Billboard magazine is out with its list of the best music business schools in the world; and of the 48 which made the grade for 2026, two of them are in Louisiana – The Loyola University New Orleans School of Music and Theater Professionals and UL Lafayette’s music business program. UL Lafayette launched its bachelor’s degree program in music business about 12 years ago. It’s run by Associate Music Professor Scott Durbin, who says students get hands-on experience in all facets of the music industry.
“Our curriculum revolves more around intellectual rights management issues, label contracts and what to look for, music publishing, even merchandising; booking and touring,” Durbin explained.
Durbin says as part of the curriculum, students work with a local up-and-coming artist.
“They’re doing all of this stuff that an artist manager or a marketing team or a booking agent might do, to create assets that the artist can actually use to better themselves,” Durbin said.
In 2023, Durbin collaborated with Entrepreneurship Professor Jonathan Shirley to create Hodgepodge, an annual event run entirely by students. Shirley says students in UL Lafayette’s music business school put the show on each year, filling every role needed to stage a concert.
“They then divide up into artist liaison or logistics or finance or sponsorship, marketing; there’s usually five or six committees that they’re on. And from that point on, it’s their show,” Shirley explained.
Since its inception, Hodgepodge has grown in popularity.
