MBU 111020231: Survey of Music Business

Spring Semester 2007

Instructor: David L. Maddox, J.D. Office: 1207 17^th Avenue S., Suite 300

Phone: 329-0086 (O) 480-5131 (C) Email: maddoxd@mail.belmont.edu

Office Hours: by appointment Alternate email: david@dmaddox.com

Meeting Location: MBC 200B Class Meetings: M-W-F 1:00 PM to 1:50 PM.

IMPORTANT DATES:  NO CLASS DAYS: Spring Break: 3/5-3/9/07; Easter Break 4/5-4/8/07; May 2, Academic Preparation Day.

FINAL EXAM: Friday, May 4, Time: TBA

Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music: 1) To provide a personalized career-oriented and practical educational program in Music Business administration emphasizing the four themes of leadership, innovation, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship. 2) To equip students with the ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and make enlightened judgments about their environment. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of caring, Christian principles.

Honor Code: The Belmont community values personal integrity and academic honesty as the foundation of university life and the cornerstone of a premiere educational experience. Our community believes trust among its members is essential for both scholarship and effective interactions and operations of the University. As members of the Belmont community, students, faculty, staff, and administrators are all responsible for ensuring that their experiences will be free of behaviors which compromise this value. In order to uphold academic integrity, the University has adopted an Honor System. Students and faculty will work together to establish the optimal conditions for honorable academic work. Following is the Student Honor Pledge that guides academic behavior:

“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 the 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 Tammye Tanksley, Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of Student Affairs (460-6407) as soon as possible.

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. Guest Lecturers from the music industry may be utilized.

Course Objectives: This course is the foundation for all upper level music business courses. Upon completion of this course you should know the terminology and participants of the industry, their relationships and how the money flows from music consumers to music creators. This course will introduce the student to the multitude of job opportunities in the industry.

Course Outcomes: After completion of the course you should:

· Have a thorough understanding of the major revenue streams of the music industry

· Be able to trace the cash flows from music consumers, through the major revenue streams, to the artists and writers.

· Be able to identify members of the revenue streams, their roles in the industry, and the basics of the contracts that define their relationships

· Name the major entertainment conglomerates and their country of domicile

· Have a basic understanding of copyright law with respect to the entertainment industry

· Understand the process of taking an idea for a song through the system and presenting it to the public for sale, including recording costs and concert promotion.

Performance Criteria

Identify and describe the participants in the major revenue streams.

Graph the flow of licensing revenue from the source to the artist, publisher and/or writer.

Calculate mechanical royalty payments to publisher for any given release.

Calculate the expenses associated with a master recording session.

Assess if a particular concert scenario should be profitable for the promoter and artist.

Course Requirements

1. Attendance: "Belmont University is committed to the idea that regular class attendance is essential to successful scholastic achievement. Absence is permitted only in cases of illness or other legitimate cause. Attendance is checked from the first class meeting, so late registrants will have some absences accrued when they first meet a class. When the number of absences for any reason exceeds four times the number of scheduled class meetings per week (25% of class meetings during Summer term), the student is involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of “WF.” Appeal is to the Provost." This and additional academic policies may be found in the online catalog. If you are not going to attend class you are expected to call or send an email in advance. This does not automatically excuse your absence.

2. Electronic Device Policy: You are generally free to use notebook computers or other electronic devices (e.g., PDAs, etc.) in class to take notes. However, use of any electronic and/or digital device (whether now known or hereafter in existence) during exams or assignments is strictly prohibited unless I give specific permission otherwise (e.g., a take-home exam or assignment requiring you to use Internet resources, etc.). Cell phone use (i.e., calling and receiving calls, sending and receiving text messages, etc.) in class is prohibited since such activity can be disruptive to other students. All use of computers and other electronic devices is also subject to any applicable policies of Belmont University.

3. Reading Assignments & Participation: You are expected to come to class prepared to participate in class discussions. Participation includes the responsibility of having read any assigned materials prior to class. This is exceptionally important and if you do not keep up with the assigned reading, you will likely fall behind and your performance may suffer accordingly. Additional reading materials may be assigned in class, by e-mail and/or posted on the course webpage.

