Bachelor of

Music & Entertainment Business

This unit continues to develop students’ conceptual knowledge and technical skills in songwriting, focusing on advanced melodic concepts and techniques, an understanding of complex harmony in popular music, and further creative and technical lyric writing concepts such as rhythm, phrasing, setting and metaphor. Students will further their ability to present their songs using industry standard lead sheets and demo recordings. Students will investigate the links between music, lyrics and meaning by analysing influential songwriters and their works.

This unit will develop the ability to analyse and implement music production techniques. Through practical work and analysis, students undertake the production of new work and analyse and interpret their use of various techniques in the context of music production. The weekly content covers technical as well as historical contexts of music production, including the evolution of technology and recording techniques. This unit contributes to the degree by developing a deeper understanding of the techniques, aesthetics, methods and craft of music production.   

Prerequisite: PSP202 (Introduction to Music Technology)

Successful completion of this unit empowers the student with the capacity to integrate music technologies using Ableton Live within their live performance and production work. Assessment tasks aim to enable students to adapt and apply use of the tools by current artists and then produce two works: one which is a recorded and mixed piece of audio, and another work which can be integrated effectively into a three to five-minute performance piece. Students will gain an understanding of a context in which music technology is currently used for contemporary music performance and will gain experience with the technical process which enables the merging of Ableton Live into their own creative work. 

Prerequisite: PSP202 (Introduction to Music Technology)

*by application only

COL401 Internship aims to provide students with an internship opportunity that has sound educational value and provides students the chance to initiate and/or develop relationships with professionals in their discipline. COL401 allows students to prepare or consolidate their know-how to work as a professional and increase their technical and creative skills base. It also allows students to explore potential areas of employment. 

In this unit the National Society for Experiential Education’s definition of “internship” is used. This is internship is a carefully monitored volunteering or working experience where an individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what they are learning throughout the experience. For this reason, beside the time students spend during their internship, they will also spend self-study time. They will reflect upon their awareness of applying theory to practice during their internship, practicing their ability to evaluate situations, critical thinking, and effective communication of their decision-making. 

Students will also elaborate a professional plan where they explain their aspiring professional development goals and the activities that would assist them to achieve these under the guidance of their Internship Coordinator/Supervisor.  

This unit is an introduction to the creative world of producing and managing events. Building on the knowledge and skills learned in trimester one Introduction to Events, throughout this unit the students will broaden their practical and academic focus to encompass an entire entertainment production. Students will be equipped with the ability to create and use production documents, tools, and programs, in order to conceive, design, program, and deliver a live event, with an audience, from pre-production through to execution, and debrief. This unit also functions as a foundational unit in project management, which will be built upon and applied throughout the bachelor’s degree.

This unit broadens the objectives of previous songwriting units, Songwriting and Arranging and Lyrics and Songwriting, incorporating an understanding of significant literary, written, aural and oral traditions and techniques of benefit to the contemporary songwriter. The purpose of this unit is to analyse the links between the modern songwriter and other types of expression in language from both the past and present, and the employment of techniques involved in the formation and execution of contemporary songs. The unit will also examine the songs of key contemporary songwriters, discovering their sources and influences to highlight artistic methodology, creativity and originality. Knowledge gained will potentially contribute to shaping each student’s approach to creative songwriting and may go on to inform their own original style. 

Prerequisite: Must have completed elective unit PSP302 (Lyrics and Songwriting) 

In building upon previous study in composition and arranging this unit will now introduce student to writing and arranging for Strings, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion. The practical skills covered in this course require students to continue their musical notational, aural, conceptual and analytical skills in order to craft a skilled arrangement for a range of instruments. There is also a continued focus on contemporary music theory, advanced harmonic and melodic concepts.

The purpose of this unit is to provide students with a comprehensive historical and cultural overview of Western Art Music. It is important to understand the historical context of the periods and how they influenced musical development, to enable students to communicate with other musicians and develop a conceptual framework for describing music and its stylistic characteristics. The different periods of music will be discussed and analysed looking at musical characteristics such as: use of key, harmony, instrumentation, texture, dynamics, melody, phrasing, ornamentation, articulation, form and rhythm. These musical eras will be put into context with the political, social, philosophical and artistic cultures of each period. The unit will cover ancient and medieval music to music of the 21st Century. 

Prerequisite: PSP201 (History of Popular Music)

This unit provides the student with the opportunity to look at the techniques and challenges associated in private music instruction. The unit includes development of knowledge and understanding of pedagogical techniques, lesson planning, structure and evaluation, practice techniques, student motivation, examination syllabus, physical and digital resources and planning for developing a private teaching enterprise.

