COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Public Relations In
The Music Industry
Course #: MBU 3720.02 Credits:
3 Hours Fall 2006
Class Location:
Meeting Times: TR
Instructor: Sarita M. Stewart
Phone: 615-661-0271 Email: stewartsm@mail.belmont.edu
Course description: The
course deals with press kits, press releases, radio and television publicity,
tour press and other areas that comprise an effective public relations campaign
for the artist, company and product. The
public relations fundamentals presented focus primarily on the music industry.
Course objectives: As a
result of this course, the student should be able to explain those activities
conducted by a music business publicist.
A major portion of this course will involve the student researching and writing
an artist bio/press kit and publicity plan.
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 and communicate effectively, accept
responsibility, make successful decisions and prosper in diverse work
environments.
·
To emphasize
quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principals.
Honor Code: As a member 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 preparations 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 type of academic fraud. Furthermore,
I will uphold my responsibility to see that others abide by the spirit and
honor of this Honor Code.
Course Requirements:
1.
Attendance:
It is my recommendation that you attend all of the class meetings for
the best learning experience. Makeup
work is at the discretion of the instructor. Absence is permitted only in cases
of family illness, family emergencies or other legitimate causes. For a complete explanation of the attendance
policy see The
2.
Class Materials:
“Full Frontal PR" (Laermer) Required
3.
PREPARED
ASSIGNMENTS
Students
Artist Bio/Press Release
(Individual project): Each student will
be expected to turn in an artist biography or press release on the subject of
their choice. We will discuss and access
these documents in class. Due 9/28.
Web Research: (Individual
project)
Each student is required to
explore three artist websites and rate each site. You are required to turn in findings to the Professor
by Thursday, November 2. Your report
should include: 1. The web address of each site. 2.
Your overall impression of the site.
3. How effective the site is for
publicity. 4. What links are provided, such as record
labels, booking agents, etc. We
Group Project: Each group
4. TESTING
The midterm
The Professor may choose to
assign additional reading. Articles may
be placed on reserve in the Library or web articles assigned and each student
will be responsible for the reading.
Test questions may be taken from the assigned reading.
5. FIELD TRIP
Class will take a mandatory
field trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Purpose of the trip is to examine the history of country music artists
to examine the effects that publicity has played in the artists careers. Class extra credit can be earned by writing a
short summary of your experience. Field
trip is tentatively scheduled for 10/17.
6. Basis of Grade Evaluation:
Grading Scale:
(97–100) = A+ (87-89) = B+ (77-79) = C+ (67-69) = D+
(93– 96) = A
(83-86) = B (73-76) = C (63-66) = D
(92–90) = A-
(80-82) = B- (70-72) = C- (60-62) = D-
Grading:
Class Participation 10%
Artist bio/press release 10%
Mid-Term 15%
Web Research 15%
Belmont Event presentation 25%
Belmont Event project paper 25%
Final Grade 100%
6. Class Schedule:
Week Date Topics
Reading assignment
1 8/24 Class Introduction Introduction
2 8/29 – 8/31 Defining
the Role Of a Publicist Chapters
1 – 2
Afterword
3 9/5 – 9/7 Imaging
Of An Artist
The Art of the Publicity
Photograph
4 9/12
– 9/14 Creating
a press kit/press clips Chapter
3
Writing the bio
5 9/19 – 9/21 Press
releases Chapter 4
Media Relations
6 9/26
– 9/28 Media Planning Chapters 5, 7, 8
Creating Newsworthy Publicity Appendix
Sources and Services for Publicists Artist bio/press release due 9/28
7 10/3 – 10/5 10/3
– MIDTERM
10/5 – NO
8 10/10 – 10/12 Case
Study discussion
10/12 – FALL BREAK
9 10/17
– 10/19 10/17 – Country Music Hall of
Fame Field Trip (Mandatory)
How Music News Breaks
10 10/24 – 10/26 Publicity and the
Internet Chapter 9
Online Publicity Strategies Extra
Credit Due 10/26
Emerging digital technologies
Class Schedule, continued
11 10/31 – 11/2 Publicity and the
Broadcast Media Chapter 6
Working Effectively with
Broadcasters Web Research due on 11/2
Media
Training
12 11/7 – 11/9 Crisis
Control
Handling Controversy
Solving Problems
13 11/14 – 11/16 Press Conferences
Tour Press
14 11/21 – 11/23 Special
Events
11/23 – No class
15 11/28 – 11/30 Group presentations Outline due prior to presentation
17 12/5 Last
day of class Project
Papers Due
ACCOMODATION OF
DISABILITIES
In compliance with Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act,