All Recorded Music applicants must complete New York University's Application for Undergraduate Admission and provide the required academic documentation and supporting credentials. Additionally, each applicant must submit a creative portfolio for artistic review which must be sent directly to the Recorded Music department, not to the NYU-Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Please be aware that New York University does not return creative materials and will not assume any liability or responsibility for original materials submitted by an applicant that are lost or damaged while in its possession. Candidates are urged to complete and file their applications as soon as possible, especially those who are seeking financial aid and/or housing. Applicants will be notified promptly if additional information is required. No admission decision will be made without complete information. The Undergraduate Admissions Processing Center reserves the right to substitute or waive particular admissions requirements at the discretion of the Admissions Committee.
Please download the Recorded Music Portfolio Cover Sheet to the right to submit with your creative portfolio.
Creative Portfolio Requirements
A creative portfolio is required of all applicants to the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. Creative portfolios cannot be returned, so please do not send postage or original materials. All materials should be sent in a single package to the address below. Please label all materials with your name, Social Security number/NYU Student ID, and application type (early decision freshman; regular decision freshman; internal transfer; external transfer).
- Please mail to:
Creative Portfolio Requirements
194 Mercer Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10012-1502
212.992.8400
Please submit the following items:
1. STATEMENT OF INTENT. The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music recognizes four main types of creative entrepreneurs in recorded music: executive entrepreneurs, producer entrepreneurs, performer entrepreneurs, and journalist entrepreneurs (refer to Departmental Notes On Entrepreneurship, related link to the right). Which of these four entrepreneur types do you hope to become as you progress towards your career goals? Based on your experiences so far, what kinds of skills do you possess - or do you hope to develop - that will allow you to succeed as your chosen type of entrepreneur? (Two pages, double-spaced, typed)
2. CREATIVE SAMPLE, w/ attached statement about your work. All applicants are required to submit a creative sample. Your creative sample should demonstrate evidence of the skills you possess—or evidence of your potential to develop the skills—that you believe will allow you to achieve your career goals as outlined in your statement of intent.
Examples of past creative sample submissions have included but are not limited to:
- Audio recordings of music you have either composed, produced, arranged, engineered, or performed on, and may also include multimedia recordings, music videos, or lyrics written
- Evidence of experience in music marketing, promotions, A&R, management, merchandising, Internet entrepreneurship as well as work on a street team or as a music stylist
- Promotional materials you’ve created showing your graphic design such as logos on a t-shirt, band or event flyers and ads
- Evidence of live events, concert production and promotion
- Articles you have written or published on music or music photography
- Designs you have done for a home or school studio and technology including construction and implementation of the studio with reasons for choices made
- Films you have scored, soundtracks, or sound design
Students applying as performer entrepreneurs are highly encouraged to submit video of their live performance, if applicable.
In preparing your creative portfolio, please note that you do not necessarily need to have experience in the music industry nor do you necessarily need to have access to resources to demonstrate your vision, creativity and passion and your potential for success in the music industry.
Mandatory requirements for the creative sample:
You must also include a typed, detailed statement, 100 words or less, that describes the work and its artistic intentions, the full extent of your creative involvement, and all credits due to other contributors, if applicable. You must provide, as applicable, the name of the composition, composer, producer, engineer, mixer, arranger (if any), programmer, location of recording, date of recording, full list of performers, and software used (if any). In all cases, the material submitted must show evidence of your original work and you must be the primary contributor to or creator of the work. Work that involves sampling or previously copyrighted material may be submitted if your use of the sampled material outweighs the craft of the original work. The creative material must be submitted on a standard CD, DVD, flash drive, or organized into book/journal format as necessary. Audio and video submissions must be no more than five minutes worth in duration. Please label the work with your name, email address, and telephone number. Do not send your only copy, as creative submissions will not be returned.
3. ARTISTIC RESUME, w/ attached current personal photograph. Please list your previous musical, artistic, and entrepreneurial experience. Experience may include musical skills, church choir, school chorus, band involvement, or amateur performances. It may also include formal training on an instrument, voice training, technology (such as MIDI), or technical skills in music performance and recording, such as arranging or composition, as well as DJ-ing, producing, promotional activities, or internship experience. Please include instructors, courses taken, and the duration of study or engagement.
4. ONE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. This letter must be from a musical instructor or someone who knows you creatively and can speak of your potential to succeed in the music business. This letter must be separate from the letter of recommendation that is sent with your undergraduate application to the NYU-Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
5. CRITICAL ESSAY. If you were stranded on a desert island for the rest of your life, choose the ten (10) songs you would want to have on your iPod. Organize those songs into a customized iPod playlist/iMix/mixtape. Tell us the titles of the ten (10) songs in sequence and then write about any three (3) of those songs. Explain why you've chosen those three (3) songs and specifically address aspects of the recordings that strike you in terms of production, artistry, marketing, promotion, etc. (Two pages, double-spaced, typed)
Creative Portfolio Deadlines for Admission
Note: The following deadlines are when portfolios should be received by the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. All incoming classes begin in the Fall; the Department does not accept Spring admits.
- Early Decision: November 1
- Regular Decision: January 1 (Note: NYU offices will close for winter recess from Dec. 24-Jan. 3, and will reopen on Jan. 4; any creative portfolios delivered during that time will be re-delivered to our office on Jan. 4)
- Internal Transfer: March 1
- External Transfer: April 1
Freshman candidates for September admission and transfer candidates for
summer and September admission are notified beginning April 1. Early
decision candidates are notified beginning in mid-December.
Applications submitted after the filing deadlines will be considered in
the order received as long as space is available.
