take a look at some of the incredible talent that guides this program and their incredible contributions to the industry.
Visit our team page to learn more.
JOHN LUCASEY
John is a music industry veteran and founder of Studio 880, hosting Green Day, The Killers, and more. As Director of Audio Production for Walmart’s Soundcheck, he mixed Beyoncé, Drake, and other top artists. Now a partner at Lucasey Getter Creative, he champions emerging talent.
DAVID MULLEN
David is a singer, songwriter, and producer with 22 No. 1 hits and multi-platinum success across genres. A former Warner Bros. artist, he has developed talent and produced for every major label. His awards include Grammys, GMA, NSAI Song of the Year (twice), and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year.
See It For Yourself - Book a Virtual Tour
One of the best ways to see if the creative, collaborative and professional environment at Dark Horse Institute is right for you is to experience it firsthand. Virtual tours include an explanation of our audio program and curriculum, a video history of the school and more.
Is Convenient Online Music Business Training Right for You? Find Out!
Fill out the form on this page and take the next step toward your rewarding future in the music and entertainment industry. You’ll get more information on all that DHI has to offer and a friendly and knowledgeable Admissions Adviser can help you to explore if accelerated online music business training is right for you.
To speak with an Admissions Adviser right away, give us a call at 1-615-791-7020.
Armondo composed & produced musical scores & cues for television & film post- production companies. He's traveled internationally to pitch music catalogs and is currently working as a sound technician for the Harlem Globetrotters as well as being a composer for Flavorlab and Invite Only Studios in New York.
“This was everything I wanted in a program; it was fast and to the point. I knew a little bit coming into the program but this experience at Dark Horse really dove deep and I’m excited to take on the world now!”
Emma is working full-time at Clair Global
(perhaps the largest live production company in the world)
as a rehearsal technician. This has given her the opportunity
to work with Greta Van Fleet, Blessing Offor, and Tucker
Whitmore to name a few.
“After taking Music Business, Audio Engineering and
Songwriting classes I now understand how the music industry
really works. My teachers were amazing.”
Massimo is a drummer, vocalist, audio engineer, and producer currently at The Franklin Theatre and The Ryman Auditorium as a live sound engineer. He has worked on several projects with Declan Weir Productions, Stonebrook Media, and with many independent artists on the road and in the studio. “It was a bit of a reality check to get a good grasp on the business side of things. It was so great getting to learn more about audio techniques. I knew a little coming in, but this really expanded on what I want to do and the course was great.”
Board Operator at WKQR Radio Portland, TN. “I’ve gone through all three programs at Dark Horse and made some great connections along the way! The atmosphere is inspiring, and they allow you to come in and use their studios at the school for free. It’s incredible!”
Alex works for Warner Music Group as an Audit Analyst and a Reporting Administration Analyst. Some of his past experience was working at Universal Music Group in Global Film & TV Data Contractor, and at Reel Whitty Werks as a Sync Licensing Intern. “I loved this course and all the things that I learned at Dark Horse. I feel like where I’m at now, I can record properly and work towards my goals.”
