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DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

Interested in a career in songwriting? Looking for a commercial songwriting school? Then do what you love! Want to work as a songwriter, song publisher, song plugger, or anywhere else in music business?

Make your dreams a reality at the Department of Recording Industry at Middle Tennessee State University. Earn a bachelor's degree in music business from the best faculty and the best equipped facility in the U.S. Our faculty members are all specialists in various fields in the music business with over 100 years of combined experience. We combine classroom learning with real-world experience to provide you with the best education, experience and foray into the music business.

Our students are members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the Grammy University Network and other national and local student organizations.


Course Offerings: (click here for the official course list)

Commercial Songwriting.
The study and practice of the organization of ideas, words, and music into the writing of popular songs. We will study songwriters and analyze songwriting trends. ASCAP will provide songwriting mentors to the class and each mentor will work with and advise a group of student songwriters during the semester.

Advanced Songwriting.
The Art and Craft of Commercial Songwriting. The study and practice of the organization of ideas, words, and music into the writing of popular songs. We will study and analyze songwriting trends. This class will take the concepts learned in Commercial Songwriting and expand on them. ASCAP will provide publishers as mentors for the student groups to help them make the transition into the songwriting community. All students are expected to play piano or guitar and sing.

Music Publishing.
Learn about the music publishing industry including the song writer/publisher relationship and how royalties are generated, collected, and distributed.

Musicianship for Engineers.
Introduction to basic music theory and form as applied to popular music. The course includes basic keyboard skills, ear training, and written theory.

Personal Desktop Music Production.
Introduction of the theory and application of audio hardware and software for personal desktop music production. Course content is designed for RIM Music Business, RIM Commercial Songwriting majors and Music majors. Emphasis is on application through hands-on instructional techniques. Laboratory required.

Copyright Law.
Learn about copyright law and how it applies to the music industry, including issues of piracy, sampling, infringement and protection.

Audio Fundamentals.
Examines theories and technologies used in audio production for music, radio, TV, and film. Provides the management-oriented student with a useful vocabulary covering the area of audio production and provides the production-oriented student with the basic theory upon which production skills can be built.

The Recording Industry major (RIM) is a 120-semester-hour program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. Students may elect the Music Business concentration or the Production & Technology concentration. Requirements include 41 hrs of General Ed. courses, 45 hrs of RIM courses, and one minor. Please refer to the current Undergraduate Catalog for official degree requirements.


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Latest News

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MTSU Students Win Grand Prize at 2012 Shure Competition

MTSU students Taylor Bray, Jeff Braun and Grant Hartford won the Grand Prize at the 2012 Shure Competition. Click here to meet the students and find out more information. To see the project log and listen to their winning song, click here.

Announcing the first ever All Class RIM Reunion!

Plan to attend on Friday April 13th and Saturday April 14th, 2012. Special events for RIM alumni are being planned.

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Erin Enderlin's Debut Album Receives Positive Reviews

Congratulations to a former MTSU student on debut album success

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RIM Listening Night

Come and join us for RIM Listening Night where RIM professors will play top projects from Audio Production & Engineering classes

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Ian Rogers, CEO of Topspin

Ian will be a Guest Lecturer and Instructor at MTSU's Recording Inudstry Department on Thursday, November 10th.

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George S. Clinton visits MTSU

Film composer George S. Clinton, the man behind the music of "Mortal Kombat." "The Santa Clause 2" and the "Austin Powers" film series, will share his expertise with MTSU.

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MRAT MFA student receives AES scholarship

Mauricio Gargel was named the Emil Torick Scholar Award winner in the 2011 AES Educational Grant program

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RCA Recording Artist Chris Young once walked the halls of MTSU

Come to Bluesboro on the Murfreesboro Square Tuesday, July 12th and hear former MTSU student Chris Young's new album NEON.

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Grammy Winner, Professor John Hill

Congratulations to Professor John Hill, who won a Grammy for "Best Engineered Album, Classical." Other MTSU alumni also won Grammy awards.

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MRAT Grad Students and AES members volunteer at W.O. Smith Music School

Graduate students in the Recording Arts and Technology program at Middle Tennessee State University will engineer a live webcast from the W.O. Smith Community Music School in Nashville Thursday evening, March 31, 2011

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Bluebird Showcase Announcement

Congratulations to the students who were chosen to participate in the next Bluebird Showcase

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10 Questions with Amy Willis

Interview with Department of Recording Industry alumni and public relations pro Amy Willis:

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