A standard Bachelor's degree in Business can go a long way to steering your path toward a career as an executive. Advanced degrees like the JD or MBA require a BA as a prerequisite. Many employment opportunities, even entry-level positions, often require a BA in Business, Finance, Management or Economics. Many colleges and universities have internship and career development programs that can help you build experience in the music industry by working and interning with music industry professionals. The exposure alone can help you decide if you would enjoy a career as a music executive.
Many music executives began as musicians themselves, studying everything from sound engineering to music performance in their undergraduate years. A thorough education of music, composition techniques and recording technology can help orient your career toward the business side of music. Musicians and bands of all kinds require an understanding of their creative needs and temperment, in addition to careful business management. As a student of music, you may understand the delicate nature of the creative process better than someone with a business degree.
Due to a saturated, over-educated job market, the coveted MBA no longer guarantees career advancement and wealth. The MBA still opens doors to opportunities in a variety of businesses, including the music industry. While many music executives had little or no formal education, an MBA can help steer you toward a career in the music industry by proving you credentials as an advanced student of business. An MBA can apply their business knowledge toward virtually any business, a valuable skill in the business side of any creative business.
Lawyers and the music business go hand-in-hand. Many music executives even began their careers as lawyers. The music industry depends on contracts to judicate a variety of business relationships, from royalty payments and recording deals to salary negotiation and publishing rights. As a student of entertainment law, you will have an advantage over those in your field with more general educations. The music industry always needs lawyers and with your specialty in entertainment law you represent a "double threat" with skills in law and entertainment. This may work to your advantage in pursuing a career as a music executive.