BELMONT UNIVERSITY (Update 08/19/08)

BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: Survey of Music Business-Section: MBU 1110.05

Semester: Spring 09

Instructor: Wacholtz

Instructor Contact: Office: Room 224 (MBC) Phone 460-5437

Office Hours: MW 10-11 &12-1pm, Tuesday 11-12:30 or by appointment

Advising Center Advising: Tuesday 10-11am & Friday 11-1pm or by appointment

Course Credit: 3 Hrs.

Class Meeting Times: MC 200b 2 pm-2:50

Final Exam: Monday May 11 at 2 pm.

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: At the end of this course, the student will be able to:

· Identify the process and key participants of how commercial value is created within the revenue systems/ecology of the music business system

· Identify and examine the foundations of 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/ecology of the music business system

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

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

1. Identify and diagram the basic music business revenue streams and relationships

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

3. Define applicable copyright law within the music business

4. Compute calculations pertaining to studio production budgets, record royalty payments, concert promotion, and basic publishing/songwriter shares, and mechanical royalty calculations under the statutory and controlled composition deductions

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 multiple-choice tests based on the lecture and all assigned readings. Additionally, a portion of each multiple-choice test will consist of diagramming and calculations presented in the multiple-choice format. Additionally, a short four page essay will be assigned to measure your comprehension, application and analysis of an approved topic that evaluates and compares the traditional value chain, or revenue flow with new emerging models, or a discussion of the value and implications of free versus compensated music.

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. BlackBoard Quiz(s) (10)	10%	Internet Quiz taken on your own.
3. Research Paper/essay	10 %	A four page paper that will demonstrate the student’s assimilation of knowledge gained from original research, lectures, and assigned 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. 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! At the instructor’s discretion, students with a test absence will have the final exam count double, triple or more: depending on the number of missed exams. Exceptions are only made for official Belmont University Absences. There is NO policy for not taking the final exam for this class.

Research Paper or Industry Interview-Each student may prepare a short four page research paper (11-12 point font—single space!) on a topic of interest present in written format and approved by instructor at least one month prior to final exam. The format is either APA, or MLA format at student’s discretion. Final paper is to due by “dead day”- before final exams start. Topics should relate to class discussion and overall MB model presented in class, but should narrow down to one aspect that might be covered in detail—per the student’s interest. Paper must cover or incorporate projected or actual effects of new emergent technologies on the topic presented as well as speculative solutions. Or-

Optional Industry Interview/industry paper:

Interview: Student will interview an industry person of interest. Students must first prepare a short 2-3 page overview of the industry applicable of the interviewee prior to interview. Typical source is Billboard magazine or other trade periodicals. Expected questions of the interviewee are

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

Paper should begin with overview of position/job type using lecture and book readings. Conclusion should reflect a summary and an application guide based on advice from interview. The content of the “pre-interview research should be integrated (and cited/footnoted) into the research as appropriate and relevant for a total of 2-3 pages (11-12 point font—single space). The interview should be recorded if possible—but ask for permission to record first. Extra credit paper is due on the “dead day”--the day before final exams begin. Full credit is NOT guaranteed for any submission. Paper must be at a high level of writing that is exampled by no 1) misspellings, 2) good argument/logic, 3) good development-paragraph structure (topic sentence & content flow), logic, and4) overall application to 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.

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.

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.

01/14/09	Week 1	Chapter 1: Talent-Systems-Revenue Streams	*Lecture*
01/19/09	Week 2	Monday-MLK Holiday-Finish CH-1	*Black Board-Quiz*
01/26/09	Week 3	Chapter 2: Protecting Creativity	*Black Board-Quiz*
02/02/09	Week 4	Chapter 2/Chapter 3 Registering Copyrights	*Test 1 (Ch. 1-2)*
02/09/09	Week 5	Chapter 4-Businessof Songwriting	*Black Board-Quiz*
02/16/09	Week 6	Chapter 5 Music Publishing	*Black Board-Quiz*
02/23/09	Week 7	Finish Chapter 5-Single Song Contract	*Mid-Term Test*
03/02/09	Week 8	Chapter 6 Labels	*Black Board-Quiz*
03/07/09		Spring Break
03/16/09	Week 9	Chapter 7 The Recording Deal	*Black Board-Quiz*
03/23/09	Week 10	Chapter 8 The Recording Business	*Test 3 Labels*
03/30/09	Week 11	Chapter 9 Artist Management	*Black Board-Quiz*
04/06/09	Week 12	Finish Chapter 9 Easter Break ((&10)	*Black Board-Quiz*
04/13/09	Week 13	Chapter 10 The Artist/Management Deal	*Black Board-Quiz*
04/20/09	Week 14	Chapter 11 Concert Promotion	*Black Board-Quiz*
04/27/09	Week 15	Chapter 12: Rider	*Test 4-Management and Promotion*
05/04/09	Week 16	Final Exam	*Final*