In this unit, students will develop an understanding of advanced concepts in compositional styles and apply these within the assessment tasks. The content of this unit focuses on the advanced modal, melodic and harmonic theory and compositional application within jazz and progressive contemporary music, and also the rhythmic and structural compositional methodology drawn from 20th and 21st century art music and its various sub-movements. The unit builds on skills learned by students in PSP202 Songwriting and Arranging and PSP302 Lyrics and Songwriting but expands the concepts of songwriting to include more advanced compositional concepts, with an emphasis on experimentation and using scoring as a compositional tool. Students create their own compositions which demonstrate an advanced understanding of the principles and exploration of melody, harmony, rhythm, and form and structure.

This unit enables students to develop their conceptual knowledge and technical skills in understanding and composing music to convey specific emotions and aesthetics for a variety of productions. Students are required to apply these skills to the preparation and recording of music for a screen project. The unit follows on from the fundamental skills of composition and production that students were introduced to in previous theory and technology units. Students also develop knowledge of the relationship between music and a variety of visual scenarios and the scoring possibilities within each context. The unit looks at media involving film and television, video games, web sites, commercials, animation and other new media. Students learn how to master the technical and musical skills needed to create effective music for each type of media. During this unit there is scope for students to integrate with other departments in collaborative projects or work with pre-existing media.

Trimester 9 only

This unit expands on EBM306 Tour Management. This unit introduces students to the opportunities and challenges of establishing and exporting Australian creative products and services into global markets. Students will learn how to successfully penetrate international markets using available economic support and creative ideas while scoping opportunities throughout the world. This unit also helps students investigate the differences between a manager who plans a tour and a tour manager who goes on tour and coordinates the execution of the tour.

Prerequisite: EBM306 (Tour Management)

Context 

At JMC Academy, students undertake a rigorous academic program of practice-based learning, into which is embedded a range of work-integrated learning activities. To complement their on-campus learning, students are also encouraged to generate their own creative work. This unit of study has been designed to formally recognise that work. Students will have access to an e-portfolio as a presentation mode for the assessable items. The unit is placed during the final study periods of the bachelor’s degree, enabling students to collect and display their best and most recent examples of their engagement with their discipline outside of their formal study.

How it works 

Students are introduced to this unit during Trimester 1 and then again in successive study periods. Students must be invited by their Head of Department to enrol in this unit; a student will only be enrolled in this unit if the Head of Department is confident that the student can meet all learning outcomes. The e-portfolio JMC students will be given access to an e-portfolio platform at no cost as part of the Microsoft365 subscription. The platform provides students with a place to curate and display their extra-curricular activities for assessment in this unit. It is not the professional portfolio students could use COL401 Internship aims to provide students with an internship opportunity that has sound educational value and provides students the chance to initiate and/or develop relationships with professionals in their discipline. COL401 allows students to prepare or consolidate their know-how to work as a professional and increase their technical and creative skills base. It also allows students to explore potential areas of employment.

*by application only

COL401 Internship aims to provide students with an internship opportunity that has sound educational value and provides students the chance to initiate and/or develop relationships with professionals in their discipline. COL401 allows students to prepare or consolidate their know-how to work as a professional and increase their technical and creative skills base. It also allows students to explore potential areas of employment. 

In this unit the National Society for Experiential Education’s definition of “internship” is used. This is internship is a carefully monitored volunteering or working experience where an individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what they are learning throughout the experience. For this reason, beside the time students spend during their internship, they will also spend self-study time. They will reflect upon their awareness of applying theory to practice during their internship, practicing their ability to evaluate situations, critical thinking, and effective communication of their decision-making. 

Students will also elaborate a professional plan where they explain their aspiring professional development goals and the activities that would assist them to achieve these under the guidance of their Internship Coordinator/Supervisor.  

In this unit students will develop a major outdoor festival based in a “real world” location. This will require the students to consider and evaluate the festival’s staging, production, security, staffing, ticketing, marketing, and merchandising needs into their final plan. Students will apply their knowledge learned in previous production management units into concepts related to satisfy the range of government, statutory and regulatory legislation such the liquor licensing, workplace health and safety, environmental protection, police, and security requirements. They will also be required to satisfy the requirements of local government bodies, such as planning and building permits, parking, noise, waste management, risk management, and the complexities of road closures and traffic management. Students will also be encouraged to explore ethical issues relating to festivals and events while applying them to their own set of developing values. At the end of this unit, students will not only understand what it takes to stage a festival, they have created a (fully-fledged) complex festival manual that will enable them to produce that festival or present the project to someone who does.  

