Let's make music together
Commercial music studies give you the opportunity to work together across production, performing and technology specialisations.
Design your own degree
All Massey design students start with broad core courses. Then in later years you can specialise or gain wide-ranging skills.
Stretch and grow
Do it all at Massey. Learn the fundamentals. Be challenged. Evolve, whether you're just starting out or an established creator.
Overview
Want to work in the music industry? Massey prepares you to take your place on stage, or behind the scenes. We focus on popular music genres and new technology and methods.
Learn from top musicians and other industry professionals with decades of experience in performance, production and promotion. Explore how to make music, and how to make it a commercial success. Work in mixed teams across our three majors — as you will in the music business — to put on gigs, record and create music.
Get hands-on experience in our five recording studios and music tech lab. Master new instruments and equipment. Gain industry experience with internship options.
Commercial music is a good fit if you:
- do well in school subjects such as music or technology
- want to specialise but also adapt to an ever-change industry
- like creativity and collaboration.
Key topics
Commercial music courses may cover:
- composing and performing
- instrument design
- music production, including industry-standard production tools
- music management, such as branding, contracts and events
- sound engineering for recordings or live events
- streaming and digital media.
How to study commercial music
Discover what we offer if you’re interested in commercial music – whether you’re coming to university for the first time, changing direction or returning to advance your study or career.
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate study An undergraduate qualification is generally the first thing you’ll study at university. In some qualifications you can choose what subject you’d like to specialise in.
Bachelor's degrees
Bachelor of Commercial Music – BCommMus
Radical shifts are happening in the global music industry. Learn how to perform, promote and produce the music of tomorrow, from leading New Zealand artists and industry specialists, in the Bachelor of Commercial Music.
Mātauranga Toi Māori – Bachelor of Commercial Music
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.
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study Once you’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree – or have equivalent experience – you’ll be ready to take on postgraduate study.
Postgraduate bachelor's degrees with honours
Bachelor of Commercial Music (Honours) – BCommMus(Hons)
Refine your specialist music skills with postgraduate study in Commercial Music. Singer, DJ, lighting tech, or tour manager—whatever your jam, we’ll help you get further.
Master's degrees
Master of Commercial Music – MCommMus
Pursue commercial music research pathways, supported through connections and partnerships with industry and the sector. Our Master of Commercial Music spans music production and recording, performance, song writing and composition for games and screen-based media, publishing, promotion and management, music technology, sound design, experimental practices, and much more.
PhD and other doctoral degrees
Doctor of Philosophy – PhD
A prestigious research qualification that demonstrates your ability to carry out independent and original research in your chosen field.
What our students say
“I chose music because I was living and breathing it. I realised I didn’t want to do anything other than write music.”
“Forward-thinking faculty with great connections with the tight-knit music industry of New Zealand—what else would I be doing?”
“I play drums for New Zealand artist BENEE. We’ve toured internationally, travelling all over Europe and America.”
Our facilities
You'll have access to a wide range of first-class facilities when you study with us.
Recording studios
Designed by Munro Acoustics and Athfield Architects, our world-class studios include:
- live-rooms controlled by two sought-after desks — 72ch Neve and 48ch SSL Duality analogue console
- control rooms with monitoring by Dynaudio Acoustics soffit mounted speakers in 5.1.
Location: Wellington campus
Dubbing theatre
Our 5.1 dubbing studio features:
- Avid S6 48ch digital console with 7.1 Dynaudio Acoustics Block monitoring
- 16ch Avid Icon console.
Location: Wellington campus
Rehearsal rooms
Students can access five acoustically treated rehearsal rooms with backline and vocal PA systems suitable for modern music.
The production rehearsal room, which also doubles as a live venue, is equipped with PA and full professional lighting rig.
Location: Wellington campus
Jobs in commercial music
The music industry is ever-changing, thanks to creativity and entrepreneurial flair, and to new digital technologies and online platforms.
Commercial music careers include:
- composers and songwriters, who also create music for apps, games, films, TV
- musicians
- producers, who work closely with musicians
- promoters and artist managers, who arrange gigs, concerts and other ways to showcase performers
- record label or station executive
- software or hardware developers, who devise new ways to create or record music
- sound engineers
- stage or lighting designers.
Annual salary ranges for jobs
- Musician – $53,000 to $99,000
- Composer – $50,000 to $92,000
- Producer – $67,000 to $125,000
- Sound technician – $59,000 to $113,000
Salary ranges disclaimer
Indicative pay rates are:
- in New Zealand dollars
- based on Tahatū Career Navigator website data.
Which commercial music qualification?
Examples of where our qualifications may take you.
| Qualification | Jobs |
|---|---|
|
Bachelor of Commercial Music Bachelor of Commercial Music (Mātauranga Toi Māori / Music Industry) Master of Commercial Music |
Artist manager, label executive or music promoter |
|
Bachelor of Commercial Music Master of Commercial Music |
Musician, composer or songwriter |
|
Bachelor of Commercial Music Master of Commercial Music |
Sound engineer, lighting designer or software developer |
Accreditations and rankings
QS Ranking - Art & Design
College of Creative Arts – Toi Rauwhārangi ranks in the global top 200 for art and design by QS World University Rankings.
Ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific for the Red Dot Design ranking
Massey is ranked 2nd in Asia Pacific in 2025 in the international Red Dot Design Ranking for the third consecutive year, the only design school to be ranked in New Zealand and Australia. This year’s results places Massey in the top 3 universities in Asia Pacific for the 11th year in a row.
Get an information guide
Download our guides to find out more about studying commercial music at Massey.
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