Diploma of Arts and Entertainment Management

The Diploma of Arts and Entertainment Management at The Australian Institute of Music (AIM) is a one-year qualification for people who want to work behind the scenes in music, live events and the creative industries. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree. You study the business side of entertainment: how shows get booked and promoted, how artists and venues make money, how events are planned and run, and how contracts, marketing and audience development work in practice. Being at AIM means you are surrounded by musicians, producers and performers, so the business skills you learn are tested against real creative projects rather than case studies alone.

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. A full-time diploma usually runs over two semesters or trimesters in a year, with each unit assessed through a mix of assignments, group projects, presentations and exams. Some units build directly on earlier ones, so the order matters. Because this is a one-year course, there is not the same room for a long elective list as in a three-year bachelor degree. You move through the core material fairly quickly. If you later want to continue to a bachelor degree, credit for prior study is generally assessed unit by unit and by credit point, and you should ask AIM exactly what would transfer.

Work-integrated learning is common in entertainment management courses because the industry hires on demonstrated experience. Expect project work tied to real events, and in many cases a placement or industry project where you work with a promoter, venue, festival, label or arts organisation. That is where you learn the unglamorous parts of the job: running a budget, chasing a supplier, dealing with a schedule change on the day. The skills you come out with are practical, event planning and logistics, basic accounting and budgeting for projects, marketing and social media for audiences, contract and copyright basics, and the teamwork needed when a show has a hard deadline.

This diploma suits school leavers who want an industry-focused start without committing to a full degree, people already working in music or events who want formal training, and career changers moving into arts administration. It also works as a stepping stone into a bachelor degree at AIM or elsewhere, subject to credit assessment. International students should note that the Student visa generally allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream depending on the visa rules at the time. English proficiency must be evidenced; AIM publishes its accepted tests and scores, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 109396C. Check the official AIM course page and CRICOS for current structure, entry requirements and fees before you apply.

• Venue or event assistant, supporting the running of gigs, theatre shows and festivals for venues, promoters and local councils.
• Artist management assistant, handling schedules, bookings and day-to-day administration for musicians and performers.
• Box office or ticketing coordinator, managing sales, allocations and customer service for live events.
• Marketing and social media assistant, building audiences for artists, labels, festivals and arts organisations.
• Production coordinator, organising crew, equipment and logistics for concerts, tours and events.
• Arts administration officer, working in galleries, music organisations, community arts bodies and government arts programmes.
• Tour or booking assistant, helping plan travel, accommodation and scheduling for touring acts.

Australian employers in these roles include live music venues, festivals and event promoters, record labels and music distributors, artist management companies, performing arts companies, and local and state government arts and cultural departments. Many graduates combine part-time industry work with further study towards a bachelor degree.