FALL 2008 SYLLABUS
MBU 4820: ARTIST MANAGEMENT (3 Hours)
Professor: J. Rush Hicks
Phone: 460-6473
Office: Rm. 223 (office hours posted)
e-mail: hicksr@mail.belmont.edu
Location/Class Hours: Tues, Thurs 2 PM – 3:15 PM in Room MC109
(Final - 2PM, Thursday, December 11, 2008)
Tues, Thurs 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Room MC109
(Final - 2 PM, Tuesday, December 16, 2008)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: An analysis of the various aspects of artist management including talent agencies, personal management, performance and recording contracts, tours, and artist promotion.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Throughout the course, students should learn to:
* Identify and distinguish between personal managers, business managers, tour managers and booking agencies.
* Explain how the recording artist can secure a recording contract.
* Describe the role of the manager in assisting the artist to achieve a successful career.
* Illustrate the various job functions of the tour manager, publicist, A & R rep at the label, concert promoter, booking agent, attorney and business manager.
* Examine different kinds of business entities and how they can benefit the artist.
* Understand the complexities of dealing with a band rather than a solo artist.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA: Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
* Identify and explain the roles of the various parties that assist the recording artist in their career, including the personal manager, booking agent, tour manager, business manager, publicist, record company representative, attorney and accountant.
* Contrast the different business entities and how they function.
* Describe the typical day-day activities of an artist and business manager.
* Analyze how teamwork helps the recording artist achieve success.
TEXT: No Text
PREREQUISITES: Music Publishing (MBU3450), Intellectual Property (MBU 3520) and Principles of Management (MGT 3110).
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."
READING ASSIGNMENTS & GUEST SPEAKERS: You are expected to come to class prepared to participate in class discussions. From time to time, reading materials may be assigned in class in which event you are responsible for having read the assigned materials. If available, I'll arrange to have guest speakers.
ATTENDANCE: The policies of the current Belmont University Undergraduate Bulletin will apply to this class (i.e., “Belmont University is committed to the idea that regular class attendance is essential to successful scholastic achievement”). Regular class attendance is expected. Since Belmont’s policy allows for a significant number of absences without any direct penalty, I do not make any distinction between excused and unexcused absences. You do not need to inform me of the reason for absences and absences will not directly affect your grade for the course except: (1) The failure to attend class on any exam date without the professor’s prior approval may result in a grade of 0 for such exam; and (2) exceptional attendance and participation may result in borderline grades for the course being rounded up (e.g., if your course grade based on exams and assignments is an 89, it could be rounded up to 90 giving you an A- rather than a B+ for the course).
GRADING: The grading system specified in the current Belmont Undergraduate Bulletin applies to this class. Exams, including the final, will be averaged to determine your grade. Plus and minus grading, but no A+, will be utilized. 95-100=A, 90-95=A-, 85-89=B+, 80-84=B-, 76-79=C+, 73-75=C, 70-72=C-, 60-69=D, Below 60=F.
ASSESSMENT TOOLS: The format for exams will consist of some or all of the following: multiple choice, true/false, matching, essay and short answer questions. The final will be comprehensive as required by College policy and will take place on the date specified by Belmont as finals week. University policy does not allow a change of date. Any exception must be approved in writing by the Provost. Each exam, including the final, will count 10% of your grade for a total of 50%.
CELL PHONES AND COMPUTERS: All cell phones, iPods and other hand-held electronic devices will be turned off during class. That means no text messaging. You can request to use a computer in class, but only to take notes and not to access the internet and/or check email.
CLASS DISCUSSION: Please do not distract other students by having conversations in class, speak loudly enough to be heard by the class, help keep discussions on track, be courteous and show respect when addressing others, and never monopolize discussions.
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, immediately notify the Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of Student Affairs (460-6407).
EXTRA CREDIT: Extra credit projects will not be allowed although exceptional attendance and participation in class may result in borderline grades for the course being rounded up (e.g., if your course grade based on exams and assignments is 89, it could be rounded up to 90, depending on your attendance and participation).
MANAGER INTERVIEW: Each student will meet with an artist's personal manager and have the manager answer the following questions. Then be prepared to give an oral presentation to the class as well as answer questions from the class. The report will count 25% of your grade.
What is your background (educational and experience)?
How did you get your start in the music business?
Which artists have your worked with in the past and who do you work with now?
If you work with a group, is that different that a solo artist?
Describe a typical day's activities if there is such a thing?
How do you view the future (technology and business models) in this industry?
IN-DEPTH STUDY OF DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND THEIR CAREERS: Throughout the semester, we will exam the background of various celebrities and the current issues surrounding their entertainment career. Each student's participation is required.
ELVIS/COLONEL TOM PARKER PROJECT: The last two weeks of the semester we will closely examine the relationship between Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley. Each student will be expected to write a three page-typed report about a particular period of time in Elvis' career. There are four major periods in his professional life, the mid-to-late 50s; the movie career beginning in the early 60s; the comeback in the late 60s and early 70s; and finally, his death and the estate issues in the late 70s. I will look closely at grammar, content, spelling and your historical research. This report will count 25% of your class grade.
Note: Please read this syllabus thoroughly and retain it until the end of the semester. It contains information, which should be useful to you in this course. By enrolling in this course and being supplied with a copy of this syllabus, you are subject to all of the requirements specified herein.
SCHEDULE OF READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS
Thursday, August 28, 2008 (first class)
Week One – BASICS OF ARTIST MANAGEMENT
Week Two – WHAT IS TALENT AND IS IT IMPORTANT
Week Three – LAUNCHING THE ARTIST’S CAREER
Week Four – FINDING A MANAGER/FINDING AN ARTIST
TEST
Week Five – MANAGER INTERVIEW
Fall Break (10/6-10/8)
Week Six – CONTRACT TERMS OF AN ARTIST MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
Week Seven – con’t
Week Eight – con’t
TEST
Week Nine – PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TEAM (Attorneys, Business Managers, Agents)
Week Ten – GETTING A RECORD DEAL AND IS IT STILL IMPORTANT
TEST
Week Eleven – REVIEW OF VARIOUS KINDS OF BUSINESS ENTITIES
Week Twelve - NEW BUSINESS MODELS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
TEST
Thanksgiving Break (11/26-11/28)
Week Thirteen – MANAGING THE ARTIST’S TOUR/HANDLING THE ARTIST’S MONEY
Week Fourteen – GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE INDUSTRY
Last Class Day (December 9) - PRESENTATION OF ELVIS PROJECT
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL