Belmont University is a private university in Nashville, Tennessee, whose Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business operates the world's only AACSB-accredited Music Business BBA program. Located two miles from downtown Nashville on Music Row, Belmont has spent over 50 years building direct partnerships with major labels, publishers, and booking agencies, giving students immediate access to the industry they want to work in.
Here is an official campus tour from the Belmont University YouTube channel, covering the 93-acre campus that serves over 8,500 students:
Programs and Areas of Emphasis
Belmont's Music Business program is a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), not a Bachelor of Music. This means students graduate with a professionally accredited business degree rather than a performance degree. The program offers five areas of emphasis:
- Business: Core business fundamentals combined with electives in digital marketing, genre-specific industry studies, DIY and entrepreneurial ventures, film and music supervision, and international music business.
- Creative: Blends artistic development (songwriting, audio production, publishing) with business operations including branding, digital marketing, and emerging technologies like AI.
- Legal: Focuses on entertainment law, copyright, contracts, and artist rights. Suitable for students planning to attend law school.
- Legal 3+3: An accelerated pathway letting qualified students earn both a BBA in Music Business and a Juris Doctor (JD) in six years instead of seven.
- Live: Centers on the touring and live events side of the industry, covering concert promotion, venue management, and festival operations.
Beyond Music Business, Belmont also offers degrees in Audio Engineering, Songwriting, Commercial Music, and Country Music performance through its College of Music & Performing Arts.
Tuition and Costs (2026-2027)
Belmont's 2026-2027 undergraduate tuition and fees total $45,200 per year. Full-time tuition is $21,485 per semester (12-18 credit hours), with part-time rates at $1,625 per credit hour. On-campus room and board adds approximately $16,130 for first-year students, bringing total direct costs to roughly $61,330 per year. Books and supplies can add up to $1,500 annually.
92% of Belmont undergraduates receive financial aid of some kind. The university offers merit scholarships, need-based aid, and the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship for eligible in-state residents.
Industry Access and Outcomes
Belmont's location on Music Row puts students within walking distance of record labels, recording studios, publishing houses, and management companies. The university maintains partnerships with ASCAP, BMI, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Creative Artists Agency, William Morris Endeavor, Big Machine, and the Music Business Association, among others.
The school reports a 98% first destination career outcomes rate, meaning nearly all graduates are employed, in graduate school, or pursuing other intended activities within six months of graduation. Billboard Magazine has repeatedly named Belmont a top school for Music Business.
Notable alumni include Ashley Gorley, inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2025 with 80+ No. 1 radio singles, and numerous executives across Nashville's entertainment sector.
Notable Alumni
- Brad Paisley - Country music superstar, studied at Belmont. Paisley has won three Grammy Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards, and 14 Academy of Country Music Awards. He has sold over 11 million albums and scored 24 number one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Here is the official video for "Whiskey Lullaby" featuring Alison Krauss, from BRADPAISLEYVEVO with over 308 million views:
- Trisha Yearwood - Country music artist, studied at Belmont. Yearwood has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide and won three Grammy Awards. Her debut single "She's in Love With the Boy" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1991. Here is the official music video, with over 67 million views:
- Florida Georgia Line (Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard) - Country duo, both studied at Belmont. Their debut single "Cruise" became the best-selling country digital song of all time, and their debut album Here's to the Good Times (2012) was certified diamond. Here is the official video for "Cruise" from FlaGeorgiaLineVEVO:
- Ashley Gorley - Songwriter, graduated from Belmont in 1999 with a Music Business BBA. Gorley was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2025. He holds the record for the most No. 1 country hits by a songwriter, with over 80 number one radio singles and more than 400 songs recorded by artists across genres. His 2023 hit "Last Night" (performed by Morgan Wallen) spent 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. He was named NSAI Songwriter of the Decade for 2010 to 2019.
- Gabe Simon - Producer and songwriter, graduated from Belmont in 2011. Simon produced Noah Kahan's breakthrough album Stick Season and has worked with Dua Lipa, Lana Del Rey, Halsey, Maroon 5, and Koe Wetzel. He earned the number one spot on Billboard's Top Rock and Alt Producer chart with 18 songs simultaneously on the Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative charts.
- Steven Curtis Chapman - Contemporary Christian music artist, studied at Belmont. Chapman has won five Grammy Awards and 58 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, more than any other artist in history.
- Levi Kreis - Actor and musician, graduated from Belmont in 2017. Kreis won a Tony Award for originating the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet.
Study Away Programs
Belmont USA lets students study in New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington DC, as well as international locations. These programs place students directly in entertainment industry hubs for a semester, combining coursework with internships at labels, agencies, and production companies.
Who Should Apply
Belmont is best suited for students who want to work behind the scenes in the music industry: A&R, artist management, music publishing, label operations, concert promotion, entertainment law, or music supervision. If your goal is primarily instrumental or vocal performance at a conservatory level, other schools may be a better fit. If you want to understand how the music business actually works and graduate with a business degree, Belmont is one of the strongest options in the United States.
Related Resources
- Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Revenue strategies that complement a music business education
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Estimate how streaming revenue works for artists you may manage or sign
- Music Business Degrees: Are They Worth It? - Deeper analysis of music business education ROI
- Berklee College of Music - Compare with another top US music school
- USC Thornton School of Music - A leading US music school with industry connections in Los Angeles
- NYU Steinhardt and Tisch - Another university with a music business program in New York
- University of Miami Frost School - A university music program with a music industry focus
- Musicians Institute (MI) - A contemporary music school with a music business program
- Belmont University Official Website - Current admission requirements and program details
