MURFREESBORO, TN - For the 11th year in a row, Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Recording Industry has landed a coveted spot on Billboard’s list of the world’s best music business schools. The 2025 edition of “Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools” not only celebrates MTSU’s continued excellence, but also spotlights the newly named Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, thanks to the support of Big Machine Label Group’s founder.

“It’s an honor and so rewarding to be recognized by Billboard yet again,” said Michelle Conceison, chair of the Department of Recording Industry. “Our faculty and staff work hard to make our students’ college journey both inspiring and realistic, preparing them for what they’ll experience in their future entertainment careers.” Conceison added that MTSU students are favorites among internship providers and employers because they arrive ready to contribute from day one.

Billboard’s article also highlighted the hands-on experiences MTSU students gain at major events like Bonnaroo, the Grammy Awards, and the Country Music Awards. Associate professor Tammy Donham noted, “The music world our students will enter is not the one we grew up in, and it won’t be the same five years from now. We challenge them to think ahead and approach change with curiosity and insight.”

MTSU has appeared on Billboard’s list every year since 2013, earning its first nod for the program’s entrepreneurial spirit. Dean Beverly Keel, who previously chaired the department, said, “We provide real-world, hands-on experience that complements our classroom instruction to prepare students for the ever-changing entertainment industry.”

The department boasts more than 7,500 alumni, including Grammy winners and industry leaders. Students have worked with stars like Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, and Keith Urban, and alumni have written songs for artists from Lady Gaga to Usher.

MTSU offers concentrations in audio production, commercial songwriting, and music business, plus graduate programs and a new master’s in legal studies with an entertainment law focus launching soon.

For more, visit mtsu.edu/recording-industry.