FALL 2007 SYLLABUS

MBU 4820: ARTIST MANAGEMENT

 

Note: Please read this syllabus thoroughly and retain it until the end of the semester since 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 will be subject to all of the requirements specified herein.

 

Professor:                              J. Rush Hicks

Phone:                                    460-6473

Office:                                    Rm. 222

e-mail:                                     hicksr@mail.belmont.edu

Location/Class Hours:        Tues, Thurs 2 PM – 3:15 PM in Room MC210 (Final - May 3, 2007)

                                                Tues, Thurs 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Room MC210 (Final - May 8, 2007)

 

                EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND           MUSIC   BUSINESS:

 

                The following objectives will be applied toward course completion:

 

                *              To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership,                                           innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.

                *              To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility,                  make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments.

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

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An analysis of the various aspects of artist management including talent agencies, personal management, performance and recording contracts, tours, and artist promotion.  This 3-hour course will provide an overview of the relationship between the recording artist and manager.  Topics include finding a manager, understanding the key terms of a management contract, addressing the business state of the artist's career, managing the Artist's money, employing a professional support team, mapping out the artist's career, assisting the artist in securing and negotiating a record deal, developing global opportunities and managing the artist's tour. 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  After completing this course, students will be able to: 

 

*              Identify and distinguish between personal managers, business managers, tour managers    and booking agencies.

*              Describe how the recording artist successfully secures a record contract with the                 assistance of the artist's personal manager.

*              Explain the role of the personal manager in assisting the artist to achieve success as an      artist.

*              List the various job functions of the tour manager, publicist, music publisher, A & R rep,    attorney                 and business manager.

*              Understand the different kinds of business entities and how they function on behalf of the                artist.

 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:

 

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

 

*              Compare and contrast the roles of the various parties needed by the recording artist            including the personal manager, booking agent, tour manager, business manager,                         publicist, music publisher, record company representative, attorney and accountant.

*              Understand the different business entities and how they function.

*              Describe the day-day activities of an artist and business manager.

*              Demonstrate the team-work required for the artist to achieve success.

 

TEXT: This Business of Artist Management (4th Edition), by Frascogna and Hetherington, Billboard Books

 

PREREQUISITES:                Music Publishing (MBU3450), Intellectual Property (MBU 3520) and Principles of Management (MGT 3110).

 

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.  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.  From time to time, 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).  It is solely your responsibility to keep up with your absences.

 

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.

 

EXAMS:                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 me to change this date and exceptions must be approved in writing by the Provost. Each exam will count 20% of your grade for a total of 80%.

 

                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."

 

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).

 

MATERIAL COVERED:     The first test will cover chapters one, two, three, four & five.  The second test will cover chapters six, seven & eight.  The third test will cover chapters nine through thirteen.  The fourth test will cover chapters fourteen through eighteen.  The final will be comprehensive as well as include material over chapters twenty, twenty-one and twenty-four. Because of guest speakers and their schedules, it is difficult to predict exactly when certain material will be covered in class.  Additionally, some chapters are more extensive than others.  However, you can reasonably anticipate discussing one chapter each class period during the semester and then a test will follow covering the chapters listed above.

 

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:  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 before mid-semester and answer questions from the class.  The report will count 10% 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?

Describe a typical day's activities?

How do you view the future (technology and business models) in this industry?

 

ELVIS/COLONEL TOM PARKER PROJECT:  The last month of the semester we will closely examine the relationship between Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley.  Each student will be expected to write a two-to-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 10% of your class grade.

 

                CELL PHONES AND COMPUTERS:                All cell phones, Ipods and other hand-held electronic devices   will be turned off during class.  Computers shall not access the internet or check emails unless the instructor makes this a part of the class lecture.