Type of qualification
Level of study
An undergraduate qualification is usually the first one you study.
Our courses follow the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) levels.
Time to complete
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
Study a Bachelor of Commercial Music – BCommMus
In the Bachelor of Commercial Music, you will:
- think critically about the music industry and where you want to position yourself
- work collaboratively on a wide range of music events and experiences
- become proficient with industry-standard production tools.
The degree has 3 majors: Music Practice, Music Technology, and Music Industry, so you can choose whether you want to make and perform new music, engineer live and studio sound as well as design new music technology, or immerse yourself in the business of the music industry.
Commercial Music has a strong emphasis on popular music genres and new technology and methods. You’ll consider the role of streaming and digital media in the music industry and explore how to disrupt and operate outside of traditional business models.
Alongside the core courses in your major, you’ll work with students from across the qualification to learn music content creation, online and media skills, organise and produce music events and experiences, and make and release recordings.
The critical content of the qualification spans new musicology, the political economy of music, and music philosophy.
Learn from people who know the music industry
All our commercial music lecturers are active in the industry. They perform, record, tour, produce and manage successful music ventures in New Zealand and internationally.
Master your craft in world-class facilities
The purpose-built facilities at Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts are some of the best in the Southern Hemisphere. You’ll master industry-standard software and hardware, including recording and production methods, in world-class recording studios and rehearsal spaces.
Further study
Extend your study with postgraduate research in the Bachelor of Commercial Music (Honours), or take a creative product or idea to market in the Master of Creative Enterprise. Or, develop your own creative practice in a Master of Fine Arts.
A BCommMus is a good fit if you:
- love creating new music and music technologies
- want hands-on experience in high-tech production facilities
- want to graduate with a portfolio of projects including music recording, distribution, live events and music media.
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for the Bachelor of Commercial Music, outside of university admission regulations.
However for the Bachelor of Commercial Music (Music Practice) you must register for an audition. You should apply for entry to this degree before registering for your audition and you will be assessed for selection into the qualification.
We also recommend you join us for a consultation if you’re applying for Music Technology or Music Industry, to make sure it’s right for you.
Due dates
Note that application dates vary per major:
Music Practice
- 31 January for February (Semester 1) start. Late applications may be accepted, subject to available spaces.
Music Industry and Music Technology
- General Massey University admissions due date
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Get advice button on this page.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Structure of the Bachelor of Commercial Music
If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over 2 semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
More information: ‘Creative Arts qualification guides’.
Courses and specialisations
Key terms
- Courses
- Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
- Course code
- Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
- Credits
- Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
- Specialisations
- Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.
Credit summary
360 credits
- Compulsory courses – 75 credits
- Compulsory course selection – 15 credits
- Critical Studies course selection – 45 credits
- Professional Cultures course selection – 45 credits
- Major courses – 120 credits
- Electives including at least 15 credits at 200 level or higher – 60 credits
Ensure that overall, you have:
- Not more than 150 credits at 100 level
- At least 105 credits at 300 level
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Schedule A: Core courses
Compulsory courses (Choose 75 credits from)
Course code: 133153 Music Project 1 credits 30
In this course students apply creative and practical skills to develop live experiences and works for the music industry. As well as develop technical expertise, students will explore social, cultural and economic trends associated within the production and dissemination of music in New Zealand and internationally. Multidisciplinary teams will apply creative narrative skills to develop, manage, produce and iterate musical content, technical production, and promotion.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133253 Music Project 2 credits 30
In this course students apply technical skills and new creative approaches for the development of strategic, sophisticated and unique experiences and works in the music industry. In addition to developing new technical skills, students will apply and critique social, cultural and economic roles and trends associated with the dissemination of unique musical experiences through their creative practice. Multidisciplinary teams will explore innovative creative narrative and communication skills to develop, manage, produce, and iterate musical content, technical production and promotion.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133350 Major Project Pre-Production credits 15
In this course students generate and evaluate innovative concepts for a music major project and carry out detailed investigation into planning and resourcing requirements along with analysis of cultural, social and economic values of the proposed project. Students work individually and as a team in and across major specialisms to agree the scope and roles of the proposed project.
