UNA’s David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry Named to Billboard’s 2026 Top Music Business Schools List
Oct. 08, 2026
Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
FLORENCE, AL – The David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry at the University of North Alabama has, once again, been named among Billboard’s 2026 Top Music Business Schools, continuing the department’s recognition by the influential music industry publication.
“This recognition from Billboard is a tremendous affirmation of the vision, dedication, and hard work of our faculty, staff, students, and industry partners within the David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry,” said Janna Malone, chair of the department. “Being named to Billboard’s 2026, Top Music Business Schools list reflects the strength of our program and, more importantly, the caliber of the students we prepare to lead in the music and entertainment industry. We are proud to see our program recognized among those shaping the next generation of music business professionals, and we remain committed to providing our students with the knowledge, experience, and connections they need to make a meaningful impact on the industry.”
For more than five decades, the department has served as a destination for students seeking to build careers across the music and entertainment industries. Now, in its 51st year, the program continues to provide students with the knowledge, experiences, and industry connections needed to find their place in an ever-evolving music business.
Grammy award-winner, record label owner, artist, writer, producer, alumnus of the program, and department faculty member, John Paul White, said, “Saying that I owe my career to the David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry is not hyperbole. My education in all aspects of the music business – publishing, production, songwriting, etc. – was integral to my future success, but the networking opportunities were equally valuable. My first publishing deal would never have happened without the department’s introduction and recommendation. As an assistant professor, I’m proud of the fact that our staff has multiple teachers with wide backgrounds in the music business. The experiential learning is a valuable part of our tutelage. The students have real-world examples of what works – and what doesn’t. These examples are current, as the instructors are still working in the business and see the vast changes in the industry on a daily basis.”
The department’s impact extends beyond the classroom. In addition to the recognition on Billboard’s 2026 Top Music Business Schools List, the David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry now has a permanent exhibit at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The exhibit celebrates the accomplishments of distinguished department alumni whose careers have earned them Grammy Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Emmy Awards, RIAA certifications, and numerous songwriting and publishing honors.”
Together, these achievements reflect the department’s enduring legacy and its continued commitment to preparing students to make their mark on the music and entertainment industries.
About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I and United Athletic conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/.