MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:                  Music Publishing

Course #:                      MBU 3450.01 – 8:00-8:50 MWF

& Meeting Times:          Final Exam: May 2 @ 8:00

                                    MBU 3450.02 – 9:00-9:50 MWF

                                    Final Exam: May 5 @ 8:00

                                    MBU 3450.03 – 11:00-11:50 MWF

                                    Final Exam: May 1 @ 11:00                 

Credit Hrs:                     3         

Semester:                     Spring 2008

Class Location:              MC 200A                                                                      

Professor:                     James I. Elliott, M.A.   

Office: 34 Music Square East

Monday – 12:30-4:00, Tuesday 8:00-12:00

Additional hours – M-W-F – 10:00 – 11:00 Advising Center

Contacts:                      Phone:  460-5513          Email: elliottj@mail.belmont.edu

 

Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business: 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 music publishing.  The course deals with contracts, foreign publishing, catalog development, setting up a publishing company, demo sessions and licensing.

 

Learning Outcomes:     The student will demonstrate:

 

 

·         An ability to define the role music publishing in the entertainment & music business

 

·         An ability to perform the administration tasks of a music publisher

 

·         An ability to illustrate the creative tasks of a music publisher

 

·         An ability to define how musical works are exploited

 

·         An ability to compute mechanical royalties

 

·         An ability to communicate effectively

 

·         An awareness of the changing nature of music publishing

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Criteria: Students will:

 

 

·         Demonstrate the application of copyright owner’s exclusive rights.

 

·         Demonstrate the major income streams of music publishers.

 

·         Solve research problems through the application of music publishing industry methods.

 

·         Demonstrate the key tenets of songwriter contracts.

 

·         Demonstrate the methods utilized by the Performing Rights Organizations to collect performance royalties.

 

·         Identify the major global music publishing companies

 

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.”

 

 

“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 (460-6407) as soon as possible.”

 

Course Requirements:

 

1.     Attendance:  It is my recommendation that you attend all of the class meetings for the best learning experience.  Absence is permitted only in case of illness or family emergencies.  For a complete explanation of the attendance policy see the Belmont University Bulletin online.

 

2.     Materials:  1. Music, Money and Success by Jeffrey & Todd Brabec, 5th Edition, Schirmer Books.

                          2. Websites listed on class schedules

 

3.     Prepared assignments:        

Research Reports: Each student will submit 3 Music Publishing Research Reports on the dates stated in the syllabus under Class Schedule.  Each report must include one article relating to some aspect of music publishing stapled to a one-page typed analysis of the article written by the student.   Suggested print sources include Billboard, Radio & Records, Music Row, CCM Update, the Tennessean, Hollywood Reporter and Variety.  Articles relating to music publishing from the Internet are also permitted as long as it is a reputable source. Your paper should give a brief description of the article’s main points and how it relates to Music Publishing (If not obvious).  If it is not related to music publishing in any way, it will be given a zero. 

 

1) MUST be typed and at least one page (single or double spaced).

1) MUST include your name.

2) MUST be stapled. (No bending of corners or paper clips).

3) MUST include a copy of the article.  I need a copy of the article, NOT a web link.

4) MUST be turned in at class – No e-mailed papers will be accepted.

5) MUST NOT BE LATE. 

These reports may be discussed in class

 

Research Speech: Each student is required to prepare and present a three to five minute speech on some aspect of music publishing. The speech should be an informative speech delivered extemporaneously from a prepared outline. The student may choose any subject matter that relates to music publishing with the exception of an overview of ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, SOCAN, NMPA or HFA. A paper on a specific area of a PRO may be permissible, i.e. comparing the Internet licensing of the PROs. Other options for research include copyright legislation, international music publishing issues, industry trade groups, specific publishing companies, new media publishing issues, etc.Speech topics must be submitted to the professor on or before March 17. If the topic submitted has already been taken by another student, you will receive an email from the professor informing you that another topic must be chosen. An outline of the speech must be submitted to the professor on Monday, April 7th. A minimum of three sources are required and must be cited on the outline. The course text book may not be used as one of the three sources.

4.     Testing:  3 tests will be given in the class on the dates stated under class schedule.    NO MAKE UP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN.

