BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS
COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course:                        Music Publishing 3450.04

 

Instructor:                     Mr. Ashley Gorley

                                    gorleymp@yahoo.com

                                    (615) 498-5125 (for urgent contact only)

 

Credit:                          3 hours

Class Location: ROOM 103

Meeting Time:               M W F 9:00- 9:50

Final Exam:                   Monday, May 7th, 8:00 AM

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  A study of music publishing.  The course deals with contracts, music licensing, songwriters, royalties, catalog management and 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

To provide a personalized career-oriented and practical educational program in Business Administration which emphasizes the four themes of: leadership, innovation, private enterprise, and entrepreneurship.

To equip students with the ability to (1) communicate effectively, (2) think critically, and (3) make enlightened judgments about their environment.

To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of Christian principles.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: 

1.      Music Money and Success by Jeffrey and Todd Brabec (2002-2003 edition, Schirmer Books).  Available at Belmont bookstore and several local bookstores.

2.      Internet-- Students must have access to internet/email in order to visit assigned websites as well as receiving/submitting assignments from the instructor. 

HONOR CODE:  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 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 this Honor Pledge.”

ATTENDANCE:  It is my expectation that you attend all of the class meetings.  Absence is permitted only in cases of illness, family emergencies, or other legitimate causes.  You must contact the instructor prior to the absence so he can determine whether or not the absence will be excused.  For a full explanation of the attendance policy see pages 57 and 58 or the current University Bulletin.  Attendance and class participation counts toward your final grade.

ACCOMODATION 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 Tammy Taklsley, Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of the Dean of Students (460-6407) as soon as possible.

ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS:

Mid-term exam                                                             20%

Final exam                                                                                30%

Quizzes (10% each)                                                                  20%

Report                                                                                      10%

‘Who Would You Sign?’ Project                                              10%

Class participation (attendance/discussion participation) 10%

 

Half of your grade will be determined by the mid-term and final examinations.  These tests will be a combination of multiple choice and short essay.  Reports will be submitted by the beginning of class on the due dates stated in the syllabus.  No reports will be accepted late and make-up dates for exams or quizzes will not be given.

 

GRADING SCALE:  97-100= A+, 93-96= 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-, 0-59=F

CLASS SCHEDULE (subject to change)

 

Wed.  Jan. 10                        Introduction/ syllabus

 

Fri.  Jan. 12                            Music Publishers and What They Do                                              Chap. 1, pp 1-10

 

Mon. Jan 15                          NO CLASS

 

Wed. Jan 17                          Music Publishing History 

 

Fri. Jan 19                              Songwriter/publisher relationship                                                       Read Chapter 1

 

Mon. Jan 22                          Publishing company functions and employees                                Read Chapter 1

 

Wed. Jan 24                          Publishing company functions and employees                              Chap. 1, pp 1-10

 

Fri. Jan 26                              Songwriters, types of deals                                                                Chap. 1, pp 11-28

 

Mon. Jan 29                          Departments/ Sources of income                                                      Chap. 1,pp  28-52

 

Wed. Jan. 31                         Sources of income/ types of royalties                                             

 

Fri. Feb. 2                              QUIZ 1

 

Mon. Feb. 5                           Songwriter contracts                                                           Review Chap. 1, pp 11-24

 

Wed. Feb. 7                           Songwriter contracts                                                                           Sample Contract

 

Fri. Feb. 9                               Co-publishing, admin. deals                                                                 Read Chapter 2

 

Mon. Feb. 12                         Mechanical licensing and royalties                                            Harry Fox handouts

 

Wed. Feb. 14                         Synchronization fees, TV and film licensing                                   Chapters 7 and 8

 

Fri. Feb. 16                             Films, commercials, jingles                                                  Chapters 8 and 9

 

Mon. Feb. 19                         Performance Rights Organizations- history and function                Read Chapter 7

 

Wed. Feb. 21                         ASCAP, BMI, SESAC—reading the statements                        Sample statements

 

Fri. Feb. 23                             ASCAP, BMI, SESAC                                                                 Sample statements

 

Mon. Feb. 26                         Grand rights, Broadway                                                                                Chapter 11

 

Wed. Feb. 28                         Subpublishing, foreign royalties                                                                 Chapter 13

 

Fri. Mar. 2                            MID-TERM EXAM

 

Mon. Mar. 5                          SPRING BREAK- no class

 

Wed. Mar. 7                          SPRING BREAK- no class

 

Fri. Mar. 9                              SPRING BREAK- no class

 

 

CLASS SCHEDULE continued

 

Mon. Mar. 12                        Catalog acquisitions                                                                            Read Chapter 15

 

Wed. Mar. 14                        Joint ventures                                                                                          Read Chapter 3

 

Fri. Mar. 16                            New media and technology                                                                Read Chapter 12                                   

Mon. Mar. 19                        New media and copyright issues                                                     Read Chapter 12                                                 

Wed. Mar. 21                        New media and copyright issues                                              Chapter 12, web sites

 

Fri. Mar. 23                            Putting it all together                                                                  Chapter 14/ flowchart

 

Mon. Mar. 26                        QUIZ #2                                                                                           End of text

 

Wed. Mar. 28                       Getting practical—Breaking into the business

 

Fri. Mar. 30                          Getting Practical- Breaking into the business                                                     guest

                                                REPORT DUE

 

                                                So you wanna be a…

Mon. Apr. 2                          Songwriter

 

Wed. Apr. 4                          Finding and signing writers—class project

 

Fri. Apr. 6                              EASTER BREAK—NO CLASSr

 

Mon. Apr. 9                          So you wanna be an… artist/writer               

 

Wed. Apr. 11                        Demos/ recording, costs and accounting

 

Fri. Apr. 13                            Demos vs. worktapes

 

                                                So you wanna be a…

Mon. Apr. 16                        Songplugger/ creative director                                                                handouts                                                                                                                      

Wed. Apr. 18                        Songplugger                                                                                                            guest

 

Fri. Apr. 20                            Is this a good deal? Pt. one-- memos

 

Mon. Apr. 23                        Is this a good deal? Pt. two-- renegotiations

 

Wed. Apr. 25                        Running a publishing company                                                                             guest

 

Fri. Apr. 27                            Starting a publishing company

 

Mon. Apr. 30                        LAST DAY OF CLASS—wrap up and review for FINAL

 

Wed. May 2                          NO CLASS (Academic Prep Day)/ optional studying/advising time

 

Fri. May 4                             FINAL EXAM at 8:00 AM

                                                Good luck!

 

DATES IN BOLD indicate that there is an EXAM or REPORT DUE on that day