Course
Overview
We are still accepting applications for 2023 entry for this course. If you are interested in joining us this September, please contact our Admissions team by ringing +44 (0)151 330 3000 (select option 1). You can also email us at admissions@lipa.ac.uk.
Our course gives you the skills, experience and contacts you need to have a sustained career as a manager in the creative and performing arts.
Starting with a broad curriculum that allows you to explore and discover the many roles that exist, you then specialise - expanding your skills and knowledge as you build a portfolio of creative and enterprising projects that you have managed.
| This course was previously titled BA (Hons) Management of Music, Entertainment, Theatre & Events. |
Accreditated By:
What You Will
Study
Context 1
This module helps you to place your future work into context, as you develop a broad understanding of the current landscape in the music, entertainment, theatre and events industries. You will look at the relationships between the practice and evolution of music, entertainment, theatre and events management. Your work in this module develops your research and writing skills, as you produce an essay exploring a particular area of the performing arts.
This module content is indicative.
Entertainment Law
In this module, you learn about various legal concepts which are relevant to the music, entertainment, theatre and events industries. You study essential areas such as contract law, copyright and intellectual property. All of these are explored in terms of how they apply to the entertainment and events industries.
This module content is indicative.
Introduction to Professional Practice
We know that you will want to engage in practical management activity straight away – in fact, you may already be doing relevant work. This module credits that work, allowing you to develop the skills required to fulfil a professional role in the performing arts industries. This is supported by putting your learning into action, with your own professional practice forming a key part of this module. You receive support and guidance in identifying and taking advantage of suitable opportunities for this work, which could include relevant work or voluntary experience, enterprise activities and collaborative projects with other students.
This module content is indicative.
Managing Organisations
Through this module, you develop your knowledge and understanding of concepts relating to managing organisations and people in the music, entertainment, theatre and events economies. You look at different perspectives on management theory and organisational behaviour and apply this to real examples from theatre, music, festival and events companies. This includes studying the key factors in designing an organisation and the reasons organisations have adopted or adapted their current form to remain successful.
This module content is indicative.
Marketing
This module will help you gain a knowledge of marketing and its component parts. You will develop an understanding of the marketing mix including market segmentation, targeting and positioning. The module includes both taught lectures and practical workshops in which you put your learning into practice.
This module content is indicative.
The Professional 1
This module is designed to help you achieve sustained work in your chosen profession. You learn about the different elements involved in putting on an event, including planning, budgeting, rights and clearances and digital marketing. By working as part of a small team with students from other subjects to create a one-off event, you learn first-hand about the importance of collaborating and develop essential interpersonal skills including negotiation and persuasion. Through this module, you also learn to reflect on your own personal and professional attributes and skills. This self-development technique stands you in good stead throughout your professional career.
This module content is indicative.
Raising Funds and Managing Finance
In this module, you develop the skills and knowledge to financially support creative projects within the music, entertainment, theatre and events industries. You look at different sources of funding, such as trusts and foundations, sponsorship, grants (including the Arts Council) and investment. You learn how to develop a budget for a specific project and review working capital to ensure the successful ongoing operation of an organisation or project. The module also explores financial management principles and practices within organisations.
This module content is indicative.
Context 2 (Cultural Policy)
Building on what you learned in Context 1, you further your understanding of the world in which the creative industries operate by examining cultural policies. You focus on how policy is developed and how it affects the creative industries, exploring areas such as technological advances, globalisation and political change.
This module content is indicative.
Enterprise and Business Planning
In this module, you put your entrepreneurial skills into practice. You apply your knowledge from Year 1 to create your own business plan for a music, entertainment, theatre or events business. You look at how to appraise business ideas and what makes a good business plan, including identifying mission, aims and objectives. The business plan you create incorporates a marketing strategy and resources plan along with financial forecasts, a funding plan, and an analysis of legal and ethical factors. Past students have used this opportunity to create their own business.
This module content is indicative.
