Survey of Music Business

 

MBU 1110.05             [CRN 20232]              (3 credits)

 

Tuesday & Thursday            9:30 – 10:45 AM

 

Thursday, January 11, 2007 is the first class

Tuesday, May 1, 2007 is the last class

Tuesday, May 8, 2007 [8:00 AM] is the final exam

 

Spring 2007

 

Syllabus

 

(Supplementary course materials will also be found at www.emichaelharrington.com)

 

 

Course:                 MBU 1110.05 [CRN 20232], “Survey of Music Business”            3 credits

Semester:               2007 Spring

Class Location:     MC 103

Instructor:             Dr. E. Michael Harrington, Professor               

www.emichaelharrington.com

Contacts:               615-460-5473 office              emh666@aol.com

Office Hours:        Massey 350-B

7:30-9:20 AM and 2:00-4:00 PM Tuesday

7:30-9:20 AM Thursday

and by appointment

Class Meetings:   9:30-10:45 AM, Tuesday & Thursday 

Final Exam:            Tuesday, May 8, 2007 [8:00 AM] is the final exam

 

 

 

Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music:  1) To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.  2) To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.

 

Course Description:  A study of the major areas of Music Business. Attention is given to the practical application as well as the theoretical foundations. In-depth study of organizations and a general overview of the industry [sic]. Guest lecturers from the music industry may be utilized.”  (This course description is copied verbatim from   http://www.belmont.edu/catalog/undergrad2006jun/cemb/courses.html .)

 

 

Learning Outcomes:  Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of music copyright, publishing, songwriting, licensing, management, promotion, merchandising, markets and marketing, administration, contracts and career options in the music and entertainment industries.    Students will analyze, discuss, critique and debate  contemporary issues facing the music and entertainment industry in areas including copyright law, the digital transmission of intellectual property, media consolidation, entrepreneurship and new business models.

 

Dishonest Behavior/Cheating:  Unless otherwise specified, all work by a student during the semester, inside or outside of a classroom, is to be done independently, i.e., a student's work is to be his/her own and done without the aid of any person, book, notes, websites, etc.  Any work not done independently is considered dishonest behavior/cheating.

 

The class will adhere to the Belmont University Honor System, found at the following site:

 

                http://www.belmont.edu/studentaffairs/bruinguide/conduct_code/honor_system/honor_pledge.html

 

The Belmont University Student Honor Pledge is stated below:

 

“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.

 

 

Class attendance:  Class attendance is very important as class discussions and lecture material are central to the course.  Students are expected to be present when class begins and remain in class until its conclusion. Attendance for each class will be taken.

 

Arriving late or leaving early is considered a 0.5 absence, and WILL be factored into the student’s grade. 

Attending less than 25 minutes of a class meeting is considered 1.0 absence.

 

A student who arrives late for class, or leaves early, must inform the professor of his/her attendance on that day, otherwise the attendance record will indicate that the student missed 1.0 class instead of 0.5 class.

 

8.5 absences (or more) WILL result in a grade of “F.”   This policy applies to all students, including seniors who expect to graduate.

 

Students who arrive late on the day when a test or quiz is given will not be allowed to take the test or quiz.

 

Tests:   Tests can only be made up if there is an excused absence, approved in advance by the professor or the Office of the Provost, and the professor is notified no later than twenty-four hours after the exam was given. Failure to notify and/or provide a valid, written excuse if requested will result in a grade of zero.  Quizzes may or may not be announced in advance.  Quizzes cannot be made up.

 

A missed test can only be made up after the student has completed the final exam.  (The final and makeup exam will take place in the classroom.)  The test will be comprehensive in nature and will count in place of the missing test grade.  Only one missed test can be made up. 

 

It is the student’s responsibility to inform the professor, via email, of his/her intention to take the makeup exam.   The professor must be notified, via email, of the student’s intention to take the makeup test, at least three days before the Tuesday, May 8, 2007 date for the makeup exam.

 

Quizzes:   Quizzes may or may not be announced.  Quizzes cannot be made up.

 

Homework:   Homework will not be accepted late.

 

Cell phone/computer/PDA policy:

 

Students may use a personal computer in class to take notes, but NOT to surf the Internet, read/write email, etc. 

PDA’s can only be used to take notes  - Internet use with PDA’s is also forbidden.

Cell phones MUST be turned off in class. 

Headphones/earbuds cannot be used or worn in class.