View full course detailsCompulsory course selection (Choose 15 credits from)
Toi Atea 298157 OR any 100-level Music (133 prefix) course (Choose at least 15 credits from)
Critical Studies: minimum 15 credits at each year level (Choose at least 45 credits from)
Course code: 133154 Music, People, Places credits 15
An introduction to the people, places, and scholarship of the contemporary music industries. Through the analysis of various issues, trends, and cultural and social contexts, this course supports and encourages students to critically explore the challenges and opportunities of local and global music industries, building awareness of the contemporary commercial music landscape.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133257 Music and Ethics credits 15
Students will analyse a range of philosophical and critical perspectives on the ethics, social roles, and cultural responsibilities of music and its associated communities. Through exploring theoretical positions to develop tools for the analysis of their own practices, students develop a robust critical understanding of the intersections of music, ethical conduct, and professional practice as these inform their own positionality within creative communities.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133355 Music, Politics, Economies credits 15
Students explore theoretical approaches to music's intersections with politics and economies to inform an advanced understanding of music as a cultural industry. Students employ strategies of critical reflection, collaboration, and praxis to analyse their situatedness within the social, legal, and industrial landscapes of the contemporary music industries, and engage with the symbiotic relationship between politics and the economy as it shapes their own experiences and professional outlooks.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150106 Nga Hanga Whakairo: Traditional Māori Visual Art credits 15
An introduction to the scope of Māori art with a view to recognising traditional elementary forms and their significance. Social and cultural dimensions will be considered and Māori art forms from pre-contact times to the present will be examined within the context of a dynamic and changing society.
View full course detailsCourse code: 150206 Ngā Momo Whakairo: Contemporary Māori Visual Art credits 15
An interpretation of the design structures that constitute Māori art from a bicultural perspective together with an examination of the factors that determine stylistic change.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197139 Design, Purpose, People and Place credits 15
Positionality is a key concept in the creative arts. In this course you will interrogate the concept in relation to how we think about the world we live in, what we see as beautiful or objectionable, and what we believe about who we are. We pay particular attention to our place: in Pukeahu, in Aotearoa, and in the world.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197239 Design in the Pluriverse credits 15
Examine how contemporary design evolved from its roots in identity, craft and technology through to its place in contemporary culture and society. From our local perspectives as Tangata Whenua and Tangata te Tiriti to the broader tensions of functioning in a globalised world with a plurality of identities and subject positions, we examine what it means to operate within the pluriverse, always in relation to one another.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197339 Transformation: Discourse in Design credits 15
From the design of serving communities, to processes, to the necessity of embracing the health of our planet, this course encourages students to independently explore and appraise a range of ideas that critically examine how contemporary design is shaped by cultural, ethical, moral, commercial, ecological and technological complexity.
View full course detailsCourse code: 237131 Art, Culture and Contexts credits 15
An introduction to critical thinking through key contemporary topics and debates related to the production and reception of art. Students will have the opportunity to investigate a range of contemporary art practices and texts, in order to recognise and gain insights of their own values and processes as creative practitioners. Examples will be drawn from both Aotearoa and international contexts.
View full course detailsCourse code: 237231 Critical Perspectives on Contemporary Art credits 15
An exploration of diverse perspectives to develop critical responses relevant to contemporary art in Aotearoa. Students will examine cultural, theoretical, political, social, and ethical issues that are contributing to the shaping of contemporary art. The understandings gained will contextualise the student's own practice in relation to local and global shifts in cultural production that have taken place over the past two decades.
View full course detailsCourse code: 237331 Critical Understandings of Contemporary Art credits 15
This course examines and appraises ideas that contribute to a critical understanding of contemporary art. Students will evaluate a range of content in relation to their own creative practice as well as the wider contemporary art world. The relation between artists and their processes and approaches will be explored through topics such as race, gender, intersectionality, decolonisation, popular culture, politics, social justice, and others.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289100 Screen Arts, Creativity and Critical Thinking credits 15
In this course, tauira are introduced to a range of concepts and theories that provide insight into why artists make screen media, the value of media to those who engage with it, and the impact of media on societies and cultures. Tauira will critically investigate screen practices and texts, gaining a greater understanding of their own values, motivations and processes as creative practitioners.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289200 Screen Arts, Societies and Cultures credits 15
In this course, tauira will engage with a range of critical and philosophical concepts and perspectives that provide insight into their developing creative practices and offer a wider understanding of the social and cultural significance of their work. Tauira develop tools for critically assessing and evaluating collaboration and communication within group environments and employ reflective and analytical approaches to their work informed by their growing critical understanding.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289300 Locating a Critical Screen Practice credits 15
Tauira will engage with concepts and theories that allow them to critically understand their own works, practices, and positionalities as makers in Aotearoa New Zealand. By employing their growing understandings of media ethics, alongside theories of representation, power and ideology, tauira will embed their creative process with critical thinking and consider their roles and responsibilities as media makers and as the producers of screen media.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298330 Cosmological Narratives within Māori Creative Expression credits 15
This advanced-level course delves into the intricate relationship between Māori cosmological narratives and their dynamic manifestation within contemporary Māori creative expression. Through an interdisciplinary exploration that encompasses art, design, music, theatre, and dance, students will analyse the evolving role of cosmological narratives, connecting traditional wisdom to modern artistic innovation.