Live Performance and Event Management
Through this module, you learn how to create a plan which will enable you to effectively manage operations and resources in relation to venues, touring, events and festivals. You study logistics, where you cover topics including scheduling, transport, crowd control and ticketing. The module also covers legal issues such as licensing and insurances, and staffing considerations including HR requirements and recruitment. Measuring success is another key area, and you look at monitoring and evaluating performance. You then apply all of this knowledge to create an operational plan for a specific activity.
This module content is indicative.
Music, Entertainment, Theatre and Events Management in the Contemporary World
This module examines contemporary developments in music, entertainment, theatre and events management. You look at how organisations in these industries are operating in today’s business climate. You explore how developments such as changes in consumer behaviour and culture are impacting and driving evolution in the creative industries.
This module content is indicative.
Practical Management Project
In this module, you have the opportunity to produce and manage a significant practical project. The project allows you to put your professional and practical skills into action, collaborating with creative and technical partners from across LIPA. You are supported through regular meetings with your supervisor before reflecting on your performance and identifying what you have learned from the process.
This module content is indicative.
The Producers
This module introduces you to the world of creative producers across theatre, dance, film, TV and music. Developing an idea focused on a target market, you produce and deliver your own production. In planning your production, you are expected to apply your legal, financial and creative knowledge to identify, manage and resolve any potential constraints, opportunities and challenges.
This module content is indicative.
The Professional 2
Through this module, you explore employment and self-employment opportunities within the music, entertainment, theatre and events industries. You develop a career or business plan based on your personal ambitions, and undertake relevant professional practice to support your goals. You build skills to pursue professional roles including evaluating an employer's needs and preparing a professional job application. In preparation for future interviews, you are given the opportunity to role-play as interviewer and interviewee so that you can understand the process from different perspectives.
This module content is indicative.
Practical Management Placement (The Arts Manager)
In this module, you undertake an extended work placement within an area of the performing arts and creative industries which reflects your career aspirations. Working with the organisation over a period of three months, you have ongoing opportunities to apply your skills and knowledge. This provides invaluable experience for gaining employment or self-employment after graduation. At the end of your placement, you reflect on and evaluate your own performance and practice to assist with your self-development.
This module content is indicative.
The Literature Review
This module gives you the opportunity to further develop your research and analysis skills. You look into a specific topic of your own choosing related to the performing arts and creative industries sector. You undertake significant secondary research to examine and explore your subject, enabling you to produce a paper in which you review, analyse and critique existing research.
This module content is indicative.
Management Research Paper
Building upon your literature review, you carry out primary and practical research focussed on a specific aspect of your chosen subject, in order to develop and deliver an academically robust research paper or project. This work is supported by classes and workshops in which you develop your research skills, and tutorials with your research supervisor.
This module content is indicative.
The Professional 3
In this module, lectures and tutorials explain how to summarise and demonstrate your professional practice so that you can illustrate the breadth, depth and quality of your skills, experience and attributes. You evaluate your professional practice from all three years of the course in order to produce a professional portfolio that you present, and articulate your future career and personal development plans.
This module content is indicative.
Contemporary Issues in Management
In this module, you research a specific topic of your choice regarding a contemporary management issue in the creative industries and present that research at our annual Contemporary Issues in Management conference.
This module content is indicative.
How You Will
Study
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Masterclass
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Group Work
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Independent study
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Workshops
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Tutorials
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Lectures
How You Will Be
Assessed
You will be assessed through practical and written work. You will produce and manage and deliver a range of projects and creative products, taking on an increasing amount of responsibility. You will provide essays, business-style reports and reflective evaluations of your work. You will also be required to participate in individual and group presentations and a small number of written exams.
Practical/written work ratio
50% practical work / 50% written assignments
Validated By:
Our
Facilities
Seminar Rooms
Much of your learning takes place in seminar rooms on Level 5 in the Institute Building and on Level 4 of the Art School, which are all equipped with state-of-the-art presentation equipment.
Management Suite
On the fifth floor of the Institute, you will find a dedicated workspace for managers. called the management suite, which students can access between 8am and 9pm. There are PCs but it also has Wi-Fi and numerous work stations too, where you can use your laptops and tablets to work on coursework and projects. It’s also an ideal location for meetings.
