Billboard, the premier trade and consumer music magazine, has included The Hartt School on its 2026 list of the top music business schools worldwide.
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.”
“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.”