View full course detailsProfessional Cultures: one course only from each year level (Choose 45 credits from)
Course code: 133180 Professional Cultures in Commercial Music 1 credits 15
An introduction to the music industry and environment, with specific emphasis on culture, ethics, learning, and positionality.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133280 Professional Cultures in Commercial Music 2 credits 15
A further orientation to the music industry and environment, with specific emphasis on working with and within communities, and practicing within the context of Te Tiriti O Waitangi.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133380 Professional Cultures in Commercial Music 3 credits 15
Develop skills and knowledge for a future career in commercial music. Students will be supported in developing professionalism within the context of the music industry.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197190 Professional Cultures in Design 1 credits 15
An introduction to the design studio environment, with specific emphasis on ethics, studio culture, learning, and positionality.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197290 Professional Cultures in Design 2 credits 15
A further orientation to the design studio environment, with specific emphasis on collaboration and working within the context of Te Tiriti O Waitangi.
View full course detailsCourse code: 197390 Professional Cultures in Design 3 credits 15
Develop skills and knowledge for a future career in design. Students will be supported in developing professionalism within the context of designer-client relationships.
View full course detailsCourse code: 213170 Professional Cultures in Art 1 credits 15
An introduction to developing artistic practice, with specific emphasis on ethics, fine art cultures, learning, and positionality.
View full course detailsCourse code: 213270 Professional Cultures in Art 2 credits 15
A further orientation to developing artistic practice, with specific emphasis on working with and within communities, and practicing within the context of Te Tiriti O Waitangi.
View full course detailsCourse code: 213370 Professional Cultures in Art 3 credits 15
Learn skills and knowledge to develop sustainable art practice within Aotearoa.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289150 Professional Cultures in Screen Arts 1 credits 15
An introduction to professional literacies and industry best practices for building a sustainable and healthy career in the field of Screen Arts. Tauira will also be supported in gaining communication and interpersonal skills and develop their personal growth and engagement in learning.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289250 Professional Cultures in Screen Arts 2 credits 15
This course further develops concepts related to industry best practice for building a sustainable and healthy career in the field of Screen Arts. Tauira will continue to be supported in developing their communication and interpersonal skills and strengthen personal and growth and engagement in learning at this level.
View full course detailsCourse code: 289350 Professional Cultures in Screen Arts 3 credits 15
Develop professional skills in preparation for a career in the creative industries. Tauira will be supported in developing professional communication and presentation skills and to continue to strengthen personal growth and engagement in learning at this level.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298160 Mātauranga Toi Māori 1: Māori Practices as a Māori Creative Practitioner credits 15
This introductory course provides students with a foundational understanding of customary practices and values within Te Ao Māori and their relevance in contemporary Māori creative practice. Through a combination of theoretical exploration and practical engagement, students will gain insights into the cultural context shaping Māori creative expression and its significance in fostering personal and communal growth.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298260 Mātauranga Toi Māori 2: Māori Creative Practices and Cultural Continuity credits 15
Building upon the foundational concepts introduced in Māori Practices as a Māori Creative Practitioner, this course delves deeper into the intricate relationship between Māori creative practices and cultural continuity within Te Ao Māori. Through an advanced exploration of theoretical frameworks, hands-on creative projects, and community engagement, students will further refine their understanding of the nuanced role of Tikanga Māori in shaping contemporary Māori creative practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 298360 Mātauranga Toi Māori 3: Creative Innovation and Community Leadership credits 15
This course propels students into the realm of Māori Arts Innovation and Community Leadership. By synthesizing foundational knowledge with advanced theoretical frameworks, innovative artistic projects, and community leadership principles, students will refine their skills as Māori Arts Practitioners and actively contribute to the evolution of Māori arts practices within a contemporary context.
View full course detailsSchedule B: Specialisations
Majors
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.
Completing a major is compulsory. A major requires 120 credits.
You will have specialist classes in your chosen major. You will also study a range of shared courses and collaborate each semester on external projects, for example:
- staging a live show
- staging and promoting a tour
- developing media campaigns.
Find out more
Mātauranga Toi Māori
Study creative arts and help shape a future where te ao Māori is at the forefront of Aotearoa creative industries. A first for Aotearoa tertiary education, the Mātauranga Toi Māori major engages te ao Māori in any of our creative disciplines in Commercial Music – Music Practice, Music Technology or Music Industry.
