BA (Hons) Popular Music Journalism (Full Time)

You will develop an in-depth understanding of popular music and the latest multimedia technologies while practising your skills as a journalist in this dynamic industry.

Course overview

If you’ve ever dreamed of reviewing or interviewing your favourite musicians for print, Internet, radio or TV, then this course is for you.

Created in consultation with music magazine editors in the UK and the US and leading music journalist Martin James, the course will develop your understanding of and skills in contemporary music journalism.

This course focuses on: music journalism practices, magazine design and production, radio and audio visual approaches; interactive and digital media; popular music and the music industries; and the music media industries.

You will gain practical experience of sourcing, researching and writing features, news and reviews in mainstream and ‘underground’ environments. You will also develop skills in interactive magazine production, radio and video documentary making, and webzine building and management. Alongside this, you will investigate popular music histories, genres and cultures, and learn about the development and future of the music and media industries.

The online course magazine Audio Addict offers opportunities to work on interviews and reviews of ‘underground’ and internationally known artists such as The Prodigy. Audio Addict has a worldwide readership. 

Industrial focus

The teaching staff includes internationally renowned music journalists, authors and magazine editors with unparalleled links with the music and media industries. Students have secured work placements with music magazines and radio stations including NME, Mixmag, DJ and Radio NRJ (France). Students also find placements in related areas such as public relations, marketing and promotion. 

Course content

Year 1

Five core units: 

• Understanding the Music Industries 
• Popular Music: Styles and Genres Popular Music Press: Contexts and Issues
• Popular Music Journalism 1 
• Tri-Media Production 1. 

Year 2

Six core units and one option:

• Histories of Popular Music
• Mediating Popular Music: Sound-Vision-Text
• Popular Music Journalism 2
• Writing for the Music Industries
• Tri-Media Documentary Production
• Tri-Media Website Production.

Options:

• Pop: The Invisible Mainstream
• Noise Annoys: Experiments and Alternatives in Popular Music
• Global Pop
• Pop, Politics and Protest
• Curriculum Plus. 

Year 3

Three core units and one option:

• Collaborative Music Project
• Individual Music Project
• Working in the Music Industry.

Options:

• Festival Cultures
• Music Audiences and Consumption
• Technologies of Popular Music
• Popular Music and the Moving Image
• Hello 20th Century: Bartok to Branca
• Curriculum Plus.

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Why choose this course?

• Solent is a Skillset Media Academy and officially recognised as a national centre of excellence in media education.
• The annual SMILEfest is a week-long student-managed event mixing live performances, workshops and an academic conference. Speakers have included Everett True, Rob da Bank, Foreign Beggars, Mari Forte and Biff Mitchell.
• Opportunities to become involved with the University’s award-winning radio station, ‘Radio Sonar’.
• Professional-standard facilities including digital and interactive media technology.
• Part of a suite of music courses including record production, music journalism and performance.

Assessment

Coursework in the form of, for example, essays, practical production projects, timed assignments, group and individual projects and seminar presentations, portfolios and reflective writing projects. 

Key career skills

IT, presentation, teamwork, creative thinking, analytical skills.

Projects/work experience

In 2009 Popular Music Journalism students produced the programme for Glade Festival and in 2010 they produced the programme and documentary films for the award winning Blissfields Festival.    

Student profile

Ian Easton

“I was lucky enough to have worked for Blissfields in 2009, interviewing the headlining acts – Laura Marling and Super Furry Animals, for the festival’s programme. When I was offered the role of Programme Editor in 2010 I nearly took Blissfield’s proverbial hands off.

“It was a privilege to be able to work in a real-time environment at a festival, liaising with PR companies, interviewing bands, designing the programme and sourcing advertisements. It was also a joy to work towards something that reflects my degree course. The role really gave me a feel of what it is like to work on the ground, in an editorial environment, with a team of writers who all have something to work towards. Awe-inspiring stuff!

“An important aspect of being an editor is driving the publication in the direction that reflects both the market and the client's needs. This was a unique opportunity to put the skills I have learnt at Solent to the test.

“I believe I succeeded, because I received nothing but fantastic feedback on the programme. I am so proud of achieving something many aspiring music journalists will never get the chance to do.”