BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:                         Music Publishing

Course #:                               MBU 3450.01      – 8:00-8:50 MWF

& Meeting Times:                Final Exam: December 7 @ 8:00

                                                MBU 3450.02 – 9:00-9:50 MWF

                                                Final Exam: December 10 @ 8:00

                                                MBU 3450.03 – 11:00-11:50 MWF

                                                Final Exam: December 6 @ 11:00                               

Credit Hrs:                            3             

Semester:                              Fall 2007

Class Location:                    MC 200A                                                                                             

Professor:                              James I. Elliott, M.A.       

Office:   34 Music Square East

Monday – 12:30-4:00, Tuesday 9:15-12:15

Additional hours – M-W-F – 10:00 – 11:00 Advising Center

Contacts:                              Phone:  460-5513               Email: elliottj@mail.belmont.edu

 

Course Description:

 

A study of music publishing.  The course deals with contracts, music licensing, foreign publishing, catalog development, demo sessions and other activities conducted by music publishers.

 

Course Objectives:

 

As a result of this course, the student:

 

1.                  Should be able to explain those activities conducted by the music publisher

including catalog administration, contract negotiation, royalty accounting, song

promotion, mechanical, synchronization, and print licensing and foreign sub-publishing.

 

2.                  Should have a good understanding of the Performing Rights Organizations and

their role in the music publishing industry.

 

3.                  Should be able to express the major tenets of key publishing contracts including

exclusive and single song contracts, co-publishing and administration.

 

GOALS OF THE MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

 

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:  It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code:

 

“In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that 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 this Honor Pledge.”

 

 

“Accommodation of Disabilities: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities. If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.”

 

Course Requirements:

 

1.      Attendance:  It is my recommendation that you attend all of the class meetings for the best learning experience.  Absence is permitted only in case of illness or family emergencies.  For a complete explanation of the attendance policy see the Belmont University Bulletin online.

 

2.      Materials:  1. Music, Money and Success by Jeffrey & Todd Brabec, 5th  Edition, Schirmer Books.

                          2. Websites listed on class schedules

 

3.      Prepared assignments:

 

Research Reports: Each student will submit 3 Music Publishing Research Reports on the dates stated in the syllabus under Class Schedule.  Each report must include one article relating to some aspect of music publishing stapled to a one-two page typed analysis of the article written by the student.  The paper may be single or double-spaced and should include the date, student name and class section number.  These reports may be discussed in class.  Suggested print and Web sources include Billboard, Radio & Records, Music Row, The Tennessean, The Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Reporter and Variety.  NO REPORTS ACCEPTED LATE.

 

 

 

 

 

Research Speech: Each student is required to prepare and present a three to five minute speech on some aspect of music publishing. The speech should be an informative speech delivered extemporaneously from a prepared outline. The student may choose any subject matter that relates to music publishing with the exception of an overview of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, SOCAN, NMPA or HFA. A paper on a specific area of a PRO may be permissible, i.e. comparing the Internet licensing of the PROs. Other options for research include copyright legislation, international music publishing issues, industry trade groups, specific publishing companies, new media publishing issues, etc. Speech topics must be emailed to the professor on or before October 15th. If the topic submitted has already been taken by another student, you will receive an email from the professor informing you that another topic must be chosen. An outline of the speech must be submitted to the professor on Friday, October 26th. A minimum of three sources are required and must be cited on the outline. The course text book may not be used as one of the three sources.

4.      Testing:  3 tests will be given in the class on the dates stated under class schedule.    NO MAKE UP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN.

 

5.      Basis of grade evaluation:  (Each assignment shall carry an equal weight of 20%)

The three research reports = 20%, 3 tests = 20% each, speech = 20 % each

 

Grading scale:  93-100 = A, 90-92 =A-, 87-89 = B+, 83-86 = B,

80-82 = B-, 77-79 = C+, 73-76 = C, 70-72 = C-, 67-69 = D+, 63-66 + D, 60-62 = D-,

59 and below = F

 

 

6.       Class Schedule:

 

Wed.   Aug. 22           Introduction/class syllabus

Fri.       Aug. 24           Music Publishing History

Mon.    Aug. 27           Music Publishers and What They Do             Read Chapter 1

                                    Inner Workings of a Music Publisher

                                    Songwriter-Music Publisher Relationship

Wed.   Aug. 29           Songwriter contracts  

Fri.       Aug. 31           Sources of Income for Publishers and Songwriters   

Mon.    Sept. 3             Labor Day holiday – No class                                   

Wed.   Sept. 5             Co-Publishing and Administration                 Read Chapter 2

Fri.       Sept. 7             Co-Ventures and Joint Ventures                    Read Chapter 3

Mon.    Sept. 10           Copyright Law                                                Read Chapter 4

Wed.   Sept. 12           Recording Artist Publishing Agreements       Read Chapter 5

                                    Print Licensing           

Fri.       Sept. 14           Mechanical Licensing                                     pages 479-80

www.nmpa.org/hfa

                                    Sampling                                                         Read Chapter 6

 

 

 

 

Mon.    Sept. 17           Test 1 

Wed.   Sept. 19           Music, Money, and Television                        Read Chapter 7

                                    Television series license                                  pages 472-474

Fri.       Sept. 21           Music, Money, and Motion Pictures               Read Chapter 8

                                    Motion picture license                                     pages 468-471

Mon.    Sept. 24           Music, Money, and commercials                    Read Chapter 9

                                    Advertising commercial license                      pages 475-478

Wed.   Sept. 26           Current issues for Music Publishers   

Fri.       Sept. 28           Discuss Research Reports                               Research #1 Due

 

Mon.    Oct. 1              Performing Rights Organizations                   Read Chapter 10        

                                    ASCAP                                                           www.ascap.com

Wed.   Oct. 3              BMI                                                                www.bmi.com

Fri.       Oct. 5              SESAC                                                           www.sesac.com

Mon.    Oct. 8              Mid Term                                                      

Wed.   Oct. 10                        Music, Money, and Broadway                       Read Chapter 11

Fri.       Oct. 12                        FALL BREAK                                              

Mon.    Oct. 15                        Music, Money, Internet, Video Games,         Read Chapter 12

                                    Cell Phones, and New Media                         pages 481-484

                                                                                                            Speech Topic Due

Wed.   Oct. 17            Discuss Research Reports                               Research # 2 Due

Fri.       Oct. 19                        No class                                                           Work on speeches

Mon.    Oct. 22                        Music, Money, and Foreign Countries           Read Chapter 13 Wed.           Oct. 24                        Subpublishing agreements

Fri.       Oct. 26                        Speeches                                                         Speech Outlines Due

Mon.    Oct. 29                        Speeches                                                        

Wed.   Oct. 31                        Speeches

Fri.       Nov. 2             Speeches

Mon.    Nov. 5             Putting It All Together                                   Read Chapter 14

                                    Royalty Accounting

Wed.   Nov. 7             Music, Money, and the Buying                      Read Chapter 15

                                    and Selling of Songs

Fri.       Nov. 9             Catalog Acquisition                                                               

Mon.    Nov. 12           Song Plugging

Wed.   Nov. 14           Catalog Exploitation

Fri.       Nov. 16           Demos

Mon.    Nov. 19           Demo Budgets

Wed.   Nov. 21           Thanksgiving Break                                                   

Fri.       Nov. 23           Thanksgiving Break

Mon.    Nov. 26           Starting a Publishing Company

Wed.   Nov. 28           Discuss Research Reports                               Research # 3 Due

Fri.       Nov. 30           Current Issues in Music Publishing    

Mon.    Dec. 3              Last Day of Class/Review for Final