Are you looking for a fantastic opportunity to work with partners from the international music industry? To help solve the challenges they are facing? And to gain new skills and knowledge that will help you become a professional in the music industry? Then the International Music Industry Lab is the ideal choice for you!

Music is more than just a product. It makes live better on a personal level and has a huge impact on society. Therefore, music should not be reduced to the entertainment value and the economic aspects of music production and consumption. Music is much more: it empowers people to deal with their situation within the structure of society.

At the International Music Industry Lab (IMI Lab) is a living lab), we want to help transform the music industry by using the power of music within its own production setting. We are convinced that the music industry, which encompasses all forms of economic activity involving music, can be more inclusive, sustainable, and an open, engaging environment for everyone.

We explore music industry challenges in the context of a living lab; a space where education, research and the professional field form a learning community (students, coaches, experts, music industry professionals, and researchers) to help build a healthier music ecosystem.

At IMI Lab in Haarlem, you will be collaborating with students from other degree programs, harnessing the knowledge you have acquired in your previous years. You'll also work on an equal footing with music industry partners such as elrow, c/o Pop, Utopia, and Rave Scout Cookies. Unlike a traditional client who just provides you with an assignment, these partners will collaborate with you in the process of designing conceptual solutions, and will also help you grow as a team and as an individual.

Together, you will explore an issue the music industry partner(s) are facing, challenges they cannot easily solve on their own. We call them ‘wicked problems’, for which your project team will design solutions that they can implement in their organizations.

During this semester, you will also define your own personal learning goals, to become a young professional in the music industry. You will meet regularly with your personal coach to talk about your goals, how you want to reach them, and the progress you have made. At the end of the semester, you hand in an individual portfolio. 

At the IMI Lab, we believe that music has the power to connect people on a personal level. That is why we will spend time exploring the creative process of making music, as well as listening to music together. And the IMI Lab will give you the unique opportunity to meet and network with many (future) music industry professionals.

IMI lab Challenges

We believe that the music industry can be inclusive, sustainable and an open, engaging environment for all. Young professionals, coaches, researchers and professional music industry partners come together to explore the challenges facing the international music industry in order to build a healthier and more sustainable music ecosystem. Below are the main research themes within the IMI Lab. The exact challenges you take on with other students in a project team and the partners you work with in the IMI Lab change from semester to semester:

Mental health in the Music Industry
The IMI lab focuses on the mental health challenges of the music industry, known for its demanding schedules, unpredictable hours and high public scrutiny. By thoroughly analysing stressors and obstacles, the student project teams aim to develop effective interventions and strategies that promote a healthier and more resilient music industry. Example of a challenge from a previous term: https://www.imi-lab.nl/projects/about-c-o-pop/

Digital Technology’s Influence on the Music Industry
IMI lab research is centred on understanding how digital technologies (AI, social media, blockchain) are reshaping the music industry. The aim is to provide solutions for how the industry can navigate and benefit from digital changes, while safeguarding the interests of all involved parties. Example of a challenge from a previous term: https://www.imi-lab.nl/projects/utopia-music-challenge-4/

Music industry sustainability
Dedicated to sustainability, the IMI lab seeks to minimize the environmental footprint of the music industry, covering all stages from production to consumption. Together with various partners, student project teams develop concepts that enable the music industry to adopt more sustainable practices, ensuring that environmental considerations are balanced with the sector's artistic and economic needs. Example of a challenge from a previous term: https://www.imi-lab.nl/projects/haarlem-vinyl-festival/

Transforming Music Business
IMI lab focuses on the evolving landscape of the music business, aiming to understand the key trends and shifts that are reshaping the industry. The goal is to provide interventions and strategic recommendations that can help industry players navigate and thrive in this dynamic environment. Example of a challenge from a previous term:  https://www.imi-lab.nl/projects/c-o-pop-challenge-4/

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Music Industry
The IMI lab prioritizes fostering inclusion and diversity within the music industry to achieve a fairer and more representative sector. Student project teams design practical solutions that enhance inclusivity, ensuring that individuals from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to succeed in the music industry. Example of a challenge from a previous term: https://www.imi-lab.nl/projects/rave-scout-cookies-challenge-1/

Urban Music Ecosystems Enhancement
Focusing on urban music ecosystems, this research program examines the integral components—live music venues, recording studios, music schools, artists, and audiences—and their interactions within city environments. The student project teams seeks to design new strategies and concepts to aid cities in bolstering their local music ecosystems, thus fostering cultural diversity and driving economic development. Example of a challenge from a previous term: https://www.imi-lab.nl/projects/prospect-eleven-challenge-4/

We work with three overarching learning outcomes or competences. These are:

Experimenting
You design and create creative solutions for complex issues from the metropolitan agglomeration on the basis of analysis and through various iterations and development loops. You do this in collaboration with partners from the professional field and other disciplines from the creative domain.

Interdisciplinary collaboration
You bring in your own (professional) expertise and value and use the perspectives of others for jointly solving problems. You play an active role in teamwork and work together constructively and in a solutionoriented way.

Professionalization
You (proactively) direct his professional development by making substantiated choices, formulating personal learning questions and learning goals, using feedback and reflecting on your professional actions.

• You are at least a third-year bachelor student (propaedeutic year has been completed).
• You are enthusiastic, creative, innovative and can work autonomously.
• You can handle uncertainty and see this as a chance to learn.
• You are passionate to tackle complex challenges together with stakeholders and peer groups.
• Your development is self-directed supported by setting your own educational goals.
• You choose your own educational path supported by a teachers’ coaching and within the opportunities of your team.
• You are open for new and pioneering forms of education and assessments (portfolio development, feedback and reflection).

You are in the lab 4 days a week on average

Group Project and Individual Portfolio

Good to know:

• We do not have online classes. You will spend an average of four days a week at our own IMI lab space, working with your project team on your challenge and on your personal goals.
• Take note that the IMI lab is built on intensive collaboration and interaction. For this attendance and active participation is essential.
• No need to study for exams: your knowledge and skills will be assessed based on your group project and an individual portfolio.
• Additional costs: Within the lab track we use mandatory literature. Costs are approximately € 50.

It may happen that there are not enough registrations for a module, which means that it has to be cancelled.