Popular and Commercial Music

Overview

In addition to learning about the best practices of the music industry, at the Popular and Commercial Music degree program from Loyola University New Orleans you’ll develop your performance and technical skills with instruction on style, recording techniques, theory, audio production, and more.  

Every semester, Loyola's pop student ensembles perform a showcase at the world-renowned House of Blues in New Orleans' famous French Quarter. But even outside of the classroom, you'll be surrounded by opportunities to showcase your talent with live performances in the city's countless venues.

Possible Career Paths

Today's music industry offers a host of exciting career possibilities.  Below, you'll find just a sample of the more popular paths for our graduates:

• Performing Artist: Perform in venues and festivals as a solo artist or as part of an act within your specific style and genre
• Music Producer: Supervise the entire production process for artist clients from preproduction to audio mastering, selecting session musicians, recommending improvements to lyrics and arrangements, and coaching artists to deliver the best studio performances.
• Session Musician: Provide masterful sounds for music producers and recording artists within the studio environment
• Audio Engineer: Shape the sound of a client's song by using the latest recording technologies to ensure the best recording, editing, and mixing of client sessions.
• Artist Manager: Manage the financial and promotion aspects of an artist or act, working to identify work opportunities, manage public relations and marketing efforts, network with producers, booking agents, and talent buyers, and provide career advice and strategies.