Music Industry Arts MIA

Holland Code: A (Artistic)

What academic skills do I need to be successful in the program?

This program is very competitive; applicants often need post-secondary experience to be competitive. The Pre-Media Program is the current recommended academic preparation for this program. This list does not replace the admission requirements you must have for admission to the program. Please see website for details.

Arts & Literacy Applicants should play a musical instrument or have some other talent related to music (production). High school courses in music, media arts, and communication technology are strongly recommended preparation for this program. High school courses in Entrepreneurship, Information and Communication Technology: Multimedia Solutions, and Computer Engineering Technology would also serve as beneficial preparation.

Technology Computer skills required.

What personal qualities should someone interested in this career have?

• Keenly interested and talented in music
• Self-confidence
• Strong leadership and communication skills of all aspects (face to face, social media, written)
• Good communication skills to clarify what sounds are desired, make suggestions and accept criticism
• The ability to deal with a variety of personal musical styles and to work as part of a team
• Skilled at time management
• Highly creative
• Patience, understanding, adaptability and flexibility
• The ability to think logically and pay attention to details
• Quick thinking and decision-making abilities to solve problems as they arise
• The ability to deal with stress

Useful background experience for this program would be

Having a keen interest in music, recording and producing music, playing in a band, managing and developing artists and repertoire, or an interest in editing audio for picture and computers.

What kind of work could I do when I graduate?

Graduates of this program may end up working in different aspects of the music industry.

They may work in music and sound production as a music producer, recording engineer, live sound engineer, audio post production/game audio producer; or they may work in the artist development areas of the industry as booking agents, promoters, managers, performers, copyright administrators, publishers. Student will also assume entrepreneurship roles taking on many different aspects of the entertainment industry simultaneously. See alumni profiles.

Places you may find yourself employed include

Self employed, online social media/entertainment specialist, post-production houses, multi-media companies, recording studios, broadcasting, concert venues, music business, industries, publishers, ad agencies, talent agencies, cruise ships, independent record labels.

Typical working conditions for this kind of work:

• Evening, weekend and holiday work is common, often work long hours; networking through social media tools 24 hours per day
• Working environments range from large, air conditioned studios to live venues, small to mid sized offices to basements in private homes
• Some lifting is required to move and place sound equipment that can weigh up to 20 kg or more, may work at heights
• Need a critical ear for determining musical pitch, rhythm, timbre and layering of elements

Tasks a graduate may do in the workplace

Business Manager

• Develop contacts and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success
• Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and others regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations
• Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients
• Indie label setup, networking, songwriting, music production, A&R, artist discovery and direction, the importance of the music video, electronic/virtual press kit assembly, effective live performance/presentation, organizing and booking live shows, music publishing, artist management, social media, cyber PR and conventional music marketing
• Design copyright, music publishing contracts, music administration, produce artist resume and cover letters and how to search for open attractive markets effectively via social media, analytics and metrics

Sound Engineer/Producer

• Operate recording or live consoles, computers, live and recording equipment and software, microphones and sound processing equipment to change the signals from microphone or line inputs to usable audio signals that can be sent to DAWs or live sound or broadcast audiences.
• Record, mix, combine or edit recordings, to create master files for music consumers, commercials, film/game/television/web animation soundtracks, computer audio files for internet delivery or multi-media presentations for later broadcast or retail sale.
• Audio post-production mixing, recording and editing for film/gaming/television/web animation.
• Create virtual instrument content for music projects, commercials or multimedia post-production
• Produce music and sound for an artist as a music producer or as a sound supervisor for visually based content

Helpful links for further research into this Fanshawe College program and career opportunity

• Music Canada
• Canadian Music Week: http://cmw.net
• Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA)
• www.mandy.com
• Audio Engineering Society
• Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN)
• Fanshawe’s library has prepared a subject guide for current students in this program. You may find the links and information provided very useful in learning more about this career.

Opportunities for further development or education

• Students may wish to go on an exchange in Belgium. See website for details.
• Graduates may qualify to apply to Fanshawe College graduate certificate in Audio Post-Production.
• Opportunities to transfer credits to a university degree program at Athabasca University, Western University and more.

** Applicants to the MIA program, may also be interested in the Music Recording Arts five year collaborative degree program with Western University. In this program, students spend year 1 and 2 at Western, year 3 at Fanshawe, year 4 at Western and year 5 at Fanshawe. Graduates hold a Bachelor of Musical Arts and a Music Industry Arts Diploma. More information online.

Last Modified: January 15, 2024