The Berklee College of Music has announced it will now offer a Bachelor of Arts program in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation. Announced Tuesday (Aug. 10) and launching fall of 2022, the program will be the first undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree to be available in the college’s 75-year history.
Famous for its esteemed music program — as well as its esteemed list of alumni — the college that’s provided education to artists like John Mayer, Quincy Jones and Charlie Puth will now have a place for non-musicians. The major will be offered through the Boston school’s music business/management department and has been “specifically designed for non-musicians who have an interest in business and technology,” according to the press release. Its curriculum is set to combine theoretical and practical learning, with students taking business, liberal arts and general elective courses.
“Berklee was born out of the spirit of innovation,” said Tonya Butler, chair of the music business/management department. “I look forward to welcoming the first class of students to study music industry innovation in the place where music of all styles and genres resides.”
The new B.A. includes specializations in marketing and production development, licensing and administration and emerging technologies, along with coursework rooted in the contemporary music industry.
No faculty members were listed in the release, but the program’s professors will be “active in both the music and technology fields.”
One major difference between the new program and the rest of Berklee’s music and performance majors is that students will not be required to audition. It is, however, still a “highly selective and competitive program designed for students with a strong desire to impact, change, and even disrupt the music industry of today, while making a meaningful contribution to the industry of tomorrow,” Butler said.