John Lennon Lecture Theatre
LIPA’s refurbished lecture theatre seats up to 120 people and is used for lectures, masterclasses and seminars.
The Paul McCartney Auditorium
The PMA is the largest of LIPA’s performance spaces and is a traditional proscenium arch theatre. It can seat an audience of around 350 people and has flexible seating arrangements and staging configurations.
Each year many public performances take place in the PMA and the GHWS (described below) giving Management students opportunities to use these shows to test out their skills in producing and artist promotion. Outside of performance, the PMA is also used for presentations to the whole student body.
George Harrison Workshop Studio
Seating over 100 people, the GHWS is a fully equipped experimental performance space that offers creatives and performers a ‘blank canvas’ for productions. As well as immersive and promenade performances, it can also host more traditional theatrical productions with a variety of stage and audience configurations. It is also used as an exhibition, rehearsal and teaching space.
Technical Services
LIPA’s Technical Services team can help with general technical queries and booking out equipment for short-term loan. Loan equipment includes musical instruments, microphones, various recording and playback equipment, digital video and stills cameras and AV equipment.
Term-time opening hours allow you access to Technical Services from 9am until 11pm every weekday and 9am until 5pm on Saturday and 11am until 5pm on Sunday. Outside of term time it is open on weekdays from 9am - 5pm.
Learning Resources Centre
LIPA’s Learning Resources Centre (LRC) is a specialist creative and performing arts library with an extensive collection of books, e-books, scores, CDs, DVDs, e-resources, print and electronic journals. Whether you are looking for individual songs or scripts, background research or creative inspiration, the LRC Team will be able to help. The LRC offer support sessions in ICT and study skills through subject specific lectures, as well as one-to-one and drop-in sessions, ensuring you get the most out of your study. The LRC website provides the gateway to LIPA’s online catalogue and electronic resources and includes links to a wide selection of help sheets and video guides.
In addition, LIPA’s virtual learning provision which includes Moodle, holds a variety of subject-specific learning materials, such as lecture notes, useful web links and module information. The majority of these services are available off-campus.
LIPA’s integrated learning environment has a variety of study spaces, including individual and group work areas, and an open-access computer suite. Facilities include printing, copying and scanning, plus binding and laminating equipment.
A range of stationery is available for purchase to support your studies. Opening hours during term time are Monday and Wednesday 9.00am to 6.00pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am to 8.00pm, Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. The LRC may be closed for some weeks in June and is also closed during July and August.
ICT Services
LIPA's Information, Communications and Technology Department provides the infrastructure and services framework that enable students to exploit the latest information and communication developments.
Industry-standard computer resources are running the latest productivity software on high specification workstations in dedicated computer suites. LIPA also has a colour A0 plotter, ideal for floor plans.
All PCs are installed with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office & Project as standard. There is also access to a range of additional specialist software installed on selected workstations. These include AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Cloud applications, EarMaster, Sibelius, MindManager, Vectorworks and WYSIWYG.
All workstations have access to the Internet, email and other electronic resources. There is free Wi-Fi access throughout our buildings for students and staff members via the Eduroam network which provides a world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community.
Specialist ICT staff are available to answer questions, give assistance and advise on ICT issues.
LIPA Bar and Canteen
As well as serving food and drink, the bar and canteen are the hub of social activity within LIPA with both spaces licensed for performances.
The canteen is the venue for LIPA’s weekly gig night, The 2ube. Most Fridays the 2ube features live performances, showcasing musicians from LIPA and Liverpool’s music scene. The event is a collaboration between Management, Music, Sound Technology and Theatre & Performance Technology students.
The canteen also hosts open mic and jukebox shuffle nights, and independent student organised performances and benefit nights. The bar hosts regular quiz nights and Student Event Board parties.
The bar is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 3pm - 11pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm - 10pm, with extended hours for special events.
The canteen is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 3pm, serving food and drink at student-friendly prices.
