Music Industry Applicants
Music Business and Recording Technology applicants must submit an essay with their application and participate in a group entrance interview with faculty.
Academic Requirements
Music Business and Recording Technology students fall under one of two paths for incoming students.
PATH #1
Designed for incoming high school freshman students. Under PATH #1, these students must meet or exceed a qualifying minimum multiplier score (M-Score).
M-SCORE REQUIREMENT
An applicant’s M-Score is determined by multiplying the student's Best Composite ACT score (or converted SAT score) by the cumulative high school GPA.
Example: 3.2 GPA x 24 ACT Best Composite = M-Score of 76.8
If your resulting M-Score is 74.4 or higher, you are ready to start your application
to the School of Music and attend the Entrance Interview on your preferred Audition
Day. If you do not meet the minimum M-Score, you must enter under “Path #2” (see below).
PATH #2
Designed for students for fall into one of the following categories:
Incoming high school freshman students who did not meet the required qualifying minimum
M-Score under “Path #1”.
New Transfer students (regardless of number of hours earned)
New Non-traditional freshman students (24 and older) who have no ACT/SAT test scores,
and do not have any prior college credit
Current UofM students seeking to switch to the Music Industry degree program (regardless
of number of hours earned)
Students who fall into one of the above categories must accomplish both of the following
steps upon enrolling at the University, and before applying to the School of Music:
Earn a 2.8 or better cumulative Collegiate GPA AND
Satisfy each of the following UofM General Education courses with a C- or better:
English Composition I (ENGL 1010)
English Composition II (ENGL 1020)
Music Industry Math requirement:Music Business - MATH 1530
Recording Technology - MATH 1830
Essay Information
Write an essay on the appropriate topic given on the following page. Seek and study a variety of sources to reach your own conclusions in order to express your own topical thoughts. Cite references to avoid plagiarism. Essays must be electronically submitted as attached Word documents no later than two (2) weeks prior to Audition/Orientation Day. Essays must be single spaced and created with 12-point Times font with 1" margins on all sides. Essays must be a minimum of 750 words and no longer than 1,000 words. All reference sources must be cited and are not included in the word count of the written essay. Put your name, date, and essay title at the top of your essay.
Essay Topic for Music Business Applicants
"For the past decade, sales of recorded music released by the three major companies in the field (Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group) have been undergoing significant declines. Some say this slowdown in growth can be attributed to either the phenomenon of widespread file sharing on the Internet, to a lack of quality music, to the rise of streaming delivery services, or a combination of these and other factors. In the current environment, some are predicting that independent musicians and independent labels will have a better opportunity to thrive because they are smaller and more flexible than the majors and can take advantage of the Internet and other new technologies to promote their music. Yet these same musicians and labels are facing some of the same issues and pressures that the major labels are. In your essay, discuss your views on the future of the music industry, making your argument for who you think will benefit from the recent changes in the business (e.g., major or independents) and how they will still be able to generate revenues given the widespread availability of free music."
Essay Topic for Recording Technology Applicants
"Digital delivery systems of audio (i.e. the Internet) have forced the entire music industry to rethink the methods involved in the recording and distribution of recorded material. At recent audio conventions there has been much discussion regarding digital audio watermarking. Relying on your own research, provide information regarding the fairly young history of digital audio watermark technology as well as how you anticipate the technology will continue to develop and be utilized in the future."
Interview Information