Rowland School of Business Launches New Course Highlighting the Rise of Powerful Women in the Music Business Friday, August 22, 2025
A photo from a Women Who Rock contest, which is hosted by Pioneer Records and the SAEM program.
Point Park University's Rowland School of Business is encouraging their students to fill a "blank space" and fall "crazy in love" with an exciting new class this fall. The course, which is titled "Women Who Rock the Music Business: Power, Innovation & Influence," will serve as a way to spotlight the unprecedented influence and earning power of today’s leading women in music.
The new course is part of the school’s Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Music Business Program and will be taught by Melinda Colaizzi, founder of the nationally recognized Women Who Rock movement and assistant professor at Point Park.
The course will take a deep dive into how global icons such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have redefined the music industry through record-shattering tours, innovative marketing strategies, game-changing merchandise drops and creative multimedia ventures. Students will also explore the broader “femininomenon” currently dominating the music industry, analyzing how female artists are driving cultural conversations, setting new benchmarks for box office records and reshaping the future of music business economics.
“Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are rewriting the rules of what’s possible for women in music,” Colaizzi said. “From The Eras Tour to Renaissance, they’re not just performers — they’re business moguls, master marketers and cultural architects. This class will give students a behind-the-scenes look at their strategies and the powerful ripple effect they have created for women in the industry.”
This dynamic, industry-focused course will provide students with several opportunities to learn through:
- Case studies on high-grossing tours, surprise album drops and viral marketing moments.
- Insight into innovative revenue streams in merch, film, streaming and brand partnerships.
- Analysis of the evolving role of women executives, creatives and entrepreneurs in music.
- Guest lectures from music industry leaders.
“We are always focused on ensuring our students get a real-world education and that means paying attention to what’s happening right now in relevant industries,” said Steve Tanzilli, Dean of the Rowland School of Business. “Melinda’s course is the perfect example. I couldn’t ask for a more experienced person to bring it to life.”