History of The Recording Business
MBU 2130.01 [CRN 20238] (3 credits)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 is the first class
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 is the last class
Course: MBU 2130.01 “History of The Recording Business” 3 credits
Semester: 2008 Spring
Classroom: MC 200A
Instructor: Dr. E. Michael Harrington, Professor
Contacts: 615-460-5473 office emh666@aol.com
Office Hours: Massey 244
Class Meetings: 9:30-10:45 AM, Tuesday & Thursday
Final Exam: at the scheduled time and date
http://www.belmont.edu/registrar/final_exam_schedules/index.html
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 foundations of the recorded music business, which includes the development of recording labels, technology-driven changes, and recordings from 1877 to the present. Also discussed is the formation of the major recording labels and the development of the marketing structure whereby recorded music is exposed and sold to consumers.” (http://www.belmont.edu/catalog/undergrad2007jun/cemb/courses.html .)
Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the history, evolution and development of the popular music recording industry, along with its technology, music and musicians. The music of the recording industry covered will span from popular music and parlor songs of the 19th century to ragtime, blues, jazz, Tin Pan Alley, the Bristol sessions, country, songs of World Wars I and II, rhythm and blues, doo wop, rock & roll, soul, gospel, the British Invasion, psychedelic rock, art rock, jazz rock fusion, disco, punk, new wave, rap and hip hop and newer genres.
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 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.
Tests: In accordance with CEMB policy, there will be no make-up Exams. If the student misses an Exam, the Final Exam will count double. If the student misses two Exams, the Final Exam will count triple.
The student may choose to not take an Exam and let the Final Exam count double; however, the student will not be allowed to begin an Exam, decide not to finish and opt out. Once the student begins the Exam, the student must complete it.
If the student takes all five of the Exams, the lowest Exam grade will be dropped and the highest Exam grade will count twice in the computation of the student’s semester grade.
The Final Exam is mandatory, i.e., all students are required to take the Final Exam at the specific time and date.
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.
Materials: 1. The American Recording Industry by Don Cusic (Course Pack)
2. A no. 2 lead pencil for the four (4) Exams and Final Exam
Class: Students are expected to have completed the assigned readings for each class before the beginning of each class.
Grading:
Test 1: 20%
Test 2: 20%
Test 3: 20%
Test 4: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
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: The course is divided into four sections:
EXAM #1: 1800-1929: pp 1-143
EXAM #2: 1930-1954: pp. 144-269
EXAM #3: 1955-1977: pp 270-362
EXAM #4: 1978-2008: pp 363-406
Thu: 1/10: CLASS 1: 19th century; Minstrel Shows, Civil War, Vaudeville (pp 1-15)
Tue: 1/15: CLASS 2: Industrial Revolution, Invention of Phonograph, Graphophone,
Gramophone, Development of Victor and Columbia labels, Earliest recordings (pp 16-45)
Thu: 1/17: CLASS 3: Tin Pan Alley, Creation of ASCAP, 1909 Copyright Law, Invention of movies,
Development of Radio, World War I (pp 46-68)
Tue: 1/22: CLASS 4: The 1920s, Broadway, Harlem Renaissance, Development of Jazz (pp 69-105)
Thu: 1/24: CLASS 5: Development of Blues, Country and Gospel (black and white) music (pp 106-133)
Tue: 1/29: CLASS 6: Creation of RCA, Development of networks on radio, Recording companies of
1920s, "talkies" (pp 134-143)
Thu: 1/31: CLASS 7: EXAM #1 (pp 1-133) [1800-1929]
Tue: 2/5: CLASS 8: The Great Depression, Development of Decca, EMI, and Columbia Records with CBS,
Radio in 1930s, Bing Crosby (pp 144-165)
Thu: 2/7: CLASS 9: 1930’s: Blues & Country, development of jukeboxes, Singing Cowboys (pp 166-187)
Tue: 2/12: CLASS 10: Creation of BMI, airplay of records, pre-World War II; formation of Capitol; V-
Discs, Frank Sinatra; R&B and Country music (pp 200-219)
Thu: 2/14: CLASS 11: Pre-World War II and World War II
Tue: 2/19: CLASS 12: World War II and post-World War II (pp 220-237)
Thu: 2/21: CLASS 13: Rhythm and Blues and early Rock and Roll (pp 238-269)
Tue: 2/26: CLASS 14: EXAM #2 (pp 144-269) [1930-1954]
Thu: 2/28: CLASS 15: The Rock Revolution, creation of Warner Brothers; etc. (pp 270-293)
Tue: 3/4: CLASS 16: Folk Music, Brill Building, payola (pp 294-309)
Thu: 3/6: CLASS 17: The '60's: Part 1 (pp 317-359)
Tue: 3/11: CLASS 18: The '60's: Part 2 (pp 317-359)
Thu: 3/13: CLASS 19: The '60's: Part 3 (pp 317-359)
Tue: 3/18: CLASS 20: The 1970s; Tape, Deaths of Elvis and Bing Crosby (pp 360-362)
SPRING & EASTER Breaks: Thursday, March 20 – Sunday, March 31
Tue: 4/1: CLASS 21: EXAM #3 (pp 270-362) [1955-1977]
Thu: 4/3: CLASS 22: Disco/Dance; Early rap; Punk music (pp 363-372)
Tue: 4/8: CLASS 23: Digital Technology, MTV, Video, Cable TV; Hip Hop/Rap & country( pp 373-378)
Thu: 4/10: CLASS 24: History of Major Labels; Independent labels of 1980s & 90s (pp 379-390)
Tue: 4/15: CLASS 25: Creation of Internet; Radio consolidation; development of cell phones (pp 391-400)
Thu: 4/17: CLASS 26: Population trends; Retail & Wal-Mart; Soundscan; BDS; RIAA sales figures;
Napster (pp 401-406)
Tue: 4/22: CLASS 27: EXAM #4 (pp 363-406) [1978-2008]
Thu: 4/24: CLASS 28:
Tue: 4/29: CLASS 29: LAST CLASS
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