Jacobs School of Music

What Jacobs School of Music does

The Jacobs School of Music is a comprehensive music conservatory within Indiana University Bloomington, serving 1,600+ students from all 50 U.S. states and 55 countries. It offers 70+ degree and diploma programs spanning undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels across performance, composition, conducting, music education, music business, musicology, jazz studies, and music scoring for visual media. The school operates 30+ ensembles and delivers 1,100+ public performances annually across venues including the 1,460-seat Musical Arts Center, Auer Hall, Ford-Crawford Hall, Recital Hall, and the Conrad Prebys Amphitheater. Faculty comprises 190+ full-time members in residence and 240+ total when including visiting artists, with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Core infrastructure includes the William and Gayle Cook Music Library (55,000 sq ft, 1M+ catalogued items, including the Leonard Bernstein Collection, one of North America's largest academic music research collections), the Georgina Joshi Recording Studio (48-input Pro Tools HDX, 7.1 surround sound), the 85,000 sq ft East Studio Building, and 200+ practice rooms across eight campus buildings. Supporting service units include the Office of Wellness and Arts Health Initiatives (OWAHI), the Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development (OECD), Jacobs Academy (pre-college outreach), and the Opera and Ballet Theater.

The business model is anchored in tuition and fees with differentiated in-state and out-of-state pricing across nine published tiers (2026-27 academic year), supplemented by philanthropic donations and endowments, the Hire a Musician booking service (200+ community events annually), and the IU Music Marketplace merchandise storefront. Programs are accredited through the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Distribution is primarily direct on-campus delivery through audition-based admissions, with secondary channels including public performances, community event booking, youth outreach, and merchandise e-commerce. The school operates as part of the public Indiana University system under The Trustees of Indiana University, with no external equity or venture backing.

Name

Jacobs School of Music

Legal name

The Trustees of Indiana University

Website

https://music.indiana.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Jacobs School of Music is Indiana University Bloomington's music conservatory, serving 1,600+ students from 50 states and 55 countries through 70+ degree programs, 30+ ensembles, and 1,100+ annual performances, supported by 240+ faculty and a 1M+-item research library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education / Higher Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Conservatories & Music Colleges (EDAHAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Music conservatory education
• Higher education degrees
• Music performance programs
• Musical ensemble training
• Academic music library

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with differentiated rates for Indiana residents versus non-residents. Additional program fees and student service fees apply.
2. Philanthropic Donations: Endowments, scholarships, and programmatic support from alumni and supporters
3. Hire a Musician Service: Booking service connecting student musicians with community events. Handles 200+ events annually with competitive fixed rates.
4. IU Music Marketplace: Online storefront selling Jacobs apparel, merchandise, books, and related products

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Jacobs School of Music is a public university music conservatory offering undergraduate, graduate, and diploma degree programs across 70+ areas of study, supported by 30+ ensembles, 1,100+ annual performances, and extensive library and recording facilities. It also delivers pre-college outreach through Jacobs Academy, wellness programming via OWAHI, and career services through the Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development.

Product overview

Jacobs School of Music is a comprehensive music conservatory within Indiana University Bloomington offering a unified portfolio of educational products and services. The core academic offerings include 70+ degree and diploma programs spanning performance, composition, music education, music business, and scholarly disciplines, delivered through 30+ ensembles and more than 1,100 annual performances. Supporting infrastructure includes the Cook Music Library (one of North America's largest academic music libraries with 1M+ items), the Georgina Joshi Recording Studio, and eight performance venues including the 1,460-seat Musical Arts Center. Pre-college access is provided through Jacobs Academy, while student wellness is supported via the Office of Wellness and Arts Health Initiatives (OWAHI), and career development through the Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development (OECD). The institution serves 1,600+ students from 50 states and 55 countries under the governance of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Degree Programs 70+ undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across brass, choral conducting, collaborative piano, composition, dance (ballet and contemporary), guitar, harp, historical performance, jazz studies, music business, music education, music production, music scoring for visual media, music theory, musicology, orchestral conducting, organ, percussion, piano, strings, voice, wind conducting, and woodwinds.
• Musical Ensembles 30+ ensembles including Marching Hundred, IU Crabb Band, Big Red Basketball Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, All-Campus Band, Summer Concert Band, NOTUS (IU Contemporary Vocal Ensemble), and opera choruses, providing performance opportunities across diverse musical genres.
• Performance Opportunities More than 1,100 performances per year, including fully staged operas and ballets at the Musical Arts Center, with performance opportunities as part of the curriculum for all students.
• Cook Music Library The William and Gayle Cook Music Library: a four-floor, 55,000-square-foot facility containing 1,000,000+ catalogued items, 10.5 miles of shelves, and the Leonard Bernstein Collection.
• Jacobs Academy Pre-college music programs including IU JazzGirls Day and other outreach initiatives designed to engage young musicians and provide educational opportunities for youth in Indiana.
• IU Jacobs School of Music Opera and Ballet Theater Full-scale opera and ballet productions staged at the Musical Arts Center, typically six fully-staged operas per year, with technical capabilities among the best in the nation.
• Recording Services Professional audio recording, sound reinforcement, and production services for recitals and performances, including access to the Georgina Joshi Recording Studio with 48-input Pro Tools HDX system and 7.1 surround sound monitoring.
• Hire a Musician (Office of Musical Attractions) Booking service connecting student musicians with community events such as weddings, conferences, corporate events, and community celebrations. Handles 200+ events annually with competitive fixed rates.
• Office of Wellness and Arts Health Initiatives (OWAHI) Wellness programming offering community drop-ins, OWAHI Speaker Series, hearing health resources, group and individual wellness coaching, financial wellness coaching, and community outreach programs including Senior Outreach Program and Music and Healing Concert Series at IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
• Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development (OECD) Career services providing guidance on career paths, resume polishing, personal branding strategy, mock interviews, and career preparation events for students and alumni.
• IU Music Marketplace Online storefront selling Jacobs apparel, merchandise, books, and related products at iumusicmarketplace.mybigcommerce.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensuring personalized attention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• IU Health Bloomington HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Music and Healing Concert Series bringing live music performances to the hospital lobby. Jacobs musicians perform for patients, visitors, and staff, providing therapeutic benefits and community engagement. Concerts held near the hospital food court.
• IU School of Social WorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness coaching partnership providing individual and group coaching sessions on various dimensions of wellbeing (emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical, environmental, financial, occupational, social) for Jacobs students through OWAHI.
• IU Office of Financial WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial coaching partnership offering free individualized sessions to help students manage finances, budgeting, credit, student loans, and financial well-being. Coaches specifically trained to understand musician financial situations.
• Leonard Bernstein OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopresented 'MASS at 50' webinar in January 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of Bernstein's MASS, featuring panel discussions with family members and industry professionals.
• IU Office of Entrepreneurship & Career Development (OECD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on student career preparation, providing resources and programs aligned with Jacobs School academic offerings.
• IU Money SmartsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial wellness partnership offering resources and coaching for student financial literacy and management.
• Grammy MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeonard Bernstein Collection items featured in Grammy Museum's touring exhibit 'Leonard Bernstein at 100' in 2018, celebrating the centennial of Bernstein's birth.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Berklee College of Music: Berklee College of Music is a direct peer competing for music students, particularly in jazz, contemporary music, music business, and music production - areas where Jacobs also has programs. Both schools recruit internationally and compete for aspiring professional musicians.
• New England Conservatory: New England Conservatory is a direct peer in the U.S. music conservatory space, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in classical and jazz performance, comparable ensemble structure, and competing for the same applicant pool in the Northeast.
• Cleveland Institute of Music: Cleveland Institute of Music is a direct peer U.S. conservatory offering comparable classical performance and composition programs. Both compete for similar student profiles and recruit from overlapping applicant pools in the Midwest and nationally.
• Juilliard School: Juilliard is the most prestigious U.S. music conservatory, offering comparable degree programs in performance, composition, and music education. Both compete for the same pool of elite classical and jazz performance applicants and compete for faculty talent and brand positioning.
• Curtis Institute of Music: Curtis Institute is a direct peer offering tuition-free conservatory training in classical performance and composition. While much smaller and ultra-selective, Curtis competes for the same top classical performance applicants and represents the prestige benchmark in the field.
• Oberlin Conservatory of Music: Oberlin Conservatory at Oberlin College is a direct peer - a conservatory embedded in a liberal arts college offering comparable classical, jazz, and music education programs. Both compete for top classical and jazz students who want conservatory intensity with broader academic opportunities.
• Manhattan School of Music: Manhattan School of Music is a direct peer conservatory in New York City, competing for classical and jazz performance students. Both schools offer comparable degree programs, performance opportunities, and recruit internationally for top-tier talent.
• Peabody Institute: Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University is a direct peer - a major music conservatory embedded in a research university, offering comparable degree programs, conservatory training, and performance infrastructure. Both compete for similar classical music students seeking conservatory quality with university resources.
• Eastman School of Music: Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester is the most direct peer - a major U.S. music conservatory within a private research university offering comparable degree programs, ensemble culture, performance venues, and faculty caliber. Both compete for top-tier classical music students nationally.

Regional players

• Royal College of Music: Royal College of Music in London is an international peer with comparable conservatory programs and faculty caliber. While operating in the U.K. and not directly competing for U.S. applicants, it competes for international student recruitment globally and represents the international benchmark for music conservatories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/@IUJacobsSchoolofMusic
• Facebookfacebook.com/Indiana-University-
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indiana-university-jacobs-school-of-music
• Instagraminstagram.com/iujsom
• Xx.com/iubloomington

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jacobs School of Music