David Wibberley
Head of Management for the Creative Industries and Performing Arts
After being signed as a songwriter to Virgin Music at 19 years old, Dave’s first move into management was in a business development role for Sheffield City Council’s, innovative Cultural Industries Quarter team. This post led to him developing a close working relationship with South Yorkshire icons Human League and FON Records, among others. The success of the Cultural Industries Quarter in Sheffield led to Dave being offered an A&R job at Momentum Music in London, where he had his first chart success with ‘techno rave’ artists SL2 and Liquid.
While at Momentum Music, Dave gained his Masters in Cultural Studies, studying as a part-time student at the University of West London.
In 1993, Dave moved to Chrysalis Music, where, as A&R manager, he had several hits with Skunk Anansie, Baby Bird and Lightning Seeds.
Joining Richard Branson’s V2 label in 1996, Dave was lucky enough to be the A&R manager for Stereophonics’ first two albums, both of which went multi-platinum.
In 2004, after four years as Director of A&R at Jive Records UK, Dave set up his own management and production company, magnoliaMAM Ltd. The company saw international success with The King Blues and songwriter David Ford. Ford wrote several hits for the French superstar Johnny Halliday, and this success was recognised by the French music industry in 2014, when they awarded him the prestigious ‘Victoire de la Musique’ honour.
In 2010, Dave delivered his first university teaching as a part-time lecturer for the University of Hertfordshire, and went full-time in 2012, when he was appointed by the University of East London to design and manage their Business School’s BA (Hons) Music Industry Management programme.
Dave joined LIPA in the summer of 2018 as Head of Management, and teaches a variety of Creative Industries Management subjects across our Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.
Dave continues to run his management and production company, mMAM Ltd, providing music industry management and administrative services to a range of professional artists and songwriters.
His wide-ranging career as a creative industries entrepreneur and cultural sector academic, has left him with a wealth of experience, knowledge and understanding, regarding the creative industries, business management and higher education.
Dave’s teaching at LIPA focuses on Copyright, Contracts and Intellectual Property, the Business of the Creative Industries, Employability & Enterprise, Music Industry Management, Popular Culture Analysis and Dissertation Research Projects.
Dave’s professional career within the creative industries, alongside his ongoing involvement with artist and copyright management, bring him a depth of understanding, knowledge and experience that informs his teaching and mentoring of our Management students, as well as benefitting LIPA’s relationships with professionals from across the creative industry sector.
Liz Carlisle
Lecturer
Liz has worked in the arts and cultural industries in Liverpool since graduating as one of eight people with a BA Hons in Performing Arts with a specialisation in Arts Administration (at the time this undergraduate programme at Leicester Polytechnic was the only one in the UK that specialised in arts management). Having started her career booking and managing 40 tours per year for a local community theatre company she soon became the go-to arts manager in Liverpool, working with Merseyside Arts (the local office of Arts Council), Merseyside Dance Association (a forerunner of Merseyside Dance Initiative), Hope Street Ltd, The Centre for Arts Development Training, Kaboodle Theatre, Loudmouth Mime Theatre, Fun Promotions Theatre Company, Pegasus Puppet Theatre, The Association of Theatres on Merseyside and then becoming Administrative Director for Urban Strawberry Lunch (USL).
During her work with USL Liz helped the organisation transition from a partnership to becoming a Ltd Company and Charity status and secured annual funding from Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council, all whilst moving from a solely managerial role in to becoming a performer, composer, and workshop/education leader too; booking, managing and appearing in tours of Singapore, Malta, Cyprus, France, Belgium and Ireland as well as working across the UK in a variety of site specific and arts venues. Her work also included many TV and Radio appearances (live and recorded, including 2 for Blue Peter which resulted in being awarded a Silver Badge!) Her professional experience includes fundraising and financial management, client and stakeholder liaison and relationships, marketing, tour booking and management, business and operational planning, lighting operator, driver, marketing and PR, roadie, performer, composer and arranger, artistic direction and much more.
