SYLLABUS: Fall 2006
SURVEY OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Volman OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
FAX/PHONE: 615-794-5801 E-MAIL: volmanm@mail.belmont.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class provides a basic overview of opportunities available in the music business. Basic techniques for negotiating with managers, publishing firms, record companies, producers, production deals and more. This class can give you the confidence to take charge of a career, and the savvy to understand the complexities in today's music industry.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: To provide the information necessary to compete in the music industry. The class will highlight the areas where music and business intersect. The focus will be on: career possibilities in the music industry; the development of business-related knowledge and skills necessary for effectively maintaining a professional music career; the vocabulary and terminology of the music industry and the distinction between music and business at the corporate level. The course will serve both the students wishing to increase his/her understanding of common business practices related to the music industry, and the student who is considering further study of music business/management.
TEXTBOOKS: “How The Music Business Works”
By: Larry E. Wacholtz
"All Area Access - Intro to the Music Business"
by: Mark Volman
NOTEBOOK: Students should keep a notebook. Some classes could include a guest speaker, and you will want to keep a notebook of this material, which will not be available in the textbook. It could be used on the quizzes and tests.
ATTENDANCE: Missing classes are UNACCEPTABLE and WILL affect your final grade. Lectures are only given once, and it will be your responsibility to obtain missed notes. You are responsible for all material covered in class. MISSED CLASSES LOWER YOUR GRADE.
LATE POLICY: Tardiness will be noted and will result in a lower grade.
TOPICS AND LECTURES: This
schedule is subject to change, but we will try and cover:
8/24 Opening - Terms
8/29 Business
Systems - Cast of Characters - Corporations
8/31 Income/Expenses
- Personal manager
9/5 Business Manager/Bookkeeper - Attorneys
9/7 Agents –
Analyze management Contract - quiz
9/12 Label
Departments
9/14 Major Versus
9/19 Types of Record
deals - Controlled Composition,
9/21 Analyze record contract - Demo Diversity
9/26 Recording terms
- Recording Team,
9/28 The jobs of the Record Producer - quiz
10/3 Etiquette -
Pre-Production
10/5 Creative Budget
1010 Business Budget,
Breaking Even
10/12 OFF
10/17 OFF
10/19 Publicity, Press Kits
10/24 Promoting to the
Radio – Internet Web Design - quiz
10/26 Songwriters
– Performing Rights Organization
10/31 Songwriting Form
11/2 Inspiration –
Ideas
11/7 Poetic Devices
- Writing Principals
11/9 The themes of
love
11/14 Partnerships –
Trademarks - quiz
11/16 Copyrights
11/21 Publishing
Deals – What publishers do
11/23 THANKSGIVING
11/28 Touring team –
tips for the road – Finding Shows & Contract Riders
11/31 Planning the Show, What Artist
and Promoter should look out for
12/5 Networking, Career Planning,
Final overview
12/7 & 12 Final Quiz and Final Paper Due
GRADING PROCEDURE: There will be at least 4 quizzes during the semester. There is final term research paper. There will also be homework assignments worth points.
GRADING SCALE:
96 -100% = A 90 - 95% = A-
85 - 89% = B+ 80 - 84% = B 77 - 79% = B-
74 - 76% = C+ 69 - 73% = C 65 - 68% = C-
60 - 64% = D+ 56 - 59% = D 50 - 55% = D-
Below 50% = Fail
MAKE-UP: There will be NO make-up Quizzes.
ACCOMMODATION OF DISABILITIES: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
and the Americans with Disabilities Act,
RESEARCH PAPER: You will be required to complete a research paper. This paper will be a minimum of 10 pages long and will be due the day of the Final Exam. This paper must include a bibliography of at least five sources. An outline of your paper is optional and will be worth points toward your final grade. You are not required to complete an outline but your professor would recommend that you do one. The outline is due by October 31. The outline should include:
· The topic/thesis (must be "music business" related)
· Your expected content…in outline form
· A summary of sources you plan to use (at least 5 sources)
· What you hope to learn from this paper
The research paper will be due on the day of your final exam.
The research paper should include:
· Technical requirements:
1). Must be typed!
2). Minimum 10 pages
3). 12 pt. "Times" font
4). Margins: 1" top and bottom; 1.25" left and right
· Your outline (attached to the back of your paper)
· It should follow your outline content
·
Bibliography with at five sources
Suggested Thesis/Topics for Term Paper and Extra Credit:
1. An interview with a person(s) in the music industry (i.e. managers, agents, producers, business managers, artists, record company executives, A& R person, promotion, etc.). This paper should have a thesis related to an area of the business that personally interests you.
2. A research paper on a group or solo artist including the inception and pitfalls of their music business career. This does not need to be a successful musical artist, just a "real" story of an artist, songwriter, etc. This is not to be a biography on the artist.
3. Compare and contrast radio formats. Use a minimum of six different styles and examine the techniques of how they successfully make themselves different (i.e. programming, sales, promotion). Interview a radio disc jockey, music director, etc.
4. A research paper of one song from any period
in rock. You may relate the song to the history
of rock. You should consider:
*Lyrics
and/ or the music. *Background vocals *Success
*Instrumentation *Form *Social
implications
*Solo vs.
ensemble *Video
*Placement
of song on album *Marketing
5). Pop festivals
6). Payola
7). Rock - censored.
8). Styles of Music:
Reggae, Punk, New Age music, Contemporary Ethnic Rock Music (Latin influences,
etc.), Rock soundtracks
9). Compare and
contrast three recordings from the 50's or 60's and their re-releases in the
80's or 90's.
10). Attend a musical
performance during the semester. The
music should lie within the genres studied. Include as many of the following as
possible:
*Program (or list the
players, instruments, and the songs performed.
*Presentation and
Spectacle *Influences
*Discuss styles *Review and analyze
11). The Gatekeepers of
Radio – Then and Now
12). Music from the
Street – The Popular Music Industry
13). New Technology and
an expanded music business