The Mike Curb College Of Entertainment and Music Business
Course Title: MBU 3990 Acklen Record/ Entertainment Group Practicum
Semester: Fall 2008 Semester:
Instructors: Dr. David Herrera (460-6908) Office 34 Music Sq. East. Room 226
Dr. Russ Hicks (460-6473) Office: Belmont BMH 223
Course Credit: Section .02/.03 One (1) Hour Credit
Class Location: 34 Music Sq. East Room 201
Meeting Time(s): Class Meeting Time; Monday 5-6PM
Course Description: MBU 3999.02-03 (Proposed) The Acklen Entertainment Group Practicum is a learning lab for applied student projects that complement existing and developing music business curriculum. This interdisciplinary course explores the applications of emerging and traditional music delivery and marketing systems within a team environment focusing on the development, recording, production, marketing, and distribution/sales of commercial recorded product and events.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, the student will be able to create and execute the operational elements needed to set up and complete assigned project based elements used to develop, market, and distribute recorded products, web portals, artists, and events within traditional and emerging new models.
Performance Criteria for Learning Modules/Departments (in whole or in part): During this course, the student will execute and complete project based learning modules consisting of the development and application of 1) Production of content, 2) Licensing content, 3) Manufacturing/Distribution, and 4) Marketing/Promotion of content. Subgroups may include the application and execution of A&R talent search, legal issues/licensing of product, creative services-both photo and video, radio and web promotion, royalty distribution-accounting, in-house production, creative design, artist representation/agency, marketing, publicity, and the exploration and development of digital marketing and distribution. Students will design, organize, plan and implement/execute projects, as needed, under faculty supervision and are coordinated by Project Leaders.
Project leaders will be chosen and rotated per project in order to maximize all student learning. Project leaders will directly oversee, administer, and document the implementation and coordination of each project with department head and faculty. Project leaders will be responsible for implementing activities, reporting student progress, assuring compliance with projected budgets and time schedules, and directly report to faculty. Projects may be split into sub-categories—each of which will be assigned separate project leaders. Students may belong to multiple teams as well as serve as multiple project leaders simultaneously. Projects are developed on an “as needed” basis and integrated into modular/departmental units. No one student will be able to complete all modules or departments. Evaluation is outcome based on completion of assignments or tasks.
Artist Project Manager: Student will track the paperwork and process of artist submitted generally comprising agreements, musical content, photos, live performance, calendar, studio development if needed, and video recording-editing, as well as tracking activities to completion or delivery to next semester course along with execution of all necessary licensing agreements and information.
Special Projects: Students will be able to create, if needed, project modules generally comprising but not limited to the developmental special projects, activities, and solicitation of projects including defining project feasibility, artist or project assessment-feasibility, recommendation of repertoire and live performance development, solicitation of artist, booking, artist image development, and music recording and video pre-production activities.
Content Production (Video/Audio/Photography): Students will be able to coordinate and supervise the quality and final outcome of the activities needed for artist’s product production, including dubbing of master sound recording, record production, master video production (if needed), mastering CD, CD-i.e. and DVD production in accepted professional format and upload format confirmation. Department must work with artist and marketing for conceptualization of Video treatment, conceptualization and implementation (if needed),
Creative Services Production: Students will be able to design, and create all material comprising, but not limited to the physical and conceptual development of artwork, graphics, product layout, label copy, sell sheets, POP material, posters, EPK, web artwork/maintenance, and development.
Marketing/PR/Promotions: Students will be able to design, and execute activities related to marketing and sales implementation including placement of digital POP/banner development, scripting radio promotion-scripting radio/TV spot advertising, placement/retail solicitation and account development, Artist in-store appearance coordination and web portal marketing, as well as support of promotion, product shipping and distribution, media interest solicitation, public relations, and all other activities intended to develop public awareness and generate Artist’s product sales. Secondary involvement will involve the design and execution/application of a sell sheet-fact sheet and scheduling –maintenance of Internet promotion process for the artist through mailing lists, social networking, blog promotion and maintenance of sample streaming radio/audio.
Web Content Management: Students will be upload and maintain coordination of web based commerce site for Indie Band Hub and ancillary sites (Reverb Nation/Speaker heart/Itunes-dualtone records and others).
Booking/Showcase/Agency: Students will develop Artist awareness through the development of venue relationships, gig share program development, solicitation of external venues and concert promotion, as well as external artists as needed in coordination with Belmont for Christian Festival Spring-Summer 2008 and Spring show in CURB event center.
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: Due to the duration of this course, attendance is critical and absences will affect your overall performance. Every meeting/ lecture will cover material necessary to this course. This course follows attendance policies as stated in the current Belmont University Bulletin—hence if you miss more than four (4) classes; you may be involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of “WF.” Additionally:
2. Materials: Provided online and in class.
3. Assignments/tasks: Assigned projects are considered complete when a documented timeline for execution along with final product is accepted per “professional” standards by both instructors of the course. Each project should itemize benchmarks, team member participation, and timelines that are developed jointly with the student team and faculty. The benchmark as well as the timeline will be measurable and specific. Additionally, each project will be expected to keep a “hard copy” of all activity to be submitted as well as virtual historical archive of learning objectives that can be used to standardize recurring projects types as well as periodic review. It is recognized that initial development of learning objective will be more intensive, but as course progresses faculty will move from an instructional to an advisory capacity
4. Testing: The course is based experiential learning per on project completion. There are no tests per se.
5. Basis of grade evaluation: As assignments are considered opportunities for learning. Grade Evaluation: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:
Grade Percent (GPA)
A 94 (4.0) A- 90 (3.7) B+ 87 (3.3) B 84 (3.0) B- 80 (2.7)
C+ 77 (2.3) C 74 (2.0) C- 70 (1.7) Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major.
D+ 67 D 64 D- 60 F < 60
Weight of grading will be distributed as follows: Weekly assignments/execution of tasks 70%
Attendance at Official Class Events 30%
However, All projects are based on iteration with faculty. Instructors will encourage and provide information and contacts for students to complete all assignments within a team effort. Instructor may request resubmission of any project or will reassign projects to another student and/or teams if the quality is extremely unacceptable. Redone assignments are subject to a final deduction at the instructor’s discretion. Unexcused absences are not considered an excuse for late completion.
6. Class Schedule: TBA Monday Nights 5-6PM. Out of class meetings are expected for individual team projects as well as activities in support of class activities.