Whilst working with USL Liz was involved with the transformation of Liverpool’s Bombed Out Church from a no-go zone to an open air venue hosting an exhibition by Yoko Ono and performances from big name acts including The Kooks, (British) Sea Power, Clinic and John Head; leading her to develop venue management skills including Front of House, Health and Safety, Licensing, Programming and more. She was also involved with the opening of Capital of Culture 2008, appearing on the roof of St George’s Hall with Ringo Starr.
In 2014 Liz moved into the field of community development working with adults who were isolated for a variety of reasons, helping them to build an independent support organisation before moving to another role working with adults in crisis (housing or financial) and helping them build skills and competencies to prevent the cycle of crisis recurring. During this time Liz was also the Participation Coordinator for 20 Stories High theatre company and volunteered with some large-scale projects including Liverpool Lantern Company’s spring festival and the World Athletics and International Para Athletics Championships.
Liz has been teaching at LIPA since 2012, has a PG Cert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As much of Liz’s professional work has taken place in unusual and ‘found’ spaces as well as in traditional theatre and community settings she brings her practical experience to the front and centre of her teaching, believing that developing an understanding of all aspects of producing and managing a performance or project helps create the most effective managers.
Liz teaches Live Events and Performance Management, Raising Funds and Managing Finance, and Music, Entertainment, Theatre and Events in the Contemporary World; as well as working as a supervising tutor across several other modules. She also leads on LIPA Enterprise – a scheme to award small grants to student and alumni enterprise projects undertaken outside their studies and post-graduation.
Pippa Lea
Lecturer
Pippa, MCIPR, has over 20 years’ experience in arts marketing in the areas of PR and audience development, visitor economy strategy, digital strategy and website development, stakeholder communications, ticketing and visitor experience. She has held press, PR, communications, marketing and audience development positions at the National Portrait Gallery, Foster + Partners Architects, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, Floral Pavilion Theatre and Conference Centre, FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) Liverpool and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. In 2000, as part of the PR and Development team at the National Portrait Gallery, she led on stakeholder management for the royal opening of the new Ondaatje Wing. Following this she joined global architecture firm, Foster + Partners, in a press, PR and public engagement role. Key projects included: City Hall, Wembley Stadium, and 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), and coordinating Architecture Week and Heritage Open Week events.
As PR and Communications Manager for Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, Pippa created and implemented a two-year PR and communications strategy for the opening of the new Everyman Theatre. She also led the theatres’ press and PR campaigns for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture Year working in partnership with Liverpool City Council’s Culture Team. During this time, Pippa worked with actors including, Kim Cattrall, Pete Postlethwaite, Jonathan Pryce, Matthew Kelly, Leanne Best (LIPA graduate) and David Morrissey. She also managed campaigns for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award-winning Unprotected and stage premieres of Ghost Stories and The Ladykillers. Pippa was also the website manager, overseeing two website redesigns.
At FACT Liverpool Pippa headed the Marketing and Communications Team where she led a full rebrand and new visual identity working with leading creative design agency, Praline. She also managed the creation of a new website to coincide with the organisation’s 15th birthday.
In 2019, Pippa undertook a deep-dive 18-month consultancy role as Marketing and Audience Development Director at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod funded by Welsh Government’s Major Events Unit. Remit and deliverables included: an audience development strategy with long-term strategic planning; upskilling and reviewing the marketing team; a marketing campaign strategy to nurture a daytime visitor market resulting in a 17% increase in overall visitors and a 20% increase in daytime visitors; introducing the Audience Finder segmentation add-on tool to the organisation and integrating it with the Box Office system (Spektrix) to introduce dynamic e-comms content and dynamic ticketing initiatives.
Pippa is also an Associate Freelance Consultant for Counterculture LLP who provide specialist professional services across strategy, finance, law, management, governance and capital projects throughout the UK and internationally.
She is a Member of the AMA (Arts Marketing Association), a Member of the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) and Chair of St Helens Cultural Hubs NPO Advisory Board. She was previously Co-Chair of Wirral Visitor Economy Board, a LEP (Liverpool Enterprise Partnership) Visitor Economy Board Member, and on the Steering Group for the Wirral Council Visitor Economy Strategy.
