SPRING 2008 SYLLABUS
MBU 4820: ARTIST MANAGEMENT
Note: Please read this syllabus thoroughly and retain it until the end of the semester. 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 are subject to all of the requirements specified herein.
Professor: J. Rush Hicks
Phone: 460-6473
Office: Rm. 223 (office hours posted)
e-mail: hicksr@mail.belmont.edu
Location/Class Hours: Tues, Thurs 2 PM – 3:15 PM in Room MC209A
(Final - 2PM, Thursday, May 1)
Tues, Thurs 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Room MC209A
(Final - 2 PM, Tuesday, May 6)
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.
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 can secure a record contract with the assistance of a personal manager.
* Explain the role of the personal manager in assisting the artist to achieve success.
* List the various job functions of the tour manager, publicist, music publisher, A & R representative, booking agent, attorney and business manager.
* Examine different kinds of business entities and how they benefit the artist.
* Understand the complexities of dealing with a band rather than a solo 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 typical day-day activities of an artist and business manager.
* Demonstrate the teamwork required for the artist to achieve success.
TEXT: This Business of Artist Management (4th Edition), by Frascogna, 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. If available, 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).
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 a change of date and exceptions must be approved in writing by the Provost. Each exam, including the final, will count 15% of your grade for a total of 75%.
CLASS DISCUSSION: Please do not distract other students by having conversations in class, speak loudly enough to be heard by the class, help keep discussions on track, be courteous and show respect when addressing others, and never monopolize discussions.
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. I have attached an anticipated reading schedule for the semester.
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: Each student will 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 as well as 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?
IN-DEPTH STUDY OF DIFFERENT ARTISTS: Throughout the semester, we will do an in-depth analysis of the artist's background and the current issues surrounding that artist's career and the opinions of that artist. The student's participation will result in 5 points (out of a 100 point scale) being added to your grade at the end of the semester.
ELVIS/COLONEL TOM PARKER PROJECT: The last two weeks 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. That means no text-messaging. You can request to use a computer in class, but only to take notes and not to access the internet and/or check email.
SCHEDULE OF READINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS
Thursday, January 10, 2008 (first class)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008 (short review examining the artist and their role in the music industry)
Thursday, January 17, 2008 (chapter one)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 (chapter two)
Thursday, January 24, 2008 (chapter three)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 (chapter three con't)
Thursday, January 31, 2008 (chapter four)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 (chapter five)
Thursday, February 7, 2008 (First Exam over chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)
Tuesday, February 11, 2008 (Grammy discussion and manager interview presentations)
Thursday, February 13, 2008 (manager interview presentations)
Tuesday, February 18, 2008 (chapter six)
Thursday, February 20, 2008 (chapters seven and eight)
Tuesday, February 25, 2008 (Second Exam over chapters 6, 7 & 8)
Thursday, March 1, 2008 (chapter nine)
Tuesday, March 3, 2008 (chapter ten)
Thursday, March 5, 2008 (chapter eleven)
Tuesday, March 10, 2008 (chapter twelve)
Thursday, March 13, 2008 (chapter thirteen)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 (Third Exam over chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13)
Thursday, March 20, 2008 - Sunday, March 28 (Spring Break)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 (chapter fourteen)
Thursday, April 3, 2008 (chapters fifteen and sixteen)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008 (chapter sixteen)
Thursday, April 10, 2008 (chapter seventeen)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 (chapter eighteen)
Thursday, April 17, 2008 (Fourth Exam over chapters 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (chapters twenty-one and twenty-four)
Thursday, April 24, 2008 (Guest Speaker)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (Elvis/Colonel Tom presentation)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 (no class)
Thursday, May 1, 2008 (2PM final exam to be given at 2PM)
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 (3:30 PM final exam to be given at 2PM)