Recording Industry

John Merchant, Chair

Akins, Alleyne, Baird, Barnet, Blackmon, Brown, Collier, Conceison, Crabtree, Dahan, deClercq, Dellinger, Donham, Dougan, Fleming, Foglia, Green, Hanson, Hill, Jones, Keel, Macy, Nichols, O’Brien, Ouellette, Paulson, Pfeifer, Piekarski, Rowland, Wagnon, Wald

The Department of Recording Industry is internationally known for its innovative programs of study. The purpose of these programs is to prepare students for positions in virtually any phase of the audio production and music industries, to be entrepreneurs, or for postgraduate study. The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Recording Industry with concentrations in Music Business and Commercial Songwriting and a Bachelor of Science in Audio Production.

Internships with a variety of companies and organizations in the industry are available for selected students. Opportunities to meet industry professionals, network, and develop contacts are provided throughout each semester. The department offers study abroad programs in several countries. Audio engineering and production courses are taught in multiple studios and labs, all located on campus. Live sound/sound reinforcement courses are taught in various on-campus locations. Music Business students have access to modern marketing software and the most current industry data. Students in Commercial Songwriting work with professional songwriters.

The program is designed with advice from The Recording Academy, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services, and numerous industry professionals and executives.

The department offers a minor in Recording Industry for Music majors in the Music Industry concentration and other interested students, a minor in Entertainment Technology in cooperation with the Departments of Theatre and Dance and Media Arts, and a minor in Audio Production.

Transfer Credit Policy

Transfer credit into the Recording Industry major and minor will be accepted for the following core courses, lower-division courses, and non-RIM courses only: RIM 1020, RIM 1230, RIM 3000, RIM 3010, RIM 3600, RIM 3700, RIM 4700, PHYS 1600, MUHL 3670, PS 3530, ENGL 3810, and JOUR 2710. Only 3 hours of transfer credit may be counted toward the major from among PHYS 1600, MUHL 3670, PS 3530, ENGL 3810, and JOUR 2710. For students transferring from an institution that does not have an articulation agreement with MTSU, a course content evaluation and transfer validation test may be required before acceptance of the transfer of any RIM courses.

NOTE 1: Students who take and pass MUTH 1110 - Theory and Aural Skills I at MTSU with a C- or better and who are minoring in any Music minor are exempt from RIM 1230 - Musicianship for Engineers but must take an additional 3 hours from the prescribed list of major electives.
NOTE 2: Students who take and pass MUTH 1110 - Theory and Aural Skills I at MTSU with a C- or better and who are not minoring in any Music minor can have MUTH 1110 substituted for RIM 1230 - Musicianship for Engineers and receive 4 hours credit toward the RI major.
NOTE 3: Students who take and pass a college-level Music Theory I course at another institution and who are minoring in any Music minor must take and pass the Music Theory and Aural Skills Diagnostic Exam offered by the School of Music. Those who pass will have the requirement for RIM 1230 - Musicianship for Engineers waived but must take an additional 3 hours from the prescribed list of major electives. Students who do not pass the Music Theory and Aural Skills Diagnostic Exam must take MUTH 1000 - Elements of Music or RIM 1230 - Musicianship for Engineers before taking MUTH 1110.
NOTE 4: Students who take and pass a college-level music theory course at another institution with a C- or better and who are not minoring in any Music minor can have that course substituted for RIM 1230 - Musicianship for Engineers and receive 3 or 4 hours credit toward the Recording Industry major.

Grading Policy

Students majoring in Recording Industry must receive grades of C (2.00) or better in all Recording Industry courses in order for them to count toward the major. A minimum grade of C (2.00) is required in all classes that are prerequisite to Recording Industry classes. (A grade of C- is not considered C or better.) Recording Industry majors may be required to take an exit examination in order to graduate.

NOTE: Students who fail to attend the first class meeting of any RIM course without prior arrangement with the instructor may lose their places in class and those spaces will be made available to other students. This includes labs.

Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program

Qualified students pursuing an undergraduate degree in Recording Industry may take up to 12 credit hours of coursework in the M.F.A. in Recording Arts and Technologies program. These credits (up to 12) may be applied to both the B.S. in Recording Industry or B.S. in Audio Production and the M.F.A. in Recording Arts and Technologies degrees. To apply, see the M.F.A. program director. NOTE: Applications for this ABM pathway are no longer being accepted. Current ABM students may complete the pathway in place at the time of application.

Graduate Study

The department offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in Recording Arts and Technology. Requirements for this degree and a list of the courses offered for graduate credit are published in the Graduate Catalog.