Pippa is Level 4 Module Leader for Marketing, Managing Organisations, and Introduction to Professional Practice (IPP) within Theatre, Music, Entertainment and Events.
The Marketing module provides an understanding of marketing concepts and strategic marketing management whilst developing abilities to identify tools for creating marketing campaigns and measuring success.
Managing Organisations covers a range of theoretical management concepts relating to the management of organisations within the creative industries.
IPP introduces the basics of a variety of different creative and arts activities, laying the building blocks for the forthcoming years.
Our students appreciate the direct link between learning and professional application. Using personal case studies and recent professional experience across a range of industries and organisations, Pippa can provide a contemporary overview of roles within the creative industries and some of the up-to-date tools that are being used across a range of practices.
John Reynolds
Lecturer
John is an accomplished, versatile, professional with a proven track record in the delivery of higher education specialising in employment and professional development within the creative, cultural, music and entertainment industries. He has acquired complimentary skills and qualifications, including a First-Class BA Honours degree, PGCPD-HE & MA Ed (Education). John has been teaching since 2001 receiving two, consecutive, Higher Education Academy Excellence in Teaching Awards. He is an External Examiner University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
As a former music industry professional, John achieved a successful integrated career that he thoroughly enjoyed and remains passionately devoted to. John has performed many jobs and roles within the music and creative industries, including - signed professional artist/writer (EMI Records), managing director of several businesses including a recording studio/record label (production company), chair of a significant public sector arts facilitating organisation, Arts in Regeneration (AiR), which had great significance in achieving the European Capital of Culture 2008 accolade for his home city, Liverpool.
Publishing and Recording contracts - Negotiated and signed licensing agreements for two acts (signed to his own label) with South Korean record company, Welchen Music.
Writer/composer – Warner Music USA 14 songs (works) contracted for Warner Film and TV Synchronization.
Writer/composer - SKY Sports (UK) 6 works contracted for film/TV synchronization Odyssey Music (publishing contract) & Satril Records Recording Contract - 1 single release 1984 / 1986 - Signed Recording Artist, EMI Records 3 singles and 1 Album recording contract as member of band.
Writer/composer - Neptune Music Ltd. Music publishing contract writer/composer/artist Rialto Records - Heath Brothers Music 1 single released - recording and publishing contract.
Notable Achievements
Performing live in the Dynamo Minsk Olympic Stadium USSR, Children of Chernobyl (Live Aid) Concert - 26,000 live audience and estimated 3,000,000 world-wide TV audience.
Member of the first unsigned band (3D) to achieve 3 (BBC Radio 1) John Peel Sessions.
Winner of the prestigious Nordoff-Robbins – (BBC Radio One) Musician Style Award, Best Recorded Music Category - £15,000 cash prize plus £15,000 (equivalent) studio time with ITV (Birmingham).
2 consecutive Excellence in Teaching HE Fellowship awards (2006 and 2007).
Technical witness/professional advisor in a landmark music copyright case (Stuart P v J Barrett and others) UK High Court, London - a ground-breaking case that created a (music) law precedent that acknowledged the rights of drummers as songwriters/copyright authors. This precedent was later applied in several other high-profile cases for example The Smiths (Joyce v Morrissey).
John is module leader for Practical Management Project (PMP) L5, The Professional 2 (L5 - Management & Dance), The Professional 3 (L6 -Management, Dance, Sound Technology), The Arts Manager: Practical Work Placement Module (L6 Management) - L6 work placement/internship Arts Manager (liaising with local, national and international partners (e.g. Sony Records, Universal Music, Royal Birmingham Ballet, PRS for Music etc.) to maintain, develop and facilitate student work placements within both the UK and Internationally.
As an accomplished professional John has built (and maintains) an impressive network of industry contacts. He has membership and engagement with various relevant industry trade associations - Higher Education Academy (HEA Fellow), (BASCA) British Academy of Composers Songwriters and Authors, full member (EQUITY) British Actors Film Union, member (The PRS) The Performing Rights Society, full member (AIM) Association of Independent Music, full member (PPL) Phonographic Performance Limited, member.
