MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Music Publishing
Course #: MBU 3450.03
& Meeting Times: 5:00pm – 6:15pm T, TH
Final Exam: May 1 @ 5:00pm
Credit Hrs: 3
Semester: Spring 2008
Class Location: MC 200A
Professor: Marty Wheeler
Contacts: Phone: 400-5849 Email: martywheeler@comcast.net
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 19. 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: The three research reports = 15% (5% each), 3 tests = 60% (20% each), speech = 25%
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
6. Class Schedule:
Thu. Jan. 10 Introduction/class syllabus
Tue. Jan. 15 Music Publishing History
Thu. Jan. 17 Music Publishers and What They Do Read pages 1-9
Inner Workings of a Music Publisher
Songwriter-Music Publisher Relationship
Income sources for Publishers Read pages 30-56
Tue. Jan. 22 Deal proposals/Songwriter contracts Read Chapter 2
Thu. Jan. 24 Songwriter contract anaylsis
Tue. Jan. 29 Co-Publishing and Administration Research #1 Due
Co-Ventures and Joint Ventures Read Chapter 3
Thu. Jan. 31 Copyright Law Read Chapter 4
Tue. Feb. 05 Recording Artist Publishing Agreements Read Chapter 5
Print Licensing www.ccli.com
Mechanical Licensing pages 479-80
Thu. Feb. 07 Sampling Read Chapter 6
Tue. Feb. 12 Test 1
Thu. Feb. 14 Music, Money, and Television Read Chapter 7
Television series license pages 472-474
Music, Money, and Motion Pictures Read Chapter 8
Motion picture license pages 468-471
Music, Money, and commercials Read Chapter 9
Advertising commercial license pages 475-478
Tue. Feb. 19 Performing Rights Organizations Read Chapter 10
ASCAP www.ascap.com
Thu. Feb. 21 BMI www.bmi.com
Tue. Feb. 26 SESAC www.sesac.com
Thu. Feb. 28 Current issues for Music Publishers
Tue. Mar. 04 Test 2
Thu. Mar. 06 Music, Money, and Broadway Read Chapter11
Music, Money, Internet, Video Games, Read Chapter 12
Cell Phones, and New Media pages 481-484
Tue. Mar. 11 Music, Money, and Foreign Countries Read Chapter 13
Subpublishing agreements www.wipo.org
Research # 2 Due
Thu. Mar. 13 Putting It All Together Read Chapter 14
Royalty Accounting
Tue. Mar. 18 Music, Money, and the Buying Read Chapter 15
And Selling of Songs
Catalog Acquisition
Thu. Mar. 20 Easter Break
Tue. Mar. 25 Spring Break
Thu. Mar. 27 Spring Break
Tue. Apr. 01 Songplugging Speech topic due
Thu. Apr. 03 Great Songs Day/Listening Bring a great song
Thu. Apr. 10 Catalog exploitation
Demos
Demo Budgets & planning - AFM
Tue. Apr. 08 Starting a Publishing Company Research # 3 Due
Marketing strategies for Music Publishers
Tue. Apr. 15 Speeches Speech outlines due
Thu. Apr. 17 Speeches
Tue. Apr. 22 The Future of Music Publishing
Thu. Apr. 24 Assessing Learning outcomes/performance criteria of class
Tue. Apr. 29 Last Day of Class/Review for Final
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