Locations

London

UCAS code

CEMM

Start date

15th September 2025

Course length

1 Year

COURSE OVERVIEW

The digital world never stands still. Constantly evolving technologies and innovations shape the ways we interact with artists, bands and brands - and influence the decisions we make. To reach their audiences and get their voices heard brands and creatives must keep up with the changes.

Whether you’re trying to get established as an artist or producer, or want to kickstart a marketing career in the music industry, this one-year Music Marketing course is all about getting yourself - or your brand - noticed. Through six immersive modules we’ll teach you the latest digital marketing techniques, guided by the experts, and use our industry contacts and experience to show you the inner workings of the music business.

Content Creation | VIdeo Work | ICMP Digital Marketing Course

You’ll begin your first semester with Understanding the Music Industry, where we’ll take you behind the scenes of the music business, from writing and recording to publishing and distributing. Next, you'll recieve an Introduction to Digital Marketing, taking you through the key principles, practices and platforms of both digital and general marketing. You'll also learn about Content Creation & Social Media, looking at how each platform works and how you can create content to fit.

During your second semester you’ll discover what it means to be an entrepreneur in the Exploring Entrepreneurship module, using what you learn to promote your brand, business, or qualifications with confidence. Next comes the Market Research module, where you'll get an insight into what makes people tick and what that means for your brand. Finally, Music Marketing & Release Strategies gives you hands-on experience of releasing your own music, covering marketing, DIY release campaigns and digital distribution.

Through a mixture of traditional lectures, seminars, practicals and workshops, by the end of the year you’ll have the foundational skills and understanding you need to kickstart your career. Or  you can continue your studies; the CertHE is equivalent to the first year of our BA (Hons) Music Marketing so you can pick up where you left off in Year 2 if you're keen to learn more. All in all, the CertHe Music Marketing is a launchpad for your music industry ambitions - wherever you want to go next.

WHY STUDY AT ICMP?

At ICMP, we know that succeeding in the creative industry is about more than talent; you need to understand everything from marketing and business management to how you can innovate, disrupt and grow in a crowded market. As London’s leading music educator, we have global industry connections and state-of-the-art facilities, giving you access to valuable contacts and opportunities you won’t find anywhere else. And we’ll use those contacts to help you find industry experience, internships, and employment - or if you’re trying to get established as a musician, we’ll help you seek performance opportunities and showcase your work. Add to that the small class sizes and close-knit campus that give our courses a supportive, family feel and you'll realise there's nowhere better to study your creative undergraduate degree than ICMP.

Fees & Funding

Taking a Cert HE Music Marketing course at ICMP in London is great value as well as great fun, with fees for ICMP music courses similar to those at many other UK universities.

Course Fees: UK Students 

Student Finance: Please visit our Fees page for information on accessing to Student Loans. UK students eligible for Loans are able to borrow the full course fee.

Programme Specification | Programme Handbook

Click to view the full terms and conditions of applying to study at ICMP.

ICMP Music School Logo

Successful completion of the Cert HE Music Marketing course leads to the award of Certificate of Higher Education by The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance.

 

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Key facts

  • Build skills in digital marketing and music management in this cutting-edge course, designed for modern digital platforms.
  • Realise practical, creative and entrepreneurial potential through workshops, hands-on experience and traditional seminars and lectures.
  • Discover how the industry works, from creating through to recording and distributing.
  • Find - and use - the best online platforms to grow your following and engage and influence your fanbase.
  • Leverage newfound entrepreneurial skills and data tools to grow and analyse your online performance.
  • Network with digital marketing professionals and get a unique insight into the industry with real, lived experience.
  • Collaborate with like-minded peers from ICMP's rich talent pool.
  • Grow your skills in London - a global city with never-ending creative opportunities.

UCAS CODES

DMI
dmi-accredited-marketing-course-london_0

This course is accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI). Upon completion, you will receive a Certified Digital Marketing Associate (CDMA) professional qualification, alongside your Cert HE qualification.

COURSE DETAILS

MODULE OVERVIEW

This one-year course gives you insights into both the music and digital marketing industries. You’ll learn about technical marketing principles, experiment with content creation and discover what it means to be an entrepreneur, providing a thorough foundation for a career or further study in marketing. And on the music side, you’ll dive into the inner workings of the industry and explore the different types of music marketing campaigns and strategies. Whether you want to strike out on your own or work in music marketing, it all starts here.

MUSIC INDUSTRY ESSENTIALS

Music is creative; it’s a sector of performance, talent and entertainment. But it’s also a money-making industry, powered by everyone from huge international companies to up-and-coming entrepreneurs. To truly thrive in any music business career, you need to know how the industry operates. In this module, you’ll learn about its core structures and functions while exploring how the main industry sectors – recorded music, live music and publishing – work. You’ll discover the different kinds of music business organisations and examine how they work together, leading to a solid holistic understanding of the music business to help you find and follow your path.