Ged McKenna
Lecturer
Ged brings many years’ practical experience to his qualifications in personnel and development. He has run two people development enterprises and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development. Joining LIPA when we first opened, he has overseen over 30 European projects and developed our part-time academy LIPA 4-19. Ged is a great believer in coaching and facilitation. Each student will be on a unique path to developing their ability and knowledge base, and Ged ensures they achieve this through encouraging observation, practical application and working collaboratively, at the same time as improving their individual skills.
Gillian Walsh
Lecturer
Gillian has many years of experience working in regional theatre, where she held roles from venue management and project management to fundraising. She has served on various boards for independent theatre companies, arts organisations and charities. Gillian holds an MSc in Music and Creative Industries Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies. She uses her extensive professional experience and theoretical knowledge to enable students to develop an in-depth understanding of the industry. From her time in the third sector, where she raised funds for arts and community projects, Gillian is able to support students with finding funds for their own real-life projects.
What Our
Graduates Do
LIPA graduates from this course work in the creative and performing arts industries in event
management, theatre production, organising arena tours, managing and representing music artists, marketing, publishing, promotion, video production and managing social media. Their career achievements have included:
Tabitha Hughes (2022)
Production assistant, Bolton Octagon Theatre.
Patrick Joseph (2022)
Marketing intern (paid), EMI Records.
George Pomford (2022)
Creative assistant, Sentric Music Publishing.
Emma Clarke (2021)
Talent and resource assistant, ITV.
Michaela Munden (2021)
Researcher, This Morning, ITV.
Paige Bithell (2019)
Business development representative at Soho Music.
Joshua Davies (2018)
TV marketing executive for Viacom CBS, with the focus on Channel 5 and its digital channels.
Liam McMullan (2017)
Theatre producer with GBL Productions.
Hannah Pearce (2017)
Visitor services manager at Birmingham Hippodrome.
Tom Hendrick Uebelgunn (2017)
Product manager for Universal Music, Germany.
Ashley True (2016)
Production supervisor at The O2 for AEG.
James Pyrah (2015)
Head of marketing & ticketing for The Warehouse Project and Parklife festival.
Max Emmerson (2015)
Producer, Leeds Playhouse.
Lauren Zawadzki (2014)
Co-founder of award-winning event company Deco Publique, which was crowned Lancashire’s Cultural Organisation of the Year in 2019.
Chris Meehan (2006)
Vice President of Royalty Management Services Sentric Music/Utopia
Vanessa Bakewell (2001)
Head of music, Facebook
Ed Millett (2001)
Co-founder of artist management company, Tap Music. Clients include Ellie Goulding and Lana Del Rey.
Educational qualifications are important but limited in what they can tell us about you.
Your natural ability, your fit with what and how we teach, your growth and your potential are also key factors in our admission process. We can’t evaluate these solely on your educational achievements, so no matter which course you are applying for, we look for the following attributes on your application and at the interview stage.
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"At LIPA raw talent is refined with expert tuition. Inspiration is introduced to technique."
Steve Lewis
Music and media consultant. Former deputy managing director of Virgin Records and managing director of Virgin Publishing, CEO of the Music Division of Chrysalis Group
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"Your management students know what they are talking about and their employment record is outstanding."
Nick Starr
Former executive director, National Theatre; executive director, London Theatre Company
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"I developed the foundation for producing during my time there. The Management degree was an invaluable tool to me. I genuinely didn’t think there was anything else out there like it. And I still don’t. "
Lynette Howell Taylor
Oscar-nominated producer of A Star is Born and LIPA Management graduate
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. Many of these are optional. We’ve also included information about cost of living expenses in Liverpool in this section.
Books and equipment
There will be plenty of critical reading during the three years of the course but all of the key texts for the course can be found in our Learning Resources Centre (LRC). A couple of books though will be useful to you for the duration of your degree. Whilst it is not compulsory to buy these, we will send you some recommendations before you enrol for some things you might like to read before joining us.
