Why Earn a Master's in Entertainment Business?
The M.A. in Media and Entertainment Industries (MAMEI) is a flexible, online master’s degree designed for working professionals ready to lead, innovate and grow within the global entertainment business. Whether you’re focused on content development, music business, media strategy or executive leadership, this one-year program offers the strategic foundation to move your career forward.
Through a curated mix of online coursework and two in-person immersions in Nashville — an international hub for entertainment innovation — you’ll gain the practical tools and network to thrive in dynamic roles across streaming, media production, brand partnerships and entertainment management.
Who is this program for?
The MAMEI program is tailored for professionals with experience or education in media, communications, entertainment, music business, the creative arts or related fields.
- Industry Advancer: A mid-career entertainment professional in content, music, streaming or brand partnerships who wants to step into leadership without leaving the field.
- Creative Strategist: A producer, creator or marketer ready to add business strategy, media management and executive-level thinking to their creative foundation.
- Career Pivoter: A professional from communications, arts administration, journalism or business who wants to move into the entertainment industry with credibility and a strong network.
- Career Launcher: A recent graduate looking to fast-track into a competitive industry role with a degree that combines theory, practice and real Nashville connections.
Ideal candidates are looking to:
- Pivot into entertainment leadership roles
- Strengthen content production or strategy skills
- Advance in media management or business development
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The Nashville Advantage
Nashville isn’t just the backdrop for this program. It’s one of the most dynamic entertainment economies in the world — and your classroom extends into it.
This program places you at the center of an industry that is growing in every direction:
- Music: Nashville is the global capital of the music business, anchored by Music Row and home to major label headquarters, publishing companies, recording studios and live entertainment companies.
- Film & TV: Nashville’s film and television production sector has expanded significantly, with productions, studios and streaming-related businesses increasingly choosing Music City.
- Entertainment Economy: According to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the region’s entertainment industry supports more than 60,000 jobs and over 4,000 businesses.
- Sports: Nashville ranked No. 15 among the top sports business cities in 2026, according to Sports Business Journal, which evaluated more than 2,000 markets on opportunity, economic environment and industry sentiment. The region is home to the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, Nashville SC and the Nashville Super Speedway – also poised to host the Super Bowl in 2030.
The two required immersion weekends bring you to Nashville to connect with faculty, peers and industry leaders.
What You'll Learn
The M.A. in Media and Entertainment Industries is designed to prepare you for a successful career in the ever-evolving entertainment landscape. The program blends theory with practical application, offering the tools and experiences needed to excel across a range of media-related roles.
By the end of the program, you'll be equipped to:
- Lead Strategically: Apply business strategy, media economics and executive decision-making to real-world entertainment challenges.
- Create and Produce: Develop and launch content across formats, from concept through distribution.
- Navigate the Industry: Understand how the entertainment ecosystem works: rights, revenue streams, platforms, talent and partnerships.
- Build Your Network: Leverage Nashville connections and faculty relationships to enter or advance in the field.
Content Creation Concentration
This specialization teaches you how to produce and launch top-tier content, transforming complex concepts, information and data into compelling narratives that work across formats and platforms.
Music Business Concentration
Designed for those eager to immerse themselves in the music industry, this concentration provides the essential skills to thrive in a dynamic, global business, from rights management and licensing to artist development and music marketing.
Program Details
Music Business Track
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | ETM 5200 | Media & Entertainment Theory |
| ETM 5300 | Innovation & Creative Confidence | |
| Fall 2 | ETM 5400 | Media & Entertainment in the Digital Age |
| ETM 5700 | Decision-Making & Analytics in Media & Entertainment | |
| Spring 1 | ETM 5800 | Global Marketing for the Media and Entertainment Industries |
| MBU 6200 | Music Business Business Marketplace | |
| Spring 2 | ETM 6300 | Media Law & Ethics |
| MBU 6335 | Music & Entertainment Law | |
| Summer | ETM 6200 | Leading Your Team of Creatives |
| MBU 6360 | Strategic Marketing in the Music Business |
Content Creation Track
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | ETM 5200 | Media & Entertainment Theory |
| ETM 5300 | Innovation & Creative Confidence | |
| Fall 2 | ETM 5400 | Media & Entertainment in the Digital Age |
| ETM 5700 | Decision-Making & Analytics in Media & Entertainment | |
| Spring 1 | ETM 5800 | Global Marketing for the Media and Entertainment Industries |
| ETM 6400 | Digital Branding & Content Creation | |
| Spring 2 | ETM 6300 | Media Law & Ethics |
| ETM 6500 | Data Visualization & Storytelling | |
| Summer | ETM 6200 | Leading Your Team of Creatives |
| ETM 6600 | Podcasting |
Application Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Official Transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 preferred; conditional review available for applicants below 3.0 with evidence of readiness
- Statement of Purpose outlining career goals and program fit
- Two Letters of Recommendation (one academic, one professional) attesting to readiness and leadership potential
Additional Information:
- Application Review: Rolling admissions; early application recommended for preferred start term.