Music Industry
Seek out and develop new ways to work in the commercial music industry. Learn artist development, management and distribution, and how to stage live events and tours.
Music Practice
Study musicianship and performance in the popular genre of your choice — whether you’re a singer, DJ, or in a band. Music Practice will give you the skills and confidence to take risks and make it in the music industry.
Music Technology
Explore and extend how music is created, produced and heard. In Music Technology, you’ll work at the intersection of music, creativity and technology.
Minors (Choose 60 credits from)
You may complete a minor by passing at least 60 credits from the schedule for 1 of the Bachelor of Commercial Music majors, including:
- at least 45 credits above 100 level, and
- at least 15 credits at 300 level.
Due to prerequisites you may need to complete more than 60 credits to complete your minor. If you’re interested in doing a minor you should contact us using the Get advice button on this page. Our student advice team will be able to talk you through your options and help you plan your degree.
- Music Industry
- Music Practice
- Music Technology
Schedule C: Elective courses
Any other courses offered by the University and may include (Choose no more than 60 credits from)
Course code: 133178 Introduction to Ableton Live credits 15
Students will learn techniques for music production on the Albeton Live digital audio workstation and relevant music technologies. Students will gain basic technical and theoretical skills in music production via Ableton Live, as well as practical understanding of how Ableton Live is used in a range of musical applications and contexts.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133179 Vocal Performance and Production credits 15
Learn the fundamentals of vocal techniques and production skills relevant to a broad range of styles. Students explore the basic anatomy of the voice, vocal health, and live skills alongside studio techniques and etiquette. The course does not require an audition or existing vocal training, and comprises lectures as well as practical group-based vocal and production workshops.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133190 Creative Arts Special Topic 1A credits 15
This course focuses on a particular aspect or aspects of creative arts. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133191 Contemporary Music Project 1A credits 15
Students will be introduced to producing a creative work that develops an understanding of creative, technical and conceptual approaches relevant to music.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133192 Contemporary Music Project 1B credits 15
Students will be introduced to producing a creative work that develops an understanding of creative, technical and conceptual approaches relevant to music.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133277 Electronic Music credits 15
In this course students develop a knowledge and understanding of the techniques used in the production and performance of electronic music, including synthesis, and the use of relevant software and analogue and digital hardware. Students are supported in the development of commercial and experimental outcomes via practical, creative and technical approaches.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133287 Applied Lighting and Visuals for Music credits 15
In this course students develop advanced skills in lighting and audio-visual technologies for a broad range of creative musical applications. Students apply a theoretical understanding of the relationship between sound and image via the creative lighting and interactive visual technologies. Students are supported in the development of commercial and experimental audiovisual outcomes.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133290 Creative Arts Special Topic 2A credits 15
This course focuses on a particular aspect or aspects of creative arts. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133291 Creative Arts Special Topic 2B credits 15
This course focuses on a particular aspect or aspects of creative arts. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133292 Contemporary Music Project 2B credits 15
Students will produce an applied creative work that develops an understanding of creative, technical and conceptual approaches relevant to music.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133390 Creative Arts Special Topic 3A credits 15
This course focuses on a particular aspect or aspects of creative arts. Offerings change from year to year and the course may not be offered in a particular year.
View full course detailsCourse code: 133391 Creative Arts Special Topic 3B credits 15
Students will produce an advanced creative work that develops an understanding of creative, technical and conceptual approaches.
View full course detailsFees and scholarships
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Fees Free website.
Scholarship and award opportunities
- Alex Lindsay Memorial Award
- International Creative Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship
- Ken and Elizabeth Powell Scholarship
- Massey University Undergraduate First Year Scholarship – School Leavers
- Te Rewa o Puanga Commercial Music Scholarship
- The Edwin Carr Foundation Scholarship
Fees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Recent developments in digital technologies and online platforms offer new and exciting entrepreneurial and employment careers in the music industry. Musicians can compose for films, TV, games, apps and digital platforms, produce recordings, tour, manage artists and promote their brand.
Working behind the scenes, you can find jobs in the recording and publishing industries such as artist and repertoire (A&R), marketing or management. The live sector is also lucrative, and provides jobs in promotion, venue management and a range of other support roles.
If you’re interested in music technology you can find entrepreneurial and employment careers in software and hardware development, sound engineering live and in studios, as well as lighting design, and stage and production design.
What our students say
“I play drums for New Zealand artist BENEE. We’ve toured internationally, travelling all over Europe and America.”

“Forward-thinking faculty with great connections with the tight-knit music industry of New Zealand—what else would I be doing?”

“I chose music because I was living and breathing it. I realised I didn’t want to do anything other than write music.”

Useful planning information

Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz