Berklee Online, Women in Vinyl and Marshall Offer $5,000 Scholarship for Women in Vinyl Careers

BOSTON – On July 13, 2026, Berklee Online announced a $5,000 scholarship for one female‑ or female‑identifying applicant who wishes to study music business with a focus on vinyl and physical media. The award is the fourth consecutive year the partnership has been offered, and it is available to students worldwide.

The scholarship is a joint effort between Berklee Online, the non‑profit Women in Vinyl, and Marshall Amplification. According to the press release, the award is designed to support a career trajectory in the vinyl industry. The recipient will be able to apply the funds toward undergraduate music business courses or certificates offered by Berklee Online.

Applicants must submit a 500‑word essay that explains why Women in Vinyl matters to them and how the scholarship will help them achieve their career goals. The essay deadline is August 10, 2026. Winners will be announced on September 14, 2026, and the chosen student must enroll in the January 2027 semester.

All applicants who submit an essay receive free access to a set of Berklee Online handbooks covering Music Business, Music Production, Songwriting, Guitar, and Music Theory, Harmony, and Ear Training. The handbooks are intended to give candidates a preview of the curriculum and to support their learning regardless of whether they win the scholarship.

Women in Vinyl is a non‑profit that promotes education and career development for people interested in vinyl manufacturing, distribution, and marketing. The organization highlights the growing visibility of vinyl among younger audiences, citing industry data that shows the format’s continued rise in popularity.

Marshall Amplification, a British manufacturer of guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets, has partnered with Women in Vinyl and Berklee Online to emphasize the importance of physical media in the modern music economy. The partnership reflects Marshall’s long history of supporting musicians and music‑related initiatives.

Berklee Online, founded in 2001, is the online arm of Berklee College of Music. It is the largest online music school in the world, with more than 75,000 students from 164 countries. The platform offers credit‑based courses, certificates, bachelor’s and master’s programs, and massive open online courses. In 2026, the school reported more than 18,000 annual enrollments in credit‑based courses.

The scholarship aligns with Berklee Online’s mission to provide affordable, high‑quality music education. By focusing on vinyl and physical media, the award acknowledges a niche yet growing segment of the music industry that requires specialized business knowledge.

The partnership also serves to increase representation of women in the vinyl sector, an industry that has historically been male‑dominated. Women in Vinyl’s mission is to provide educational and career opportunities for women and non‑binary individuals in vinyl production and distribution.

The scholarship is available to anyone who identifies as female or is a female‑identifying person, regardless of nationality or prior education. The award is not limited to U.S. residents.

The application process is straightforward: candidates write a 500‑word essay, submit it by the August 10 deadline, and wait for the selection announcement on September 14. The scholarship recipient must enroll in the January 2027 semester to begin their studies.

In summary, Berklee Online, Women in Vinyl, and Marshall Amplification have created a focused scholarship opportunity that supports women and female‑identifying individuals pursuing careers in the vinyl and physical media market. The award provides financial assistance, educational resources, and a platform to launch a music business career in a niche but expanding industry.