  • Music industry fundamentals
  • Exploring the recorded, live and publishing music sectors
  • The role of music copyright and collection societies
  • Plan your music business career path

Introduction to Marketing

This comprehensive introduction to marketing covers everything you need to know about the purpose of marketing, including best practice techniques for attracting your target audience, tips on managing your reputation, how to work with influencers, and the best way to analyse your online performance using data. You’ll also learn how to apply this knowledge to a digital context, using product, service, pricing, distribution and promotion strategies to attract attention and drive action. 

  • The fundamentals of digital marketing
  • Where to find your target audience
  • How to build and retain customer relationships
  • The power of market research and customer insights
  • How to implement digital marketing strategies

Communication and Content Creation

Your online presence and the content you create are intertwined. Creating and posting shows you’re active in the digital world and helps you connect with your audience. In this module, you’ll learn how to create content assets that fit your goals and suit your audiences. You’ll discover why a compelling online presence is essential in marketing plan development for all businesses and explore the various social and digital platforms, learning how to tailor content to each. You’ll also learn about the technical side of social media, including management tools, analytics, social listening, outreach and more.

Learn to design tailored digital content
Understand platform-specific needs
Social tools and analytics
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and targeted advertising
Social media governance and reputation management
Learn creative ways to stand out online

Exploring Entrepreneurship

These days, the modern music industry is run by entrepreneurs. This module equips you with the key skills to join this evolving tribe and step off the beaten path to create something of your own. You’ll explore what it means to be a music entrepreneur, considering how new ideas are formed, the process of turning those ideas into reality, and learning what makes some people better entrepreneurs than others.

  • Music entrepreneurship essentials
  • The traits of successful entrepreneurs
  • The role of entrepreneurs across organisations
  • Entrepreneurship challenges
  • How to manage risks and finance and think creatively

Market Research

The best marketing plans are rooted in thorough and thoughtful research. With the right insights, you’ll know where to find your audience and what to say to them. You’ll know which customers are worth pursuing and what they think about your brand, product or service. Without these insights, your content risks failure. In this module, you’ll learn the steps involved in market research, as you explore problem formulation, research design, data collection instruments, data analysis methods and the presentation of research findings. At the end of the module, you’ll turn your collected insights into the foundations of your very own marketing plan, with data informing your strategy.

  • The importance of market research
  • Typical market research steps
  • Quantitative and qualitative research design
  • Data collection and analysis techniques

Music Marketing & Release Strategies

Making music is one thing, but successfully releasing and marketing that music is a whole other challenge. This hands-on module will help you get your releases right, providing practical knowledge of music marketing, release strategies and digital distribution. An immersive and highly innovative module, you’ll watch as your classroom is turned into a record label microcosm. Partnering with The Orchard, all sessions will replicate a label services organisation with a label manager (tutor) and graphic designer (teaching assistant) running label management meetings, A&R sessions and briefings.

  • Hands-on music release experience
  • Collaborative sessions with The Orchard
  • Role play in label meetings and A&R sessions
  • Guest lectures by industry professionals

TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT

Across the one-year Cert HE Digital Marketing & Music Management course, you’ll learn at our campuses in London’s Kilburn and nearby Queen's Park. While you're a student at ICMP, you'll have access to these facilities outside of class time to study and, if you're also a musician, you're welcome to rehearse and record your music here, too.

Students will primarily experience an onsite, face-to-face learning experience, with some non-practical classes delivered online. Lessons will take place predominantly at our Kilburn campus, where you’ll also have access to an extensive range of music equipment, instruments and room facilities. 

For support and advice concerning welfare, finance, personal development and safeguarding, you’ll have access to the Student Services Department. For bespoke music industry careers advice and access to unique music business opportunities, our Professional Development team ‘The Hub' will provide regular guidance.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

On the Cert HE Digital Marketing & Music Management programme, you’ll be taught using a variety of teaching and learning methods, such as lectures, small tutorial groups, workshops, hands-on technology laboratory tutorials, group work and student-led classes and presentations.

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions, you'll be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading books and articles, undertaking research in the library, working on individual and group projects, and preparing coursework assignments. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities, including our Learning Resource Centre, well-equipped tech suites and many practice and performance rooms.

You can expect to be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, and workshops for typically 9-10 hours a week, you’ll also have personalised one-to-one tutorials scheduled throughout the year.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

CertHE Music Marketing course applicants will typically have A-levels, a BTEC Diploma or Extended Diploma, an International Baccalaureate equivalent to 48 UCAS points, or an ICMP Higher Diploma. 

In addition, you should hold a GCSE Grade C or 4 or above in English, or suitable equivalent, such as Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Adult Literacy/Numeracy. 

We also welcome applications from mature applicants who may have no formal qualifications but can demonstrate their suitability for study through appropriate skills and experience. 

All applicants will be invited to attend an audition/interview.  

Please note: International students, who require a visa to study in the UK, are not eligible to study on this course. Instead, we encourage you to apply for either our three-year BA (Hons) Music Marketing degree. 

UCAS code CEMMUni code i25

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply via the "APPLY NOW" link below.

At any time during the application process if you need help or further advice just contact our Admissions team who will be happy to assist you. 

 



By phone:
020 7328 0222

By email:
enquiries@icmp.ac.uk

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