by our College Data Analytics TeamWithout an Arts and Media Management professional working for singers, artists, and theater productions, no one would ever hear about a performance. These professionals take care of the business side of art and media to ensure venues are booked, bills are paid, and an audience shows up.
Arts and Media Management majors learn how to bring artists, performances, and productions to the general public. You will take classes in business, finance, marketing, accounting, arts and entertainment law, and advocacy to learn how to raise funds, promote performances or exhibits, and ensure people hear about your client. A professional in the field will use their business and marketing skills to spread the word about their client and guarantee people know their name.
Students have the option to specialize in Fine and Studio Arts Management, Music Management, or Theater Arts Management.
In 2020-2021, arts and media management was the 136th most popular major nationwide with 4,788 degrees awarded. This 271 less than the prior year, a decrease of 5.7%.
Our 2023 Best Arts & Media Management Schools ranking analyzes 138 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for arts and media management students. Explore this or one of our many other custom media management rankings further below.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
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Arts and Media Management professionals are responsible for taking care of the business tasks for an artist or entertainer. Organization is important as you handle multiple tasks at once and ensure everything is finished in a timely manner. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are also necessary as you communicate frequently with artists, media, venues, and the general public. It is important to be courteous while making sure your message is heard. Students who excel in this field often have a background in business.
Graduates of this major pursue fulltime positions in a variety of companies and industries. While most time is spent in the office, professionals may be required to travel with their client on occasion. Long hours and work on nights and weekends are possible depending when shows are and if you are working to meet a deadline.
Students should find an internship or summer job in this field while in school because employers prefer previous experience. This experience will allow you to work in the Arts and Media Management field and begin building contacts that may be beneficial in the future.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most media management degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific media management careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different media management degree levels. You can spend many years getting as high as a in arts and media management to something that takes less time like a . Arts & Media Management programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to media management, with approximately 51.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to media management tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 46.4% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.3% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.4% |
| Some College Courses | 4.4% |
| High School Diploma | 3.7% |
About 85.7% of workers in careers related to media management obtain at least bachelor's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in arts and media management have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which media management career you choose.
Graduates usually find jobs focusing on the non-profit or entertainment side of arts and media. Some have gone on to work for advertising agencies, as talent agents, with theater companies, as a gallery owner, marketing coordinator, heads of entertainment companies, and with television stations. Since you will have business skills and knowledge of both arts and media, many job opportunities are available to you.
Want a job when you graduate with your media management degree? Arts & Media Management careers are expected to grow 8.6% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to arts and media management.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Producers and Directors | 151,200 | 12.2% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Music Directors and Composers | 79,100 | 5.7% |
| Artist, Athlete, and Performer Agents and Business Managers | 20,000 | 4.7% |
Arts & Media Management graduates between 2017-2019 reported earning an average of $32,900 in the 2019-2020 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $12,312 to as high as $89,979. As you might expect, salaries for media management graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for arts and media management graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers media management grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Artist, Athlete, and Performer Agents and Business Managers | $90,930 |
| Producers and Directors | $89,840 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $59,790 |
With over 518 different media management degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased media management school rankings to help you with this.
One of 10 majors within the Visual & Performing Arts area of study, Arts & Media Management has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music Management | 1,957 |
| Fine & Studio Arts Management | 1,081 |
| General Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management | 989 |
| Other Arts, Entertainment, & Media Management | 504 |
| Theatre/Theatre Arts Management | 257 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,413 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 36,301 |
| Music | 25,910 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,341 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 16,778 |
Image Credit: By Perspectives - The Photography Club, IIM Ahmedabad under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
