By Charlotta Hedman

Steve Melhuish has gone from being on the exciting fringe of the music industry in the 70s and 80s to being at the forefront of a changing higher education landscape in the UK.

A year ago Steve Melhuish started the Music Business School in central London. Before that Steve had been involved with the indie and punk scenes. He started up the first Virgin store with Richard Branson and went on to open six of his own stores in the London suburbs – where he had a chance to hang out with people like Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Jam.

This background allowed Steve to set up a record label at the University of Kent’s Cantebury College and to eventually start his own Music Business School.

- It’s going to be interesting to see what happens next year when the university fees go up, says Melhuish. Private courses will then seem more attractive and affordable and will be able to compete head on with universities.

Music Business School is starting on its second year in September. The course lasts for 12 weeks and the fee is £1295.

Steve is keen on working with universities and making his course part of a degree. However, people who are mainly interested in the business side of the music industry might not need to do a full BA in commercial music – adds Steve.

There has already been a lot of interest in Steve’s course and 80 percent of the student base comes from outside the music industry.

- They’re the guys with the money to do it, says Steve.

According to Steve most students have been very happy with the course.

- The testimonials look made up, but they aren’t.

The students have also created their own facebook group in order to keep in touch and support each other after the course.

Music Business School moves to a new location at the London School of Sound in Clapham and the next term starts on the 21 of September.