The University of North Texas recently announced that starting in fall of 2025, it will offer a BA degree in Commercial Music, which will focus on “the contemporary music-making process from the early creative stages to final release” and “ the students tools to manage their careers in a dynamically changing music industry,” according to the program’s listing on theUNT has long been renowned for its music program, with notable alumni including Norah Jones and Don Henley.
"I wouldn't be the musician that I am without my time at UNT and the relationships and the skills that I've learned," she says."I had a heavy jazz background so I didn't actually know what I was doing, so my time at UNT really gave me the skill set to be a working musician." “A lot of our focus is on establishing internships and direct connections with the industry,” says Llach. “Having access to places like recording studios is also going to streamline the mode of production for our students.”
When you’re going into a field where a degree isn’t required, there’s a question of whether going to college is “worth it.” The answer, according to some, isn’t about the degree at all., a four-time Grammy-winning producer and audio engineer, has worked with artists Kirk Franklin, Lady Gaga, Blake Shelton and others. He also writes and produces music for advertising campaigns, which he says make up the bulk of his income.
For many careers in the music industry, however, a college or technical school can be a great place to learn these invaluable skills. In some fields, there are few opportunities to learn them anywhere else.