Bachelor of Music (Arts Management)

The Bachelor of Music (Arts Management) is a three-year degree for people who want to work behind the scenes in music, running venues, producing festivals, managing artists, or building audiences for orchestras and independent labels. You study music itself: history, theory, and how the industry actually works. Then you add the business side: marketing, finance, contracts, event production, and audience development. It is not a performance degree, though you will be around performers constantly and will understand what they need.

The degree is structured as a standard Australian bachelor's, usually delivered over semesters or trimesters, with eight units of study per year at most institutions. Each unit carries credit points, and you need to accumulate a set number to graduate. Your first year builds core knowledge in music and management. Later years let you specialise, maybe in live production, arts marketing, or artist management. You will likely do a capstone project in your final year, such as planning a real event or writing a business plan for an arts organisation. Work-integrated learning is common: placements with festivals, venues, or arts companies, where you get hands-on experience and industry contacts. Assessment mixes essays, group projects, practical tasks, and presentations. Some units may be available online, but check the official page for delivery modes and unit lists.

Skills you gain include budgeting and financial planning for arts projects, contract basics, grant writing, digital marketing, and production scheduling. You also learn to talk about music in a way that works for funding bodies and audiences. The degree suits people who love music but do not see themselves solely on stage, or who want a fallback if performance work is not steady. It also suits those already working in the industry who want formal qualifications. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. The Australian Institute of Music is in Sydney, so you are close to venues, festivals, and the country's biggest music market. Confirm all details, including English requirements and tuition, on the official CRICOS page.

• Arts administrator, work for arts councils, regional galleries, or community music organisations.
• Event producer, plan and run concerts, festivals, and touring shows for promoters or venues.
• Artist manager, handle bookings, contracts, and career strategy for musicians and bands.
• Marketing and audience development officer, promote orchestras, opera companies, or live music venues.
• Box office or venue coordinator, manage ticketing, front of house, and logistics at performance spaces.
• Record label coordinator, support release schedules, distribution, and artist liaison.
• Grant and sponsorship officer, write funding applications and manage relationships with sponsors for arts bodies.

Industries that hire these roles include live music and festivals, performing arts companies, community arts, government arts agencies, record labels, and music education. Many graduates also go into freelance production or start their own management businesses.