I want to major in music business (non audition) and can’t decide between these 2 schools. I have not visited them yet
but it looks kind of like Belmont may have the stronger larger program. However, the city of new Orleans seems much more appealing to me. I want to be assured that I go to a school well connected to the music business industry especially in the Los Angeles area. My desired career path is music supervisor or talent agent. I would appreciate input on these schools.
Nashville has a very thriving music industry (and social scene as well); and your assessment of Belmont as having the stronger program is probably correct.
Visit both schools while they are in session, sit in on classes, and ask lots of questions of both faculty and students while you are there. That’s probably the best way to answer your question(s).
Belmont would be the better choice then. However, be aware that it’s a Christian schooll and it takes its values and faith seriously, with certain behaviors being ground for dismissal.
Belmont is sort of the gold standard for music business, and it’s plugged in all over the industry (or what used to be the industry), not just the country music part of it. I have a feeling this is a little like asking whether you should go to Santa Clara or Carnegie-Mellon for computer science. Yes, Santa Clara is right there in Silicon Valley, and that’s cool, but Carnegie-Mellon is the better option for your career.
I love New Orleans, too, and I think Loyola is a good place. (I don’t know anyone who has studied music business there. I do know some kids who have gone to Tulane or Xavier and tried to break into the music business.) New Orleans is pretty special, but anyone who likes music is going to find Nashville easy to love. The actual music business in New Orleans is fairly underdeveloped, while Nashville is the Big Leagues; only New York and LA have more going on, and it’s not that much more.
Do you have any interest in USC? The son of a friend of mine is in the pop music program there. This kid is, what, 18 or 19, he’s toured with Steve Vai internationally, he’s appeared on TV programs backing up Keith Urban as Urban’s keyboard player - he is way talented and truly going places, and it seems as though he’s very plugged into the LA music scene. (His parents live in NJ.)
Belmont. Nashville has a whole lot going for it, BTW. Visit and you might be impressed.
Did the tour at Belmont a couple years ago. They divided the group into interest areas. Once the music/music industry kids left the main auditorium, it got very empty and quiet with only a few kids in our group who went to the science classrooms. MTSU in Murfreesboro (30 minutes south of downtown Nashville) is also very connected to the music industry. Our MTSU tour group included kids from all over the nation, again for the music programs.
FYI, MTSU is more known for its recording programs, ie., production and engineering. But it is one of the largest programs of its kind in the US. Belmont has everything, but is more focused on the business end of the industry.
Belmont’s student conduct code is at http://campus.belmont.edu/mp3/2015-bruin-guide-web.pdf . What appears to be the unusual aspect compared to most other schools is that it is a dry campus.
Loyola is also religiously affiliated (Catholic).