Course Title:  Survey of Music Business / Section: 08

Semester:  Spring 09

Instructor:  Dr. Clyde Philip Rolston

Instructor Contact: Office: Room 248B (MBC) Phone 460-5436

Instructor Office Hours: MWF 2:00 – 3:00; T/R 10:00 –11:00; or by appointment

Course Credit: 3 Hrs.

Class Location: MC 103

Meeting Times: Section 08: 3:00 – 3: 50 MWF

Final Exam: Section 08: Friday, May 8 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. http://www.belmont.edu/registrar/final_exam_schedules/index.html

Course Description:  This course is a general overview and a study of the major functional areas of the music business. Attention is given to the theoretical foundations and practical application of current business practices in the music industry including supporting organizations and the revenue flow from music consumer to creator. (www.belmont.edu/catalog/undergrad2007jun/cemb/courses.html)

Course Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

· Identify the key participants in and the process of how commercial value is created within the revenue systems of the music business.

· Identify and apply  the foundations of basic copyright law and the representative licenses needed for the monetization of the music revenue streams

· Examine and identify the basic deal structures and terminology within the revenue systems  of the music business

· Apply basic calculations representative of the revenue systems of the music business system.

Performance Tasks (PT):  During this course, the student will:

1. Describe and diagram the basic components of the  music business revenue streams and their relationship to one another.

2. Identify typical agreements, personnel, and terminology used within the music business

3. Recognize applicable copyright law within the music business

4. Calculate basic  studio and concert production budgets, record royalty payments, and  publisher/songwriter shares, and mechanical royalty calculations under the statutory and controlled composition clauses

5. Compare and evaluate the possible effects of new technologies, Internet marketing, and other emerging trends on the existing revenue model

Assessment Tools:
During this course, outcome mastery will be evaluated by five tests based on the lecture and assigned readings.  Weekly quizzes, in the form of multiple-choice, fill in the blank, matching or essay questions or problems will also be used to assess the student’s recall and understanding of the material. Additionally, a research paper will be assigned to measure your understanding, application and analysis of an approved topic.  At the instructor’s discretion, this assignment may take the form of a depth interview with an approved industry professional.

Testing & Assignments:

Activity	Credit	Purpose/Description
1.  Comprehensive Tests (4)	60%	Four chapter exams and one Final exam will be given. Exams primarily cover lecture and readings assigned. Each exam is scored for 100 points and is comprised of 50 or more questions consisting of multiple choice/essay/short answer/diagramming, or any combination thereof.
2.  Research Paper	10 %	A five page paper that will demonstrate the student’s assimilation of knowledge gained from original research (including interviews of industry professionals), lectures, and readings. Must be written in APA or MLA style using a minimum of 5 verifiable reference sources and 10-12 point font/single spaced.
3. Quizzes and Problems	10%	Each week the student will have one or more quizzes based on assigned readings or lecture.  Each quiz will be worth 1% of the student’s grade.  Only the 10 best quiz grades will be counted toward the student’s final grade.
5.  Final Exam	20 %	A comprehensive test comprising multiple-choice questions that will measure the depth of the student’s knowledge base gained from lectures and readings. The final exam is typically 100 comprehensive questions (or more) in accordance with the final exam schedule at the assigned time and place—NO FINAL EXAM will be given at any earlier time.

***There are NO MAKE UP EXAMS for any tests! Students with an excused test absence will have the final exam count double, triple or more: depending on the number of missed exams. Absences must be excused by the Office of the Provost.  All students must take the final exam for this class.

Research Paper: Each student will prepare a five page research paper (12 point font—double spaced) on an approved topic of interest (presented in written format) and approved by instructor prior to Spring Break. The paper should be in either APA or MLA format.  Final paper is to due by March 30. Topics should relate to course topics and overall MB model presented in class, but should be narrowed down to one aspect that might be covered in detail—per the student’s interest.

Optional Industry Interview.

A student may interview an industry person of interest as part of the research paper. Students electing to write their paper based primarily on an interview must first prepare a 1 ½ to 2 page overview of the industry area applicable to the interviewee prior to interview, including the set of questions that the interview will include.  The overview and the questions must be submitted to the instructor in advance of the interview for approval.  Background  sources may include Billboard magazine or other trade periodicals, biographies and texts on the music business. Expected question areas for the interviewee should include, at a minimum:

1. Background

2. How they started/overview of industry/job

3. Describe daily job functions/what skill sets are most important for success

4. Advice for young person entering the industry right now

The paper should begin with an overview of the subject using notes from class lectures, the text and other books and readings. The paper should contain an appropriate conclusion.  The content of the “pre-interview research should be integrated (and cited/footnoted) into the research as appropriate and relevant. Any interviews should be recorded if possible—but ask for permission to record first. The paper must demonstrate a high level of writing skill that is exemplified by 1) no misspellings, 2) good arguments/logic, 3) good development/paragraph structure (topic sentence & content flow),  and 4)  overall application of course content.

Course & Classroom Policies:

Attendance & Participation:  Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin. Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted. Belmont University is committed to the idea that regular class attendance is essential to successful scholastic achievement. When the number of absences for any reason exceeds four times the number of scheduled class meetings per week (25% of meetings during summer term), the student is involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of “WF” – Belmont University Catalog.  Class participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted.

Materials: REQUIRED: Off the Record: How the Music Business Really Works by Larry Wacholtz Ph.D., Copyright 2009 Thumbs Up Publishing  RECOMMENDED:  All You Need to Know about the Music Business, Sixth Edition,  by Donald Passman

Grade Evaluation:  As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:

A=94, A=90, =B+87, B=84,B-=80, C+=77, C=74, C-=70, Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major. D+=67, D=64, D-=60, F=< 60

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.

Computer and Cell Phone Policy: Computers will not be permitted in this class except by permission of the instructor. Cell phones must be silenced, not on vibrate, and text messaging during class will be treated as an absence.

Week to Week Content:  TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE (Subject to change). Occasionally, class may get behind or ahead of this schedule—and thus—dates may change accordingly.

January 14		Course Introduction and overview
January 16/19	Week 1	Chapter 1: Systems
Jan.  26	Week 2	Chapter 2: Copyright
Feb. 2	Week 3	Copyright Continued	Test 1 Part 1
Feb. 9	Week 4	Copyright Continued/ Chapter 3 Copyright Registration
Feb. 16	Week 5	Chapter 4 The Song Business	Test 1 Part 2 (February 20)
Feb. 23	Week 6	Chapter 5 Music Publishing (Cont.)/ Chapter 6The Labels
March 2	Week 7	Chapter 6 The Labels	Test 2 (Ch.3)
March 9		SPRING BREAK	Research Topics Must be Approved PRIOR to Spring Break
March 16	Week 8	Chapter 7The Recording Deal
March 23	Week 9	Chapter 8 The Recording Business	Test 3 (February 27)
March 30	Week 10	Chapter 8 Unions/Types of Recording Studios	TERM PAPERS DUE
April 6	Week 11	Chapter 9 Artist Management
April 9- 12		EASTER BREAK
April 13	Week 12	Chapter 10 The Management Deal
April 20	Week 13	Chapter 11 Concert Promotion	Test 4 (Ch.6-7)
April 27	Week 14	Chapter 11 Concert Promotion/ Ch 12The Rider
May 4		Last Day of Class; Review for final
May 8	5:00 – 7:00	FINAL EXAM AS SCHEDULED	5:00p.m. in the classroom