The degree course will look at music, dance, theatre, events, radio, television and film and you may do projects from areas other than your main area of interest. It could, therefore, be useful to do some reading to brush up on your weaker areas of these three. Good newspapers all have arts sections which discuss what’s going on in the worlds of music, theatre and entertainment in an analytical and critical way but there are also several free journals you can subscribe to.
Field trip
On occasion you may be required to pay for incidental costs, for instance travel to a local venue for a field visit. These though are kept to a minimum.
Placement
In your third year, you will undertake a three-month placement. Depending on where you choose to locate, associated living costs can be high and you would need to plan for these.
Cost of living
Wherever you choose to study, you'll have to budget for accommodation and other everyday living expenses, such as food and bills.
Liverpool represents great value for students. Accommodation costs are low in comparison with other places in the UK, particularly the South East. The city's shops and entertainment venues also have lots of student discounts.
We’d recommend completing a simple budget plan to predict your income and outgoings. This should include accommodation, bills, insurance, TV licence, food, laundry, clothes, books, travel and socialising. How much you'll want to spend on a lot of these is completely personal.
There is lots of advice available online about budgeting,:
- UCAS budget calculator is a great tool to help you balance your in-comings and out-goings.
- SaveTheStudent provides useful information on student money resources, including loans, budgeting, and scholarship sources.
Most UK students will be able to take out a maintenance loan to assist with living costs and there are some grants available. We also offer some bursaries. To find out more, please see Student Finance and bursaries.
Because our courses are intensive and we have a busy season of student performances, options for part-time work during our teaching periods can be limited. However, many of our students gain flexible part-time work, in performance venues, shops, restaurants and bars. We also provide casual work opportunities for our students ranging from stewarding work on our productions to working with young people to help us widen access to our courses. The long summer break is when many of our students choose to work.
Additional Costs
As part of this course, there are likely to be some additional costs that are not included within your tuition fees. Many of these are optional. We’ve also included information about cost of living expenses in Liverpool in this section.
Books and equipment
There will be plenty of critical reading during the three years of the course but all of the key texts for the course can be found in our Learning Resources Centre (LRC). A couple of books though will be useful to you for the duration of your degree. Whilst it is not compulsory to buy these, we will send you some recommendations before you enrol for some things you might like to read before joining us.
The degree course will look at music, dance, theatre, events, radio, television and film and you may do projects from areas other than your main area of interest. It could, therefore, be useful to do some reading to brush up on your weaker areas of these three. Good newspapers all have arts sections which discuss what’s going on in the worlds of music, theatre and entertainment in an analytical and critical way but there are also several free journals you can subscribe to.
Field trip
On occasion you may be required to pay for incidental costs, for instance travel to a local venue for a field visit. These though are kept to a minimum.
Placement
In your third year, you will undertake a three-month placement. Depending on where you choose to locate, associated living costs can be high and you would need to plan for these.
Cost of living
Wherever you choose to study, you'll have to budget for accommodation and other everyday living expenses, such as food and bills.
Liverpool represents great value for students. Accommodation costs are low in comparison with other places in the UK, particularly the South East. The city's shops and entertainment venues also have lots of student discounts.
We’d recommend completing a simple budget plan to predict your income and outgoings. This should include accommodation, bills, insurance, TV licence, food, laundry, clothes, books, travel and socialising. How much you'll want to spend on a lot of these is completely personal.
There is lots of advice available online about budgeting,:
- UCAS budget calculator is a great tool to help you balance your in-comings and out-goings.
- SaveTheStudent provides useful information on student money resources, including loans, budgeting, and scholarship sources.
Most UK students will be able to take out a maintenance loan to assist with living costs and there are some grants available. We also offer some bursaries. To find out more, please see Student Finance and bursaries.
Because our courses are intensive and we have a busy season of student performances, options for part-time work during our teaching periods can be limited. However, many of our students gain flexible part-time work, in performance venues, shops, restaurants and bars. We also provide casual work opportunities for our students ranging from stewarding work on our productions to working with young people to help us widen access to our courses. The long summer break is when many of our students choose to work.
