For the fourth year straight, Baldwin Wallace is on Billboard magazine's national list of "2024 Top Music Business Schools" — an elite honor recognizing the university's innovative courses, industry connections and successful alumni that provide a solid foundation for career success.
As the only Ohio school chosen for the Billboard Top Music Business School recognition, BW is part of an elite group of honorees. Many of the other private and public schools chosen are based in major metropolitan locations like London, New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville and Miami.
Among the distinctive features of BW's music business programs are the prestigious partnerships that put BW students alongside leading professionals in music streaming, artist management, concert venue management, music production and promotion. Both the music industry and arts management & entrepreneurship majors benefit from an interdisciplinary focus uniting BW's renowned Conservatory of Performing Arts and Carmel Boyer School of Business.
Real-world learning is integral to the majors. BW has partnerships with Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Tragic Hero Records and indie music venues like Beachland Ballroom & Tavern. BW also is an educational affiliate of the national Grammy Museum.
The music industry major is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. In addition to a four-year sequence leading to a bachelor's degree, there is a "two plus two" program. Transfer students from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) can participate in a degree partnership with Baldwin Wallace, which streamlines bachelor's degree completion for Tri-C recording arts and technology graduates who transfer to BW.
With the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as its internationally acclaimed stronghold, Northeast Ohio has a growing music industry that is nudging itself to national attention in areas of talent and live music options. This foundation gives BW students outstanding internship and employment opportunities across a diverse array of entertainment organizations, venues and agencies.
BW students are also excelling outside the region with top-name internships and employment. Over the summer, Carly Webster '26, a transfer student from Lewisburg, Ohio, interned at Wasserman Music in Nashville, Tennessee, in the tour marketing department.
It was a remarkable experience for the music industry major to land the role at the international entertainment mogul, whose long list of representees includes Blake Sheldon, Coldplay, Drake, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves and Kendrick Lamar, among others.
And while Webster didn't get to meet any celebrities, the takeaway from the experience was incredible. "I worked mostly with artists of the Country/Americana and Indie genres. My day-to-day consisted of uploading marketing items (such as ad plans and ticket headers) received from promoters, proofreading press releases and admats, and sending out marketing and ticketing letters. I also did some one-off projects, including a spreadsheet of social media and website links for the various venues we worked with and helping the tour marketing assistant drum up marketing ideas."
"My ultimate goal is to work in touring in some capacity," she added. "What I love most is helping fans. I think the skills I learned also will be incredibly beneficial to me as a nonprofit founder," she said, referencing Disabled Music Fans Collective, an advocacy organization focused on making the industry a more accessible, inclusive place that allows people of all abilities to participate.
Ask BW junior MaKayla Hasselkus about her summer experience, and the Orange County, California, resident will lean into her great job that put her alongside a top heavy metal band.
"I got an incredible opportunity to be a part of Metallica's M72 World Tour staffed by SUPER! I worked in Minneapolis and Seattle as an enhanced experiences assistant and handled everything from the Snake Pit passes to the Meet & Greet packages," explained Hasselkus.
"The most memorable part of this opportunity was the interactions I had with some of Metallica's biggest fans. Hearing their unique stories and seeing their excitement ahead of each show solidified why I love working in the music industry. Knowing that I could be a small part of making their experience special was extremely rewarding," she said.
Hasselkus went on to say she works at BW's radio station, WBWC 88.3 The Sting, where she has held a variety of positions. She is the host of two weekly shows this semester.
Outside of BW, she does artist hospitality for C3 Presents Festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Austin City Limits. She also is a promotions and street team member at Rubber City Radio Group (97.5 WONE, 94.9 WQMX, 93.5FM/1590AM WAKR, 107.3 Alternative).
Webster and Hasselkus are two of 40 students enrolled in the music industry major. Fifty students are majoring in arts management & entrepreneurship.
Dr. Sean Murphy is the assistant professor of arts management & entrepreneurship and the area coordinator for BW's music industry program. In his seven years with BW, he has seen the remarkable success of BW grads.
"BW continues to position itself as a national leader in both music industry and arts management education. I am grateful for my role in facilitating outstanding and impactful classroom and internship experiences for our students," he stated.
"Select courses are taught by professionals in the industry and our partnerships give students one-of-a-kind opportunities to boost their skills, resumes and connections in the field. They graduate with career-ready skills they can take to jobs as managers, marketers and event organizers," emphasized Murphy.