This unit is an introduction to the creative world of producing and managing events. Building on the knowledge and skills learned in trimester one Introduction to Events, throughout this unit the students will broaden their practical and academic focus to encompass an entire entertainment production. Students will be equipped with the ability to create and use production documents, tools, and programs, in order to conceive, design, program, and deliver a live event, with an audience, from pre-production through to execution, and debrief. This unit also functions as a foundational unit in project management, which will be built upon and applied throughout the bachelor’s degree.

Yes, the degree explicitly explores tour and festival management, including planning, logistics, promotions, and live event production. Students gain hands-on experience by working with real events and festivals during their studies.

You’ll learn how to identify and acquire artists, develop proposals for management companies and sponsors, understand the business of music publishing, and gain practical knowledge about the A&R process from experienced industry professionals.

Yes, practical work forms a core component of the degree. You can intern with publishers, record labels, or events companies, and participate in projects involving event logistics, promotion, and tour planning.

Lecturers are active industry professionals with backgrounds in artist management, tour management, festival organizing, record labels, and A&R. They share insights and up-to-date knowledge from their own experiences managing acts, running major events, and working in leading industry roles.

Yes, the program is designed to help you build a professional network. You’ll connect with guest speakers, undertake internships, and work on real-world projects, providing direct exposure to industry contacts in artist management, touring, and festival operations.

Yes, the curriculum explores how to leverage technology, digital marketing, and live streaming to promote artists and manage events effectively in today’s entertainment landscape.

The course fosters entrepreneurship through dedicated units and mentoring, guiding students in launching their own projects, businesses, or management agencies within the entertainment industry.

Yes, students can select elective projects and work placements that align with their career interests, whether in festival logistics, artist scouting, or tour production. This flexibility allows each student to gain expertise that matches their chosen pathway within the broader entertainment business field.

The program integrates up-to-date case studies, contemporary guest speakers, and content focused on emerging industry trends, such as changes in music consumption, digital experiences, and new models in artist development. This ensures students stay ahead in a rapidly evolving sector.

Entertainment Business Management at JMC teaches students how to manage, produce, and promote artists, festivals, and major entertainment events in the creative industries.

JMC offers a Diploma of Entertainment Business Management, a Bachelor of Entertainment Business Management, and a Master of Creative Industries all focused on real-world business skills for creative sectors. We also offer double degree options including Audio Engineering and Entertainment Business Management as well as Music and Entertainment Business Management.

The program covers the logistics, planning, budgeting, promotion, and execution of music festivals, tours, and large-scale events, preparing you for real-world roles in festival management.

Yes, while the content covers a range of arts management areas, there is a large focus on events, touring and festivals. In fact, the wide range of operational, business and marketing skills you are taught can be applied to a wide range of careers and the running of any business but would be particularly useful for event management.

You’ll develop entrepreneurship, branding, marketing, business planning, contract negotiation, copyright, and digital promotion skills, vital for both artist management and event production.

Absolutely. There are industry partnerships, guest speakers, and opportunities for mentoring, internships, and project collaborations in festivals, artist management, and event companies.

JMC offers learning from practicing industry experts, real-world projects, networking opportunities, a business-focused yet creative curriculum, and flexible study locations in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Yes, while the content covers a range of arts management areas, there is a large focus on events, touring and festivals. In fact, the wide range of operational, business and marketing skills you are taught can be applied to a wide range of careers and the running of any business but would be particularly useful for event management. 

No, our courses are hands on and practical. Students are required to attend classes to receive ongoing mentorship, learn new skills and work with the equipment provided. We do encourage our students to use online study resources, however our courses would not be as immersive as they are without the practical component.

Our degree offers many similar units of study, however it is focused specifically on the entertainment and creative industries, as opposed to a university business degree which would cover business management skills across all industries. Our course therefore has a more specialised outcome with a great emphasis placed on practical application and internship opportunities.

Yes. The JMC Academy is registered and regulated by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) which is Australia’s independent national regulator of the higher education sector, both public and private.

As the entertainment management industry is ‘people oriented’, there is a focus on presentations, but you will also do things like business and marketing plans, event manuals, tour and festival schedules, and other theoretical assessments such as essays.

JMC Academy is broadly recognised and accredited:

• Registered Higher Education Provider.
• Accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
• Registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
• Regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
• Member of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA).
• Nationally recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Our strong industry links also ensure that JMC Academy qualifications are recognised within the creative industries.