4. Materials: TEXT: “All You Need To Know About The Music Business” by Donald S. Passman, Free Press Publisher, 6^th Edition. Students must have their own calculator and No. 2 pencils during exams. Belmont provides all students with an email account. If you prefer to be contacted using another email provider you are responsible to be sure that the account is in working order. Information on how to forward your Belmont email to other email accounts is available from the friendly folks in the Massey computer lab.

5. Testing: There will be 5 Quizzes that are worth 12 points each for a total of 60 points. The final exam will count 40 points. The approximate dates of the Quizzes are listed below, but I reserve the right to re-schedule the quizzes to fit the coverage of the class material.

6. Grading Scale:
A= 100 - 90; B= 89 - 80; C= 79 - 70; D= 69 - 60; F= Below 60. Grades will NOT be curved.

Quizzes (5)	60 points
Final	40 points
TOTAL	100 points

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

Day #	WEEK OF	SUBJECT	READING
1	January 10	Introduction
2	January 12	Introduction; Copyright Basics	Ch. 1 p. 1-10; Ch 15; 197-205
3	January15	Advanced Copyright Concepts	Ch. 20; pp. 285-299
4	January 17	More Adv. Copyright Concepts	Ch. 21; p. 300-316
5	January 19	Trademarks
6	January 22	Quiz I	Chs. 1, 15, 20, 21 & TM’s
7	January 24	Music Publishing	Ch. 16; pp. 206-228
8	January 26	Secondary Publishing Income	Ch. 17; 229-26
9	January 29	Music Publishing – Speaker	Ch 16; Ch. 17
10	January 31	Publishing-Contracts, PROs	Ch 18; 250-272
11	February 2	Co-Pub. And Admin.	Ch 19; pp. 273-284
12	February 5	Quiz II approx.	Chs. 16, 17, 18. & 19
13	February 9	Record Deals	Ch 7 pp. 61-77
14	February 12	Record Deals	Ch 7 pp. 61-77
15	February 12	Record Co. Speaker
16	February 14	Advances & Recoupment	Ch. 8 pp. 78-82
17	February 16	Amounts of Advances; Royalties	Ch. 9 pp. 83-94
18	February 19	Other Major Deal Points	Ch. 10; pp. 95-113
19	February 21	Production & A & R	Ch 7 pp. 139-168
20	February 23	Advanced Royalty Computations	Ch 13, pp. 151-175
21	February 26	Quiz III	Chs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 13.
22	February 26	Personal Managers	Ch. 3; pp 27-40
23	February 28	Personal Manager Speaker
24	March 2	Business Managers	Ch. 4; pp. 41-47
25		Business Manager Speaker
26	March 5-11	Booking Agents	Ch. 6; pp. 54-60
27	March 12	Booking Agent Speaker
28	March 14	Personal Managers & Bus. Mgrs.	Ch. 3; Ch.4 pp. 41-47.
29	March 16	SPRING BREAK 3/5-3/11
30	March 19	Review Mgrs, Bus. Mgr. & Agents	Chs. 3, 4, & 6
31	March 21	Quiz IV	Chs. 3, 4, & 6
32	March 23	Touring	Ch. 23
33	March 26	Touring	Ch. 23
34	March 28	Merchandising	Ch. 24
35	March 30	Speaker	Ch. 24
36	April 2	Merchandising
37	April 4	Retail Merchandising
	EASTER BRK 4/5-4/8	EASTER BRK 4/5-8	EASTER BRK 4/5-8
38	April 9	Review Touring, Merchandising
39	April 11	Quiz V	Ch. 23 & 24
40	April 13	The Artist Team	Ch. 2; pp. 11-26
41	April 16	Entertainment Attorneys	Ch. 5; pp. 48-53
42	April 18	Attorney Speaker	Ch. 5; pp. 48-53
43	April 20	Group Issues	Ch. 22; pp. 317-338
44	April 23	Business entities
45	April 25	Business entities
46	April 27	Motion Picture Music	Chs. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31; pp. 383-420
47	April 30	Motion Picture Music	Chs. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31; pp. 383-420
48	May 2 last day class	Review	All chapters above
	May 4 FINAL EXAM	Time: TBA	All chapters above

DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY CLASS OR E-MAIL ANNOUNCEMENT!