 

5.     Basis of grade evaluation:  (Each assignment shall carry an equal weight of 20%)

The three research reports = 20%, 3 tests = 20% each, speech = 20 % each

 

Grading scale:  93-100 = 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-,

59 and below = F

 

Cell Phones and Computers:    All cell phones, ipods and other hand-held electronics devices must be turned off during class. Computers are permitted in the classroom for note taking only.

 

6.         Class Schedule:

 

Wed.    Jan. 9              Introduction/class syllabus

Fri.       Jan. 11            Music Publishing History

Mon.    Jan. 14            Music Publishers and What They Do                        Read pages 1-9

                                    Inner Workings of a Music Publisher

                                    Songwriter-Music Publisher Relationship

Wed.    Jan. 16            Income sources for Publishers                      Read pages 30-56     

Fri.       Jan. 18            Deal proposals/Songwriter contracts             Read Chapter 2         

Mon.    Jan. 21            No class                                                          KING HOLIDAY        

Wed.    Jan. 23            Co-Publishing and Administration                 

Fri.       Jan. 25            Co-Ventures and Joint Ventures                    Read Chapter 3

Mon.    Jan. 28            Copyright Law                                                 Read Chapter 4

Wed.    Jan. 30            Recording Artist Publishing Agreements       Read Chapter 5

                                    Print Licensing                                                www.ccli.com

Fri.       Feb. 1              Mechanical Licensing                                     pages 479-80

www.nmpa.org/hfa

                                    Sampling                                                         Read Chapter 6

Mon.    Feb. 4              Test 1 

Wed.    Feb. 6              Music, Money, and Television                       Read Chapter 7

                                    Television series license                                pages 472-474

Fri.       Feb. 8              Music, Money, and Motion Pictures              Read Chapter 8

                                    Motion picture license                                     pages 468-471

Mon.    Feb. 11            Music, Money, and commercials                   Read Chapter 9

                                    Advertising commercial license                     pages 475-478

Wed.    Feb. 13            Current issues for Music Publishers 

Fri.       Feb. 15            Discuss Research Reports                            Research #1 Due

Mon.    Feb. 18            Performing Rights Organizations                   Read Chapter 10       

                                    ASCAP                                                           www.ascap.com

Wed.    Feb. 20            BMI                                                                 www.bmi.com

Fri.       Feb. 22            SESAC                                                           www.sesac.com

Mon.    Feb. 25            Mid Term                                                       

Wed.    Feb. 27            Music, Money, and Broadway                       Read Chapter11

Fri.       Feb. 29            Music, Money, Internet, Video Games,         Read Chapter 12

                                    Cell Phones, and New Media                         pages 481-484

Mon.    Mar. 3              Discuss Research Reports                            Research # 2 Due     

Wed.    Mar. 5              Music, Money, and Foreign Countries           Read Chapter 13

Fri.       Mar. 7              Subpublishing agreements                             www.wipo.org

Mon.    Mar. 10            Putting It All Together                                     Read Chapter 14

                                    Royalty Accounting

Wed.    Mar. 12            Music, Money, and the Buying                       Read Chapter 15

                                    And Selling of Songs

Fri.       Mar. 14            Catalog Acquisition                                        

Mon.    Mar. 17            Songplugging                                                  Speech topic due

Wed.    Mar. 19            No class                                                          Speech research

Fri.       Mar. 21            Easter Break

March 24 – 28             Spring Break

Mon.    Mar. 31            Catalog exploitation

Wed.    Apr. 2              Demos

Fri.       Apr. 4              Demo Budgets & planning - AFM                 

Mon.    Apr. 7              Starting a Publishing Company         

Wed.    Apr. 9              Marketing strategies for Music Publishers

Fri.       Apr. 11                        Discuss Research Reports                          Research # 3 Due

Mon.    Apr. 14                        Speeches                                                       Speech outlines due

Wed.    Apr. 16                        Speeches                                                                  

Fri.       Apr. 18                        Speeches

Mon.    Apr. 21                        Speeches

Wed.    Apr. 23                        The Future of Music Publishing         

Fri.       Apr. 25                        Assessing Learning outcomes/performance criteria of class          

Mon.    Apr. 28                        Last Day of Class/Review for Final

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