 

 

 

Textbook:              All You Need To Know About The Music Business (Sixth Edition) by Donald S. Passman

                                Free Press, New York          ISBN:      13: 978-0-7432-9318-1

 

Internet:                The student may frequently be required to read from contemporary online news resources such as the New York Times (reading and downloading are free but registration is necessary), Billboard, Wired, Tech Law Journal, Future of Music Coalition, Digital Music News, Hollywood Reporter and others.  The NY Times, Billboard, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Deep Links, Wired, Tech Law Journal, Future of Music Coalition, Digital Music News, CNET, Hollywood Reporter and emichaelharrington.com can be found at:               

 

www.nytimes.com

                                http://www.billboard.com/bb/index.jsp

www.eff.org/deeplinks/

www.wired.com

                                                                www.techlawjournal.com

                                www.futureofmusic.org

                                http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/

                                http://www.cnet.com/

                                http://www.hollywoodreporter.com

                                http://emichaelharrington.com/

 

                               

Because many articles found online are posted for only 24 hours (especially those from the NY Times), students will have to read and/or download articles from the Internet in a timely manner, purchase the articles, or perform a Lexis Nexis search.

 

Assignments:       Individual and group assignments will be given throughout the semester.

 

Class:   Students are expected to have completed the assignments and assigned readings for each class before the beginning of each class.  Students can expect to be tested for their completion of the assignments and comprehension of the assigned readings for each class at the beginning of each class meeting, or at any time during the class meeting.

 

Grading:               

               

Quizzes & Assignments:                    20%

Test 1:                                                    12.5%

Test 2:                                                    12.5%

Test 3:                                                    12.5%

Test 4:                                                    12.5%

Final                                                       30%

               

 

                A+ =       95 - 100

                A   =       92 - 94

                A-  =       89  - 91

                B+ =        87 – 88

                B   =        83 – 86

                B-  =        79 – 82

                C+ =        77 – 78

                C   =        73 – 76

                C-  =        69 – 72

                D+ =       67 – 68

                D   =        63 – 66

                D-  =       60 – 62

                F    =       0   - 59

 

 

Changes in Syllabus:  In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the professor reserves the right to deviate from the syllabus.

 

Class schedule:

 

 

Week 1                   Thursday               1/11         Chapters 1-2          [pp. 1-26]                              

 

Introduction to the course. bibliography, traditional and cyber resources, audio and video resources, current issues,

parties, interests, organizations, legislation, etc.

 

 

Week 2                   Tuesday                1/16         Chapters 3-4          [pp. 27-47]

                                Thursday               1/18         Chapters 4-5          [pp. 41-53]

 

Week 3                   Tuesday                1/23         Chapter 6               [pp. 54-58]  & Review

                                Thursday               1/25         TEST 1  Chapters 1-6

 

Week 4                   Tuesday                1/30         Chapter 7               [pp. 61-77]

                                Thursday               2/1           Chapters 8-9          [pp. 78-94]

 

Week 5                   Tuesday                2/6           Chapter 10             [pp. 95-113]

                                Thursday               2/8           Chapter 11             [pp. 114-126]

 

Week 6                   Tuesday                2/13         Chapters 12-13      [pp. 127-175]

                                Thursday               2/15         Chapter 14             [pp. 176-194]  & Review

 

Week 7                   Tuesday                2/20         TEST 2    Chapters 7-14

                                Thursday               2/22         Chapter 15             [pp. 197-205]

 

Week 8                   Tuesday                2/27         Chapters 15-16      [pp. 206-228]

                                Thursday               3/1           Chapter 16             [pp. 197-205]

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Spring Break:        Saturday, March 3 – Sunday, March 11, 2007

 

 

Week 9                   Tuesday                3/13         Chapters 17-18      [pp. 229-272]

                                Thursday               3/15         Chapters 18-19      [pp. 250-284]

 

Week 10                 Tuesday                3/20         Chapters 20-21      [pp. 285-313]

                                Thursday               3/22         Review

                               

Week 11                 Tuesday                3/27         TEST 3    Chapters 15-21

                                Thursday               3/29         Chapter 22             [pp. 317-336]

 

Week 12                 Tuesday                4/3           Chapter 23             [pp. 339-358]

                                Thursday               4/5           Chapters 24-25      [pp. 361-374]

 

Week 13                 Tuesday                4/10         Chapters 26-27      [pp. 377-385]

                                Thursday               4/12         Chapters 28-30      [pp. 386-415]

 

Week 14                 Tuesday                4/17         Chapter 31-33        [pp. 416-429]

                                Thursday               4/19         Review

 

Week 15                 Tuesday                4/24         TEST 4   Chapters 22-33

                                Thursday               4/26         TBA, Review

 

Week 16                 Tuesday                5/1           LAST Day of class, Review