Music and marketing come together in new BA track at LHU

LOCK HAVEN, PA (05/19/2010)(readMedia)-- Music majors interested in the "business side" of music will have the option of a new Music Marketing BA track at Lock Haven University. This new track will begin in the fall 2010 semester.

Students in the Music Marketing BA track will graduate with the skills and knowledge that are commensurate with a music business degree. All students will still study a primary instrument or voice and will take many of the same classes taken by students in music education. They will also take courses in business and entrepreneurship in the Department of Business Administration, Computer Science, and Information Technology. In addition, students in the music marketing degree program will gain valuable real-world experience through internships.

One component of the program is a music business class which will include the history and development of the music industry, study of current media and future developments, music and the internet, concert promotion and advertising, non-profit music-related organizations, tour organizing and promotion, music in advertising, selling music online, music copyright and publishing and royalties, artist management.

"With the increase in social media, blogs, personal web pages and music downloads, music is marketed and transmitted in ways that were unheard of even a few years ago," said Assistant Professor of Music Eddie Severn. "The music profession is changing rapidly, and every change brings both challenges and exciting new opportunities for marketing."

Upon graduation, students with a degree in music marketing will be able to enter the music profession in a variety of ways including, marketing and promotion, working for non-profit arts organizations, artist management, music retail business and web promotion.

The program is collaboration between the music and business administration divisions. Dr. Mahlon Grass, chair of the Performing Arts department, thanked Dr. Susan Strayer, chair of Business Administration, Computer Science, and Information Technology, for helping to make this new program possible. Music marketing majors will also have the benefit of working with Assistant Professor of Business Marlene Jensen who will assist in delivering the marketing and business course relevant to the degree.

For further information, contact Eddie Severn at 570-484-2817 or esevern@lhup.edu

Lock Haven University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 405,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.