Acquiring Domain Knowledge for Entrepreneurship in the Music Industry

Abstract

Kelman follows nine students aged between 15 and 17 years across a three-year period of self-directed learning as they run their own music business, staging music festivals, running a venue, and curating a youth music conference with industry partners. Through interviews, meeting debriefs, and Facebook interactions, Kelman asks what music industry knowledge do students acquire in an environment designed to encourage entrepreneurialism, and how did this learning unfold? The chapter highlighted four key learning areas: learning about the music business, learning about music industry expectations, learning about music and musicians, and learning about sustainability. The design provided students with a greater understanding of various music industry practices such as copyright, contractual agreements, budgeting, marketing, booking bands, and event management, as well as the skills and strategies required to be a sustainable organisation. As a result of acquiring this knowledge, the students had more resources with which to leverage further social capital and work towards greater alignment with industry processes.