- $1,120 per credit hour
- Additional $1,000 program fee that supports on-campus immersions and student support services.
- Belmont alumni receive a 20% tuition discount.
Belmont will match employer tuition contributions up to 5% of a student's tuition
The initiative is designed to encourage organizations to invest in the continued growth and development of entertainment progressionals.
Outcomes & Alumni Successes
As a graduate program launched in Fall 2025, the M.A. in Media and Entertainment Industries is backed by Belmont’s longstanding reputation for preparing students to lead and thrive in the entertainment business.
You’ll join a thriving network of Curb College alumni who span every corner of the industry — streaming platforms, production companies, talent agencies, entertainment startups and Fortune 500 media brands. This degree is designed not only to elevate your current path, but also to open doors to leadership roles that shape the future of entertainment.
Curb College’s Professional Development team supports students and graduates through one-on-one meetings, weekly workshops led by industry experts, off-campus networking events and hundreds of internships each semester.
98%of Curb College graduates are employed, pursuing continuing education or enlisted in the military within six months of graduation, and 89% of employed graduates are in positions that align with their short- or long-term career goals.
Mallory S. Hines
Music Business Track
Founder | Live & Well Entertainment
“The program helped me to round out and update my skills: balancing my business education and background with depth in communication, providing understanding of the current landscape of artificial intelligence and first amendment protection, and challenging me to learn from my past leadership practices and develop improved strategies for guiding creatives. The professors are experts in their fields and shared a great deal of practical knowledge that will inform my work in live entertainment.”
Braxton Lazarus
Content Creation Track
Executive Assistant for TSP Creative and The Playground
“This master's program truly shaped me for the entertainment world through its mastery coursework, in-depth applications to the industry, and faculty relationships. It has equipped me with so many skills and continues to open doors to anywhere!”
Morgan Brown
Content Creation Track
Social Media Specialist
“I originally wanted to do this program because of the flexible format where I can continue my job and complete a master’s degree in just one year, while learning from some of the top industry professionals.”
Learn from Industry Veterans
Our faculty includes entertainment executives and thought leaders shaping the future of media and entertainment. Their experience spans television, film, streaming, music tech, media research and global entertainment strategy.
Nate Drake
Email: nathan.drake@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 333
Nadine Perrero
Email: nadine.perrero@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 346
Stephen Rush
Email: stephen.rush@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 345
David Schreiber
Email: david.schreiber@belmont.edu
Office Location: Johnson Center 355
Michael Sloane
Email: michael.sloane@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 344
Ken Spring
Email: ken.spring@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 343
Sarita Stewart
Email: sarita.stewart@belmont.edu
Office Location: Jack C. Massey Center 345
Frequently Asked Questions
The program begins in August. All cohorts follow a fixed fall start with summer completion. Classes are not available to start in the spring or summer terms. If you’re planning ahead, contact Emily Oldham to discuss the next cohort start date.
The M.A. in Media and Entertainment Industries is a 12-month program. Students start in August and complete all 30 credit hours by the following summer.
Yes. The program is delivered online to fit around your career. Two required immersion weekends bring you to campus in Nashville: Aug. 6–8, 2026 and May 5–8, 2027. Outside of those weekends, all coursework is completed online.
Students choose between two specializations: Content Creation, which focuses on producing and launching compelling content across formats, or Music Business, which prepares you to thrive in the business side of the global music industry.
No formal entertainment background is required, but the program is designed for professionals with experience or education in media, communications, music business, creative arts or related fields. Ideal applicants are ready to advance, pivot or lead within the industry.
Graduates pursue roles including media business strategist, content producer, development executive, entertainment marketing manager, streaming platform manager, music licensing director and sports business analyst, among others.
Nashville is one of the leading entertainment economies in the world, home to major music labels, streaming operations, sports franchises and a thriving film and TV sector. The immersion weekends connect you with faculty, peers and industry professionals in person and turns the city’s network into your own.
The program is designed for working professionals. Coursework is delivered online on a schedule that works around your career. The cohort model means you’ll move through the program alongside a consistent group of peers, which supports learning and professional connection.
Yes. Belmont offers a partner tuition match for employers,matching employer contributions up to 5% of a student’s tuition. Belmont alumni also receive a 20% tuition discount.
Learn more about graduate tuition and financial aidStart something big this August.
Contact Us
Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business
Emily Oldham
Enrollment Coach
615.460.8176
Email Emily