Music Industry Studies - FAQ

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. For additional information visit the Music Department’s Faculty & Staff page.

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.