The accolade puts Hartt in the company of some of the world’s top performing arts institutions, including London’s Abbey Road Institute, the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, and distinguished schools from across the United States.
Marcus Thomas, Hartt’s associate dean for academic innovation, says Hartt is one of only a few schools in New England to offer a degree in music management. “Our students study not only the commercial music business, but also the business behind dance, theater, and conservatory music,” he says. “Students who major in other areas can earn a minor in performing arts management. Our location gives students access to the rich performing arts scene in southern New England where they can easily reach cultural institutions from the Goodspeed to Broadway and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.”
Billboard says the list, which is not ranked, is selected “based on industry recommendations, alumni information provided by honorees from our multiple power lists, years of reporting on educational options and on information requested from the schools themselves.”
“It is a great honor to be recognized among the world’s top music business schools in this year’s Billboard report,” says Mehmet Dede, chair and associate professor of music management. “Our students represent the next generation of executives, arts leaders, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of entertainment and the arts. Just as importantly, our diverse and accomplished faculty are leaders in their respective fields, with deep connections to major music markets including New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville.”
Dale A. Merrill, Dean, The Hartt SchoolThe Hartt School has a long history of preparing students for successful careers in music management and performing arts management. A defining strength of the program is our faculty, whose experience as promoters, copyright attorneys, nonprofit leaders, and arts managers brings real-world expertise into every classroom.
Billboard’s editors cited Hartt’s long history of preparing students to build meaningful careers in music and the arts—and also the way Hartt’s programs are evolving with the industry itself. In fall 2027, The Hartt School will launch its new Bachelor of Arts in music management, along with initiatives such as a 3+1 BA/MBA pathway developed with the Barney School of Business.
“The Hartt School has a long history of preparing students for successful careers in music management and performing arts management,” says Dale Merrill, dean of The Hartt School. “A defining strength of the program is our faculty, whose experience as promoters, copyright attorneys, nonprofit leaders, and arts managers brings real-world expertise into every classroom.”
Merrill says Billboard's recognition reflects the lasting impact that Hartt faculty and alumni continue to have on the industry. “By connecting our students to the business side of the arts and providing mentorship from accomplished industry professionals, we equip graduates with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to thrive,” he says.
View Billboard’s full list by clicking below. (Subscription required.)