Belmont University-Record
Company Operations –
MBU 3630 all sections Spring
2007
Instructor: Mr. David
Herrera-Office: 227MBC
Office Phone: 460-6908 Cell
Phone 419-2954
Email: herrerad@mail.belmont.edu
Introduction:
This
interdisciplinary course is designed to give students the opportunity to work
together in a competitive, teamwork situation in the development of, and the
promotion/marketing of music artists as well as experience the actual
operations inherent of a record company. This course delivers a broad practicum
experience representative of actual operations from A to Z. This should allow
the students to view of all aspects of operations. Each semester the concepts
and skills, developed in close coordination with local record companies, are
presented and reflective of the reading and instructional material presented in
class.
Course Description: This course organizes the areas
and operations of a record company. Emphasis is placed on A&R, Creative
Services, Promotion, Royalty Distribution, In-House Production, Marketing,
Publicity, and Independent vs. Major Label Issues.
Course
Objectives:
- Gain insight/define
and gain practical applications in the structure, organization and
operation of a typical record label
- Gain insight into
the ongoing study of contemporary issues and problems relating to the
recording industry.
- Gain knowledge of
practical applications in the creation, development, manufacturing and
promotion of a recorded product.
- Understand the
administrative and accounting procedures of a record company.
- Understand the
process and gain insight into the ongoing study of contemporary issues and
problems relating to record Company environment both from an independent,
as well as a major label group.
- Understand shifting
dynamics of the digital environment as well as the possible implication
with current models.
- To stimulate the
development of professional qualities/time management leading to
professional excellence in project management, implementation and team
excellence and respect for self and other team members.
- To define the
component parts of record company operation (A&R / Business Affairs /
Contracts / Production / Marketing Set up / Radio / Media / Manufacturing
/ Distribution / Retail.
- To understand the
central motivation of music purchase models and the organization and
purpose of the marketing plan.
- To offer
opportunities to engage students with local artists and community partners
in community service learning though engagement of activity as well as
developing exposure with local artists.
Materials: Textbook: Indie Marketing Power, by Peter Spellman (2006). Music Business Solutions
Web Site:
Additional readings/handouts will be delivered at "campus.belmont.edu/herrerad”
You will be notified if additional
sites are to be used.
Accommodation
of Disabilities: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable
accommodations 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.
Attendance: Due to the duration of this course,
attendance is critical and absences will affect your overall performance. Every 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 eight classes;
you may be involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of “WF.” Additionally:
- Excused
absence: Given only if the
instructor is given prior notice, and the absence for dire a reason (death
in family, accident, extremely sick, etc.).
- Additional accepted
excuses are official university sanctioned events with an excuse from the
Provosts office
Course Requirements
Participation:
This
course will involve discussion, lecture, and projects/assignments. Your success will be determined by your
efforts, and will be reflected on your final evaluation.
Performance
Criteria-Assignments: Short individual and team assignments will be given relating
to class material and are due on assigned dates given in class. Assignments are
to be “Hard Copied” to instructor
unless requested otherwise. Details presented
in class and assignments, as well as due dates are posted online
(campus.belmont.edu/herrerad). Students must be able to successfully complete
and demonstrate competence understanding, creating, and executing:
Grading: All assignments are
returned graded with comments. In rare cases, I may request a redo if the
quality is extremely unacceptable and redone assignments are subject to a final
deduction at the instructors discretion. Assignments are due during class time—but
will be accepted until 3:00 the same day. Late assignments should be placed
under the professors door (MBC Rm. 227). Late assignments are deducted at one
letter grade for each day late—if assignment is due on Tuesday, Thursday will
be considered late. After three days, assignments are not accepted. Dates due
are posted on web and given in class lecture. Not being present for assignment
is not considered an excuse for late completion.
Team projects/assignments: If the team assignment
is incomplete the assignment will be accepted but grade will be deducted for
missing segment. Same deductions apply
for late team assignments as individual assignments. There will additionally be
a peer evaluation given to teams at the mid-term and final week of class, with
the average contribution score (0-100%) applied to the final grade for team
assignments, as well as final project. (Peer evaluation rates Participation,
Meeting Team Deadlines, Cooperation with team, Work Quality, & Amount of
contribution.
It
is your responsibility to track due dates and assignments completion. All assignments
are online at campus.belmont.edu/herrerad.
Quiz/Exams: There will quizzes
(short exams) during the session. These cover all assigned readings,
discussions, assignments, and all other materials presented. Quizzes may not be
“made up” if absent, unless excused though official university function.
Quizzes consist of a variety of question types: multiple choice, true/false,
short answer, matching, or essay questions.
Quiz grades are final and are traditional grading scales (0-100%)
TEAM Final Project:
Based
on the artist you choose to work with, you will develop an overall budget, proposal
for project, marketing plan, representative licenses, bio, distribution/web
delivery, and radio breakout/tour for artist as a start up record company. There
is a 2-3 week timeline for this project. Your final proposal will be presented
in class to representative executives and band members if available, or
presented personally to target label for consideration on final day of class. Final
proposal is a hard copy of all deliverables in a bound format, along with demo
CD of Artist. Final version will be graded traditionally (0-100%).More details
to be given in class.
Final Exam:
Final
exam is chosen from short answer questions, problem sets, essay combinations,
and/or Final Project submission.
