Online Entertainment Business Degree Program Overviews

Online options are offered in entertainment business are available at the bachelor's and master's levels. Online learners cultivate the skills and knowledge necessary to work in many facets of the entertainment industry, including artist management, production and direction, advertising and marketing.

Online Bachelor's Degree in Entertainment Business Overview

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Entertainment Business programs are available as fully online programs though 4-year colleges and universities. Entertainment and media business or just simply media business are alternate titles for such degree programs. Many colleges format their bachelor's degree programs in entertainment business as degree completion programs intended for those who have already completed an associate's degree; however, stand-alone programs do exist. Students enrolled in a B.S. in Entertainment Business develop essential communication, leadership and promotional skills, as well as financial and legislative knowledge.

Program Information and Requirements

Bachelor's degree completion programs consist of 61-64 credit hours; while the stand-alone programs are approximately double that. Most universities do not require campus visits to complete this program, but some schools do include classes in their program that require occasional classroom attendance. The online format affords students the flexibility to work on their own schedule as long as certain deadlines are met. Online course management systems are used to access online learning materials, lectures, assignments and exams.
Technical requirements vary from school to school; however, students typically need access to a computer, meeting university hardware and software requirements, and a broadband Internet connection. Additional required software includes Microsoft Office, QuickBooks Pro and Adobe.

Common Bachelor's-Level Entertainment Business Courses

The curriculum of an entertainment business program combines general education, business, marketing and advertising. A final senior project is undertaken during the last semester.

Artist, Event and Media Management Course

This course details the career path and functional role of the artist and event manager in the music business industry. Students learn the crucial steps involved in initiating, developing and maintaining an artist's career. Other topics studied include artist-manager relationships, contract writing and target market analysis, as well as the creation, arrangement and completion of an entertainment event.

Advertising, Marketing and Promotion in the Entertainment Business Course

Students examine a comprehensive set of marketing strategies and promotional practices. They also explore how they apply to the subtleties of the entertainment business. The affect of consumer behavior on packaging, lifestyle, grassroots movements and the Internet is analyzed. Skills are acquired involving the assembly of press kits, licensing of media products, implementation of marketing plans and the prediction of future trends in advertising.

Business Laws and Ethics Course

The foundations of business legislation and moral responsibilities are illustrated. Online learners identify the functions of lawyers, agents and business managers in the entertainment industry. Copyright laws and other rulings involving the protection of intellectual property are studied. Contract negotiation tactics are honed and publishing concerns are addressed through the examination of legal case studies.

Career Information

Graduates of a bachelor's degree in entertainment business are prepared for positions in artist management, advertising, promotions and sales. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that in May 2009, there were 11,700 people employed as agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes (www.bls.gov). They earned an average mean annual salary of $87,430 in May 2009, according to the BLS. This same source also reported that there were 35,760 advertising and promotions managers and 328,980 sales managers with average yearly salaries of $97,670 and $111,570 respectively in May 2009.

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Online Master's Degree in Entertainment Business Overview

Master of Science in Entertainment Business programs are available, as well as Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Entertainment Management. Within this program, students develop the advanced managerial, networking and critical thinking skills necessary to be an effective leader for a variety of entertainment organizations. The program typically culminates in a master's project or thesis.

Program Information and Requirements

Master's degree programs in entertainment business require completion of 32-44 credit hours. Master's degree programs are available in online and blended formats; combining both online and on-campus elements. The online courses are conducted asynchronously, which means that students can access the online materials at any time as long as assignments are completed within certain timeframes. Students interact with their instructors and peers through online discussion boards, chat rooms and e-mail.
Students need a high-speed Internet connection to access online lectures, video presentations, course material and assignments. Online learners are also required to have a computer with word processing software.

Common Master's-Level Entertainment Business Courses

The curriculum of a master's degree program incorporates fundamental concepts and theories from business, finance, entertainment law and management. This program typically culminates in a capstone experience that condenses acquired knowledge into a single business planning and research project.

Financial Management in Entertainment Business Course

This course examines the important financial decisions and potential problems encountered within the entertainment industry. Entertainment business prospects are analyzed from an economic standpoint with special attention given to key financial theories and funding obtainment strategies. Skills are developed involving financial planning and decision-making, assets management and international business.

Executive Leadership and Ethics for Managers Course

Students investigate the delicate relationships between leaders and followers in a variety of entertainment business situations. The necessary adjustments in leadership methods and characteristics required to facilitate the different industries within the entertainment business field are identified. Other topics discussed include power and influence, directing organizational change, productive decision-making methods and mentoring.

Entertainment Business Research Methodologies Course

The different research methods, such as quantitative and qualitative, are reviewed, as well as their practical applications to entertainment business learning. Students use important media studies, literature and previously developed skills to create a thesis project. Emphasis is placed on the composition of a media research proposal featuring a literature review and useful research questions.

Career Information

Master's degree holders are qualified for careers involving the marketing, promoting, directing and producing of audio and visual media. In May 2009, the BLS reported 169,330 marketing managers earning an average yearly salary of $120,070. Additionally, the BLS estimated 79,780 producers and directors in the entertainment industry earned an average of $86,870, in May 2009 (www.bls.gov).