Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Studies

Founded in 1994, the MIS Option was created to serve the needs of students wishing to pursue executive and administrative careers in the music industry. In addition, however, many students seeking professional careers as performing artists frequently enter the MIS Option to better understand the inner workings of the music industry in order to accelerate and facilitate those careers.

Some universities offer “Music Business” degrees that interestingly enough, contain little to no music! Those degrees tend to lead to limited job opportunities.

On the other hand, we learned from our professional friends in the music industry that a degree that combines music and business is highly valued by music industry-based businesses. And that translates into the fact that graduates of our MIS Option are qualified for a wider variety of career choices.

Another benefit for CSUN graduates is location, location, location! If you want to be in the music business, Hollywood/Los Angeles is the best place to be. Today, virtually all motion picture and television music is produced here. The same goes for nearly all Pop and most Jazz. Simply stated, the heart and soul of the music industry is located in Los Angeles — just minutes from the CSUN campus. As a result, our students begin networking in the music and entertainment industries the day they are admitted to the MIS Option. When they graduate, most transition smoothly right into the music industry workforce.

And lastly, let's not forget to mention the weather! Southern California’s weather trumps that of New York City, Nashville, Miami, and virtually all other cities where music business programs are offered.

Drawn from the Los Angeles professional music community, MIS Option faculty consists of music industry professionals who are actively involved in the music and entertainment industry. Students learn from those who know the industry from the inside out. Our current faculty include:

• Jeff Izzo
• Andrew Surmani
• Augie Ray
• Renee Meriste
• Seven Bailey

Graduates of the MIS Option move into all facets of the music and entertainment industries. Many MIS graduates are experiencing successful careers at major and independent record labels, motion picture studios, music production companies, music publishing companies, music libraries, artist management companies, music promotion companies, or as performing artists. Some students have used their MIS education as a springboard to enter law school and are now practicing entertainment attorneys.

While the total 120-unit Bachelor of Arts in Music – Music Industry Studies Option can be completed in four years (if entering as a freshman) or two years (if entering as a transfer student), due the many networking and internship opportunities in this program, students often elect to take an extra 1-2 semesters to complete their degree. Many find this extra time useful in the development of their professional network. It is often said in the music industry that, “it’s who you know that helps you get your job, but what you know that helps you keep it.” This industry adage illustrates that students not only need to work on the “what they know” (though formal course work), but also the “who they know” (through networking and internships). Taking extra time to complete this degree program is the personal choice of the student.

There is an additional 2 unit Practicum requirement, which may be satisfied by either completing more internship hours (a minimum of 18 hours per week for the semester, or alternatively enrolling in a separate 2 unit internship), or participating in VOVE, the student run record label. This is a 2 semester class in which students seek, sign, record, and promote independent artists from the Los Angeles college and music communities (including CSUN students).

Yes. When you fill out your online music department application, you will have the opportunity to select your instrument (including voice) and the specific genre. For all instruments, there will be a classical music option. For some instruments, there will be a jazz or commercial music option. 

Experiential learning is a critical component to any music industry education.  Music Industry Studies culminates in a 4-unit internship that requires students to complete a minimum of 12 hours of service per week over a 15-week period. This capstone experience provides valuable on-the-job training and allows the student to experience the industry first-hand. Quite frequently, students find that this internship provides them the necessary stepping-stone needed to transfer from college to full-time employment. In fact, many interns often transition to full-time employment at the same business in which they intern.

All applicants to the MIS Option are required to pass a three-part audition that includes a performance audition (on a musical instrument or voice), and two writing submission with one being written answers to interview questions and the other a submitted paper/essay. Failure to pass any part of the audition might disqualify the applicant from consideration. Simply passing each audition component is not necessarily sufficient for entrance to the MIS Option. With a historic admission rate of approximately 50%, admission into the MIS Option is competitive and determined by the availability of enrollment opportunities and how well an applicant scores in each component of the audition.

1. Performance Audition

Applicants are required to demonstrate musical competency and the ability to read traditional music notation (not just chord symbols or the ability to play by ear) on a musical instrument or voice. Most applicants who have seriously studied music performance with a professionally qualified music teacher for a period of time should have little difficulty passing the performance audition. Please note that the performance audition requirement is never waived.

2. Interview Questions:

Applicants will be required to answer a set of interview questions in writing which will allow the Option Coordinator to assess each applicant’s career aspirations, capabilities, character, and ability to network with the professional music community. 

3. Essay

Each applicant shall submit to the Option Coordinator an unedited research essay or term paper (1,500 word minimum) they had previously completed during their junior or senior year of high school (for freshman applicants) or at their previous community college or 4-year institution (for transfer applicants). This essay or paper should demonstrate the applicant’s capacity to write concisely and clearly (using proper grammar, syntax, and spelling), organize and present the paper’s topic logically and coherently, research capabilities (especially their ability to correctly utilize and cite sources), and competently conduct research and cite sources.

The option coordinator for Music Industry will also hold some information Q and A session zoom around the dates/times of audition. Students will receive e-mails about these sessions.

Performance audition repertoire is governed by the respective performance areas. In general, performance audition repertoire is classical in nature. However, for specific information like guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and voice, the music department does give you the opportunity to do a commercial music audition (or even a jazz audition). You will see these options on your music department application. Anyone signing up for a commercial music audition must submit videos as part of the audition process. We do not do commercial music auditions live on campus.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their performance audition live and on-campus rather than through a recording. Recorded auditions are primarily intended for those applicants residing outside of the United States. For those applicants residing greater than 600 miles away from Los Angeles, California, or whose schedule prevents them from attending an on-campus audition, a recorded audition may be accepted with prior approval of the MIS Area Coordinator.

Entrance to MIS is by audition. All applicants are required to pass a three-part audition that includes a performance audition (on a musical instrument or voice), an interview, and an essay. 

For many applicants, the performance audition represents the most challenging part of the MIS audition. Most applicants who have seriously studied music performance with a professionally qualified music teacher for a period of time should have little difficulty passing the performance audition. Self-taught musicians who cannot read traditional music notation but play electric guitar, electric bass or drums should sign up for a commercial music audition. Please note that commercial music auditions are done by video submission.

Most MIS classes are reserved for MIS students only.

MUS 419 (Music Industry Foundations) is offered every Fall semester for those non-MIS students who are interested in a one-semester survey of the music industry.