Belmont’s Music Business program earns Billboard recognition amid Music Row expansion
Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business has secured its place among Billboard’s "2025 Top Music Business Schools," marking another year of national recognition for the program's industry-leading approach to entertainment education. As the only music business program embedded within Nashville's Music Row, the University continues to innovate in preparing students for evolving industry careers.
"Belmont students don't observe the music industry from a distance — they're in it from day one," said Curb College Dean Brittany Schaffer. "Whether they're writing songs in a studio that housed legendary sessions, learning from Dolly Parton's team or walking next door to internships on Music Row, they're building the networks and skills that make them indispensable. This is education without boundaries, where the classroom and the industry are one and the same."
The recognition underscores Belmont's position as the only music business program in the country offering an AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Business Administration degree — the most prestigious business accreditation available. Program graduates are equipped for diverse business roles across the entertainment industry and beyond, contributing to the program's impressive 98% career outcomes rate for the class of 2024.
Expanding Music Row to Power Real-World Learning
The honor arrives as Belmont opened phase one of its historic Music Row expansion in August 2025. The renovation of the iconic Buddy Lee Attractions/Capitol Records building at 38 Music Square East now provides students with 17,000 square feet of songwriting rooms, listening spaces, live sound classrooms and student lounges.
Combined with Belmont's existing Music Row facilities — including the historic Quonset Hut and Columbia Studio A — the University now occupies more than 37,000 square feet in the epicenter of America's music industry. The expansion, supported by a $58 million lead gift from Mike Curb and the Mike Curb Foundation, will continue with phase two, a new facility that will expand Belmont's Music Row footprint and integrate all facets of the entertainment industry.
Innovative Partnerships: Dolly U and Beyond
Among the program's recent innovations is Dolly U, launched in spring 2025 through a partnership with Dolly Parton, her CTK management team and the creative team behind "Dolly: A True Original Musical." The initiative includes specialized courses and student fellowships that provide ongoing educational opportunities throughout the year.
One flagship course, "Dolly Parton: Icon & Influence," explored the creation of an American icon through lectures and interviews with members of Dolly's team, and even featured a surprise conversation with Lainey Wilson.
Alumni Defining Today’s Music Industry
The program's impact extends through its accomplished alumni network. Recent alumni achievements include Hillary Lindsey and Ashley Gorley earning 2024 and 2025 inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, respectively. John Zarling, co-founder of Results Global, has become a pivotal force in marketing major artists including Dolly Parton and Trisha Yearwood. Blair Miller was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in music for founding Chaos Creators, an innovative entertainment marketing agency. Notable performing alumni include Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood, Tyler Hubbard, Judah & the Lion, Dasha, Ian Munsick and many more.
Belmont continues to enhance its curriculum with industry-relevant programming, including semester-long immersive experiences through Belmont USA programs in New York City and Los Angeles. The University's commitment to bringing industry directly to students was exemplified this spring when Ed Sheeran visited songwriting students in March to share unreleased material, listen to student performances and offer candid career advice, even joining an impromptu jam session.
The program maintains a seamless intersection of industry and education through daily touchpoints, including internships, guest speakers, collaborative projects and world-renowned faculty actively working in the field.
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