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Receiving admission to candidacy is required before taking most upper-level RIM courses. To apply for candidacy, each recording industry major must have:

1) Completion of all developmental studies requirements.

2) Completion of all high school deficiencies.

3) Completion of 45 hours (not to include developmental studies courses).

4) Completion of math requirement (College Algebra of higher level math) with minimum 2.0 grade.

5) Completion of 4 RIM courses with a minimum 2.0 grade in each. - JOUR/EMC/RIM 1020, RIM 3000, RIM 3010, RIM 3600

6) Be a student in good standing (not on probation).

Note - General studies do not have to be completed to apply for candidacy.

Go to the candidacy page to see more details.

 

Welcome to Middle Tennessee State University

New Concentration in Commercial Songwriting

The Department of Recording Industry is proud to introduce the new Commercial Songwriting concentration as the third option for students majoring in Recording Industry. The new concentration joins the Music Business and the Production & Technology concentrations. The Songwriting Concentration offers courses in commercial songwriting, music publishing, publishing administration, musicianship, project studio recording, copyright law and more. It is designed to prepare students not only as songwriters but for jobs in the creative side of the music publishing industry. Students who enroll in the program receive a bachelor’s degree in Recording Industry with a concentration in Commercial Songwriting.

The program was developed through a joint effort of MTSU and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Titled “Partners in Craft” this alliance was developed as a support organization of the Songwriting Concentration. ASCAP provides professional songwriting mentors who work with songwriting students to help them learn the fine points of the craft of songwriting. Professional songwriters affiliated with ASCAP interact with students both here in the classroom at MTSU and in small group meetings held at the ASCAP Nashville offices. ASCAP and American Songwriter Magazine co-sponsor a semi-annual showcase titled "Hot On The Row" featuring the best MTSU songwriters giving them exposure to Nashville's Music Row professionals.

The student chapter of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) provides all interested students opportunities to meet and hear successful songwriters play and talk about their songs. NSAI sponsors student songwriter showcases at local venues and on campus.

Core requirements 18 hours:
RIM/EMC/JOUR 1020 American Media & Social Institutions 3
RIM 3000 History of the Recording Industry 3
RIM 3010 Audio for Media 3
RIM 3600 Survey of Recording 3
RIM 3700 Copyright Law 3
RIM 4700 Legal Problems 3

Concentration required sub-core 12 hours:
RIM 1230 Musicianship for Engineers 3
Or
MUTH 1110 Theory & Aural Skills 4*
RIM 3020 Commercial Songwriting 3
RIM 3900 Music Publishing 3
RIM 4020 Advanced Commercial Songwriting 3
And one of the following:
RIM 4190 Principals and Pract. of Electronic Music 3
Or
RIM 4200 Applied Digital Audio 3
Or
RIM 4400 Techniques of Recording 3

Major Electives 15 or 18* hours from among the following:
RIM 3100 Music as Popular Culture 3
RIM 3200 History of Country Music 3
RIM 3450 Advanced Musicianship for Engineers 3
RIM 3500 Lecture Series 1
RIM 3580 Practicum 3
RIM 3720 Artist Management 3
RIM 4000 Internship- Business 3
RIM 4010 Internship - Technology 3
RIM 4190 Principles and Practices of Elec Music 3
RIM 4200 Applied Digital Audio 3
RIM 4320 Concert Promotion and Touring 3
RIM 4400 Techniques of Recording 3
RIM 4440 Critical Listening 3
RIM 4510 Study Abroad 3
RIM 4800 Understanding the Nashville Music Bus 3
RIM 4810 Topics in Recording Industry 3
RIM 4840 Music Publishing Administration 3
RIM 4900 Individual Problems in the RI 3

* Students taking MUTH 1110 must take an addition 3 hours of major electives

One minor area of study, 18-20 credits.
Minor must be selected from: Music 20 credits, Writing 18 credits, or Entrepreneurship 18 credits.

 
 


One minor is required for all Recording Industry majors.

Commercial Songwriting concentration students must minor in one of the following:

  • Music
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Writing

Music: Application of musical principles intended to further the study of students with a formal music background. Emphasis on commercial music.

Entrepreneurship: Preparation to organize and assume the risk of a business or enterprise.

Writing: An interdisciplinary minor offering writing-instensive selections across the curriculum.



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MTSU Department of Recording Industry
Box 21, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37132
615.898.2578

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