Loyola Marymount University has introduced a new master’s program to its fall 2024 lineup: the Master in Entertainment Leadership and Management (MELM).
The program is a collaboration between LMU School of Film and Television (SFTV) and LMU College of Business Administration (CBA), is strategically curated to provide individuals with a deep understanding of how productions are created and the economic and cultural forces impacting every film, television series, video game, live event and short-form content that is professionally produced.
Taught by industry leaders including SFTV presidential fellow and president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Janet Yang, MELM is designed to shape the careers of new and future entertainment executives, agents, managers, producers, artists, content creators and studio administrators.
“The need for this unique program is something we have identified from a myriad of conversations with industry professionals across studios, streamers, networks, talent agencies, sports franchises, music corporations and video game companies,” said LMU SFTV Dean Joanne Moore. “We are proud that we continually empower our students on the creative side, but in today’s environment offering them the tools to navigate the business side of the industry is essentialas the two go hand in hand.”
Welcoming its inaugural class in Aug. 2024, the L.A.-based program joins a handful of industry-focused, entertainment/MBA programs nationwide. LMU CBA Dean Dayle Smith considers MELM a much-needed bridge between artistry, creativity, and fiscal viability.
“MELM is one of those rare programs that will appeal to so many different types of industry hopefuls,” Smith said. “From the recent film graduate who wants to better understand the business side of entertainment to the mid-level manager who is looking to prepare themselves for the C-Suite, this program provides students with an interdisciplinary mindset that fulfills both artistic expression and commercial viability across a number of entertainment sectors.”
The LMU MELM is designed to equip students with a combination of creative skills, business fundamentals, and customizable electives. The program can be completed in 12 months on a full-time basis or 24 months on a part-time basis.
LMU, which is ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top six Jesuit universities in the country and the top six private universities in California, houses more than 7,100 undergraduate students and over 3,000 graduate and law students. LMU offers 56 undergraduate majors and 56 minor programs, along with 46 master’s degree programs, three doctorate programs and 12 credential/authorization programs.
