Linda Bloss-Baum and the SXSW class in Austin, with acclaimed author Don Passman. Courtesy photo.
Ever wondered how you might turn a love of music & entertainment as well as business into a career? American University’s Business and Entertainment (BAE) program is a one-of-a-kind undergraduate major at the Kogod School of Business that prepares students for careers in the entertainment industry.
Unlike certificate programs or electives, the BAE is a full degree track that is a mix of rigorous business fundamentals and specialized courses in entertainment.
INSIDE THE BAE PROGRAM
At the center of the program is Linda Bloss-Baum, who has directed BAE for the past two years. Bloss-Baum is an American University alumna herself, and having lived in a dorm just steps from Kogod as a freshman, she believes this gives her a unique edge in relating to students that are walking the same path she once did.
NYC student trek to alumni-hosted UMG. Courtesy photo.
“When I came back as an adjunct, I was really drawn to returning to campus. It was the greatest experience of my life to go to American University,” she says.
This year marks the third year in a row that the BAE program has received recognition from Billboard. The program has once again made their Top Music Business Schools of 2025 list. The schools in this list are ranked in no specific order, which Bloss-Baum notes seems fair because they’re all quite different in nature.
“Some of these programs on Billboard’s list teach music business in the music school, some teach music business in more of a liberal arts type of approach, and some programs, like ours, are taught within a business school,” she explains.
Billboard’s top music business schools is compiled through industry recommendations, alumni input, years of reporting, and information provided directly by the schools, which are then profiled alphabetically rather than ranked. Selected programs highlight their unique offerings, accomplished alumni, and standout courses or events to showcase their strengths. Below are this year’s winners.
BILLBOARD’S TOP MUSIC BUSINESS SCHOOLS 2025
| School Name | Program/Course | Celebrity Guest Speakers | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Road Institute | Advanced Diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering; Dolby Atmos Mixing for Music | James Auwarter (Grammy-winning engineer) | London, England |
| American University (Kogod School of Business) | Business and Entertainment Program | Kevin Beggs, David Dinerstein, Jeff Bennett | Washington, District of Columbia |
| Auburn University | Music Business Minor; Record Company Procedures | Troy Tomlinson, Scott Hendricks | Auburn, Alabama |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry; Music Licensing and Placement | Joe O’Riordan, Darius Cook, Mary Jo Mennella | Berea, Ohio |
| Belmont University (Curb College) | Bachelor of Business Administration; Dolly U courses | Ed Sheeran, Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym, Kelly Bolton, Lainey Wilson | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Berklee College of Music (Boston) | Bachelor of Music in Music Business; Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation; BPMI Live | Molly Neuman, Lucius | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Berklee College of Music (Valencia) | Master of Arts in Global Entertainment and Music Business; Publishing and Music Supervision | Yvette Noel-Schure, Marie-Anne Robert | Valencia, Spain |
| BIMM University | Curriculum in artist management, marketing, event promotion, A&R, publishing | Miles Leonard, James Threlfall, Emma Hardie, Alyx Holcombe | London, England (Manchester, Dublin, Berlin) |
| The BRIT School | Vocational curriculum in performance, creative arts, music tech, business | Adele, RAYE, Lola Young, Billy Bragg, Ezra Collective, Kate Nash | Croydon, England |
| California Institute of the Arts | The Art of the Mix; Interface Design | Laurel Halo, Jake Viator, Sami Parez | Valencia, California |
| California State University, Northridge | Music Industry Studies; VoVe student-run label | Carly Huffman, Kidder Erdman | Northridge, California |
| Delta State University | Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Industry Studies; Entertainment Product Marketing | Rick Sanjek, Paul Mathis | Cleveland, Mississippi |
| Drexel University | Music Industry Program; Mad Dragon Music Group; Artist Representation; Streaming and Radio Promotion | Chissy Nkemere Cherian, Major Seven, Omar Grant, Nikisha Bailey, John Vettese | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Full Sail University | Bachelor of Science in Music Business; Concert Management and Touring | Executives from Udio, Revolt TV, SteeleSync, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Warner Chappell Music | Winter Park, Florida |
| Hofstra University | Interdisciplinary Music Business Program; A&R in the Music Industry; Brand Partnerships in Music | Pete Ganbarg, Shari Lewin | Hempstead, New York |
| Howard University | Warner Music/Blavatnik Center for Music Business | Poo Bear, Ne-Yo, Tom Clees, Christopher McDonald | Washington, District of Columbia |
| Kennesaw State University | Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program | Coy Bowles, John Driskell Hopkins, Bryan Calhoun | Kennesaw, Georgia |
| Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts | Bachelor of Arts and Master’s in Music Industry Management | Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney | Liverpool, England |
| Long Island University | Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment; Music Entrepreneurship | Tina Davis, Michele Ballantyne, Thai Randolph | Brooklyn, New York |
| Los Angeles College of Music | Bachelor’s and Master’s in Performance, Composition, Music Business, Music Production; Music Licensing & Song Placement Practicum | Katherine Turman, Nic Harcourt | Los Angeles, California |
| Los Angeles Film School | Associate and Bachelor of Science in Audio Production, Music Production, Entertainment Business | Thomas Cruley, Henrique Andrade | Los Angeles, California |
| Loyola University | School of Music & Theatre Professions; Venue Management II; Business of Live Entertainment | The Revivalists, The Nth Power, Tavia Osbey, Sami Slovy | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment; Recording Industry/Music Business | Bob Clearmountain | Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
| Monmouth University | Music Industry Program; Record Label Strategies | Erin Munezza, Matt Manna | West Long Branch, New Jersey |
| New York University (Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development) | Music Business and related programs (document truncated before full details) | – | New York, New York |
| University of Southern California (Thornton School of Music) | Music Industry Program (likely included in full document after NYU) | – | Los Angeles, California |
| University of Miami (Frost School of Music) | Music Business and Entertainment Industries Program | – | Coral Gables, Florida |
| University of Colorado Denver | Music Business Program | – | Denver, Colorado |
| University of Hartford (Hartt School) | Music Industry Program | – | West Hartford, Connecticut |
| William Paterson University | Popular Music Studies and Music Management Programs | – | Wayne, New Jersey |
| Syracuse University (Bandier Program) | Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries | – | Syracuse, New York |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Music Business Program | – | Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| University of Texas at Austin | Butler School of Music – Music Business Program | – | Austin, Texas |
| University of Georgia | Terry College of Business – Music Business Certificate Program | – | Athens, Georgia |
| Berklee College of Music (Online) | Online Music Business Programs | – | Online (Boston, Massachusetts base) |
DEEP INDUSTRY TIES
During their time in the BAE program, students learn all about accounting, finance, and information technology while exploring music, film, and media, like other business students heading to Wall Street. “That situation suits us a little differently than the rest of the programs in that list,” says Bloss-Baum.
The program’s location is central to the BAE experience. Washington, D.C. is a hub for music policy and regulation and both the program’s founder John Simson and director Linda Bloss-Baum built their careers in this space – with Simson launching SoundExchange and Bloss-Baum working at Warner Music Group’s D.C. office.
Their collective connections to the industry continue to shape the program and grant students access to the organizations that influence how entertainment is governed. “Being in D.C. we bring in guest speakers from the Motion Picture Association, the Recording Industry Association, and the government’s Copyright Office,” Bloss-Baum says.
As well as visits from industry experts, experiential learning is at the heart of the BAE program, and students travel to entertainment hubs like Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, and Austin for SXSW, meeting executives and exploring the industry firsthand. On campus, their Representating Talent class produces an annual concert, managing everything from artist selection to contracts, security, and hospitality.
NY student Trek. Alumni-hosted visit to Warner Bros. Courtesy photo
Their past headliners have included Flo Rida and Flo Milli, with this year’s show featuring Tinashe. “Putting on this event is a great way to teach the students about all of the ins and outs of putting on a live entertainment show,” Bloss-Baum said.
ADDING SPORTS TO THE MIX
The BAE program is growing rapidly. The class sizes remain intimate, typically ranging from 25 to 35 students, and their new courses have been filling up instantly. Recent additions include a class on name, image, and likeness (NIL) and another on the effects of AI in entertainment, taught by David Hughes, former CTO of the Recording Industry Association of America.
Perhaps the biggest headline right now for the BAE program is the addition of their sports management track. “That’s our loudest headline right now,” Bloss-Baum said.
This track has been added in response to a strong demand from students and families. “One of the first questions we were being asked by current students and high school students was “‘Does sports work into this as well?’” shares Bloss-Baum.
The answer is now a resounding “yes,” and the program has appointed a new director to build a curriculum of six courses for this specific track.
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