2 Alabama colleges named to Billboard’s top music business schools of 2025
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Music media outlet Billboard has put out its annual list of the nation’s top music business schools and two Alabama colleges made the list.
Auburn University returned to the list for the second straight year while the University of North Alabama in Florence made its first appearance on the prestigious list.
For more than a decade, Billboard has created their list which recognizes “schools that are educating the next generation of music industry leaders, as well as the artists and producers who recognize the importance of the business skills that these schools teach.”
Factors for making the list include:
- Industry recommendations
- Alum information provided by honorees from Billboard‘s multiple power lists
- Billboard‘s own reporting on educational options
- Information requested from the schools themselves
Keep reading to find out why both Auburn + North Alabama made the list.
Auburn University’s Department of Music
Auburn’s Commercial Music major and Music Business minor are preparing students for success in one of the world’s most competitive industries.
Current students have secured internships with major music companies, while recent graduates are now employed at leading global corporations, including Sony Records and William Morris Endeavor.
The Department of Music just established a music business minor in 2023. Billboard also point to the the late-2024 completion of a state-of-the-art recording studio located at the university’s Music Studies complex being the latest enhancement to the Music Studies Program.
“Students are introduced to all aspects of the music business, from labels and publishers to touring and concert promotion, with an emphasis on a global/entrepreneurial perspective. Speakers including Universal Music Publishing Nashville CEO Troy Tomlinson and former Warner Music Nashville A&R executive vp Scott Hendricks keep the conversation fresh. While the Music Business Program is relatively new, Auburn University grads include Apple CEO Tim Cook and executives working at companies such as WME, Sony, The Trenches Collective, Sun Records and Sweet Talk Publicity.”
Billboard
The article also specifically pointed to the Record Company Procedures class which gives students the experience of:
- Working for a record company by forming a label
- Working with an artist from a designated artist pool
- Creating a marketing, sales and media plan all while staying within a designated budget
This is the second straight year Auburn has been included on Billboard‘s list.
“We are honored to be recognized by Billboard as one of the nation’s top music business schools for the second consecutive year. This achievement reflects the dedication of our faculty, the success of our students and Auburn’s commitment to preparing leaders for the evolving music industry.”
Doug Rosener, department chair
University of North Alabama Department of Entertainment Industry
Billboard highlighted the university’s courses on business and songwriting taught by Alabama native + multiple Grammy winner John Paul White, saying students have the opportunity to “gain knowledge from the perspective of sectors including labels, publishing, licensing, streaming and touring.”
UNA’s Department of Entertainment Industry program is in its 50th year of educating students for careers in the music and entertainment industries.
“Being named to Billboard’s 2025 Top Music Business Schools list is an incredible honor and a testament to the vision, dedication, and hard work of our students, faculty, staff, and industry partners. This recognition places the Department of Entertainment Industry among the nation’s elite programs and reinforces our commitment to preparing the next generation of music business leaders through innovation, hands-on experience, and real-world engagement.”
Janna Malone, Chair of the Department
Situated across the Tennessee River from the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and within a few hours’ drive of Nashville, Memphis and Atlanta, Billboard says the department has built deep relationships with:
- Recording studios
- Venues
- Publishers
- Labels
- Performing rights organizations
- Artist managers
- Tour managers
- Booking/talent agencies
- Producers
- Musicians
“Those connections, coupled with a rich pool of alums — including The Red Clay Strays manager Cody Payne and producer-director Ben Skipworth, a two-time recipient of the Academy of Country Music video of the year award — open doors to internship and job opportunities. Students learn directly from industry professionals and benefit from guest speakers including ACM-nominated musicians Sol Philcox Littlefield and Jimbo Hart, the former bassist for Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit.”
Billboard
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