SYLLABUS: Fall Semester, 2006 (213SylF1)
Professor: Dr. Don Cusic
OFFICE: MBC 223
Phone: 615.460.5438
FAX: 615.460.5516
e-mail: cusicd@mail.belmont.edu
web site: doncusic.com
Office Hours: TR: 12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.; W: 8-11:30 a.m.
Or by appointment
Course Number: MBU 2130.01 (CRN #10026)
Credit: Three (3) hours
Semester: Fall, 2006
Class Location: MBC 103
Meeting Time: TR 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Final Exam: Tuesday, Dec 12 at 8 a.m.
Inclement Weather Hotline: 460-5000 OR Belmont.edu
Course Description: A study of the foundations of the recorded music business, which includes the development of recording labels, technology-driven changes, and recordings from 1877 to the present. Also discussed is the formation of the major recording labels and the development of the marketing structure whereby recorded music is exposed and sold to consumers.
Course Objective: To provide students with an historical overview of the music industry through the development of the business, the technology and recordings. Also, to provide a contemporary context and historic background in order to facilitate understanding and perceptions of the contemporary American recording industry. By examining the chronological development of the American domestic market for recorded product, students should have a better understanding of the foundational structure of the contemporary American recording industry.
Mission Statement:
The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business strives to combine professional and academic experience with real world applications and seeks to achieve its mission by implementing innovative courses of study in the entertainment and music industries.
Goals of the
The following objectives will be applied toward course completion:
*To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship
*To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions and prosper in diverse work environments.
*To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.
Honor Code:
As members of the
"I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of the Honor Pledge."
Course Requirements:
Thu: Sept 14: EXAM #1
Tue: Oct 10: EXAM #2
Tue: Nov 7: EXAM #3
Thu: Nov 30: EXAM #4
POP QUIZZES (Unannounced) (5 pts each)
Attendance: Will be computed from Pop Quizzes.
Materials:
The American Recording Industry by Don Cusic (Course Pack)
Prepared Assignments: None
Testing: 5 Exams.
Basis of Grade Evaluation:
EXAM #1 (100 pts)
EXAM #2 (100 pts)
EXAM #3 (100 pts)
EXAM #4 (100 pts)
EXAM #5 (FINAL) (100 pts)
POP QUIZZES (Unannounced) (5 pts each)
TOTAL POINTS: 600 max. Grading: A=93-100%; A-=90-92%; B+=87-89%, B=83-86%, B-=80-82%; C+=77-79%, C=73-76%; C-=70-72%; D+=67-69%, D=63-66% D-=60-62%; F=59% & below.
Accommodation of Disabilities: In compliance with Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act,
Some notes and observations:
All of the overheads in the course and all of the Study Guides will be on WebCT; I will also email them to your "Pop" account.
DOING WELL IN THE COURSE: I have found that students who do best in the course (1) do not believe I have done everything for them when I post the overheads but also take notes in class; (2) re-copy your notes after the lecture--expanding on the material while it is still fresh in your mind; (3) join "study groups" to go over the Study Guides; (4) purchase the books and read them; (5) do not wait until the night before the Exam to read the books but read the and mark them as the course progresses; (6) go over the material several times before the Exam; (7) get a good night's sleep before the Exam.
MAKE-UPS: In accordance with Music Business policy, there will be no make-up Exams given in this course; if you miss an Exam, the Final Exam will count double. If you miss two Exams, the Final will count triple. Also, when I give Exams back, I go over them in class and you may ask any questions you wish. I will not go over Exams individually in my office. Also note:
You may choose to "skip" an Exam and let the Final count double; however, you are not allowed to begin an Exam, decide you don't want to finish and opt out. Once you begin the Exam, you must complete it.
If you take all of the Exams, I will drop the lowest grade and count the Final double, if it is to your advantage.
The Final Exam is mandatory.
Please bring a No. 2 lead pencil with you on Exam day.
CELL PHONES: You don't have to turn them off; however, if they ring, I answer them
COMPUTERS: You are welcome to use your computer for notes in class; however, if you want to sit in class and check your email and/or surf the net, please sit in the back. (Personally, I don't believe spending $1,000 to check emails is a good use of money.)
PLEASE NOTE: "Excused absences" must be approved by the Provost (athletics and music performances) or Tammy Tankersley (sickness).
After you have finished an Exam, please don't ask me about questions on the Exam, or advising questions, or other questions that require more than a nod because other students are taking Exams and do not like the distraction. Each semester there are complaints from students who are trying to finish an Exam while another student is engaging the teacher in questions or conversation. Therefore, I will not answer questions or engage in discussions during the Exam time while others are taking Exams.
SCHEDULE: MBU 213: FALL, 2006:
The course will be divided into four sections:
EXAM #1: 1800-1929: pp 1-133
EXAM #2: 1930-1954: pp. 144-269
EXAM #3: 1955-1977: pp 270-362
EXAM #4: 1978-2000: pp 363-406
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
Thu: Sept 14: EXAM #1
Tue: Oct 10: EXAM #2
Thu: Oct 12: FALL BREAK
Tue: Nov 7: EXAM #3
Thu: Nov 23: Thanksgiving
Thu: Nov 30: EXAM #4
Tue: Dec 5: LAST DAY OF CLASS
Wed: Dec 6: Academic Preparation Day
Fri Dec 15: COMMENCEMENT: 7:30 p.m.: Curb Event Center
Here is the schedule for Final Exams for classes I teach:
Thu: Dec 7: FINAL EXAM: 2 p.m. (for 2 p.m. class)
Fri: Dec 8: FINAL EXAM: 11 a.m. (for 12:30 p.m. class)
Tue: Dec 12: FINAL EXAM: 8 a.m. (for 9:30 a.m. class)
Tue: Dec 12: FINAL EXAM: 2 p.m. (for 3:30 p.m. class)
These are the times you are scheduled to take the Exam. Since some of you will wish to take the Final at another time, then you may come to another scheduled time under these conditions:
1. Those who are registered for the class are guaranteed a seat;
2. If there are no chairs and seats available, I cannot give a Final Exam (I can not and will not give an Exam to someone sitting on the floor!);
3. If there are no seats and you choose to wait, then you will only have the remaining time to finish the Exam (i.e. these Exams are scheduled in two hour blocks; if you take a seat an hour after the scheduled starting time, then you only have one hour to complete your Final);
4. If you have chosen to take the Exam at the last chosen time possible, then find you are unable to do so, you will receive an "I" in the course and a "make-up" will be scheduled for next semester.
MBU 2130: SCHEDULE: FALL, 2006
Thu: Aug 24: CLASS 1: 19th century; Minstrel Shows, Civil War, Vaudeville (pp 1-15)
Tue: Aug 29:
CLASS 2: Industrial Revolution, Invention of Phonograph, Graphophone,
Gramophone, Development of Victor and
Thu: Aug 31: CLASS 3: Tin Pan Alley, Creation of ASCAP, 1909 Copyright Law, Invention of movies, Development of Radio, World War I (pp 46-68)
Tue: Sept 5: CLASS 4: The 1920s, Broadway musicals, Harlem Renaissance, Development of Jazz (pp 69-105)
Thu: Sept 7: CLASS 5: Development of Blues, Country and Gospel (black and white) music (pp 106-133)
Tue: Sept 12: CLASS 6: Creation of RCA, Development of networks on radio, Recording companies of 1920s, "talkies" (pp 134-143)
Thu: Sept 14: CLASS 7: EXAM #1 (pp 1-133)
Tue: Sept 19:
CLASS 8: The Great Depression, Development of Decca, EMI, and
Thu: Sept 21: CLASS 9: Blues and Country Music in 1930s; development of jukeboxes, Singing Cowboys (pp 166-187)
Tue: Sept 26: CLASS 10: Gospel Music; radio airplay (pp 188-199)
Thu: Sept 28: CLASS 11: Creation of BMI, airplay of records, pre-World War II; formation of Capitol; V-Discs, Frank Sinatra; R&B and Country music (pp 200-219)
Tue: Oct 3: CLASS 12: World War II and post-World War II (pp 220-237)
Thu: Oct 5: CLASS 13: Rhythm and Blues and early Rock and Roll (pp 238-269)
Tue: Oct 10: CLASS 14: EXAM #2 (pp 144-269)
Thu: Oct 12: FALL BREAK
Tue: Oct 17: CLASS 15: The Rock Revolution, creation of Warner Brothers; creation of organizations (pp 270-293)
Thu: Oct 19:
CLASS 16: Folk Music,
Tue: Oct 24: CLASS 17: The '60's: Part 1 (pp 317-359)
Thu: Oct 26: CLASS 18: The '60's: Part 2 (pp 317-359)
Tue: Oct 31: CLASS 19: The '60's: Part 3 (pp 317-359)
Thu: Nov 2: CLASS 20: The 1970s; Tape, Deaths of Elvis and Bing Crosby (pp 360-362)
Tue: Nov 7: CLASS 21: EXAM #3 (pp 270-362)
Thu: Nov 9: CLASS 22: Crash of '79, Fragmenting of Rock: Heavy Metal, Punk, Disco (pp 363-372)
Tue: Nov 14: CLASS 23: Digital Technology, MTV and Video, Hip Hop and Rap (pp 373-378)
Thu: Nov 16: CLASS 24: Gospel and Christian Music (pp 379-390)
Tue: Nov 21: CLASS 25: The Millenials, Retailing; 1990s trends (pp 391-400)
Thu: Nov 23: THANKSGIVING
Tue: Nov 28: CLASS 26: CLASS 26: Major labels (pp 401-406)
Thu: Nov 30: CLASS 27: EXAM #4 (pp 363-406)
Tue: Dec 5: CLASS 28: LAST CLASS
Wed: Dec 6: Academic Preparation Day
Thu: Dec 7: FINAL EXAM: 2 p.m. (for 2 p.m. class)
Fri: Dec 8: FINAL EXAM: 11 a.m. (for 12:30 p.m. class)
Tue: Dec 12:
FINAL EXAM: 8 a.m. (for 9:30 a.m. class)
FINAL EXAM: 2 p.m. (for 3:30 p.m. class)
Fri: Dec 15: COMMENCEMENT: 7:30 p.m.: Curb Event Center