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Course # / Title: |
MBU 3990 03 / 27160 / A&R Administration |
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Course Credit Hours: |
3 |
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Semester: |
Spring, 2009 |
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Instructor: |
Alison Booth; BA degree in Music, Birmingham-Southern College, 1976 |
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Instructor Contacts: |
615-301-4334; alison.booth@sonymusic.com |
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Instructor Office Hours: |
Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Sony Music Nashville office) |
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Class Location: |
Massey Business Center #209A |
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Meeting Time(s): |
Tuesdays – 6:30 pm to 9:15 pm |
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Final Exam: |
Tuesday, May 12, 2008, 7:00 pm |
Course Description:
A & R Administration is an integral function of Record Company operations and this course examines the administrative perspective of the label and how records are made. The student will learn about all aspects of the recording project and what happens ‘behind the scenes’, from developing the budget with the producer to creating the company’s product and its long-term assets.
Course Outcomes: At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
Describe a record company’s major contractual obligations and how each impacts the activities and profitability of the company, calculate contractual LP recording funds as well as union and publisher liabilities, create recording budgets for many different project types, both commercial and promotional, discuss how physical and digital recorded music products are made and how recorded assets are contractually delivered to and later archived by record companies for future re-purposing efforts and revenue.
Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will:
Assimilate both general and specific information about a record company’s major contractual obligations, including artist agreements, union labor agreements and publisher licenses from materials provided by the instructor in the form of lectures, guest speakers and text made available for reading. The student will create various recording budgets based on project types described by the instructor by using a budgeting template tool and within contractual constraints, and will define and compile various product configurations, making use of project assets and asset information. The student will determine contractual delivery of all project assets based on delivery requirements provided by the instructor and describe audio and video archiving principles for tracking and trafficking of masters.
Assessment Tools: During this course, outcomes mastery will be evaluated by:
written responses on announced Tests and unannounced Pop Quizzes containing True/False and Multiple Choice questions as well as questions requiring brief descriptive answers. Project Budgets will be submitted for grading based on standard criteria. An in-class overview project will require the participation of all students.
Testing & Assignments:
ITEM CREDIT (or %)
A. Three Tests 300 40%
B. Two Projects 200 27%
C. Three Pop Quizzes 150 20%
D. Final 100 13%
Total Points (%) 750 100%
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.
Materials:
Materials are Provided by the Instructor
Grade Evaluation Scale: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:
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Grade |
Percent (GPA) |
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A |
94 (4.0) |
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A- |
90 (3.7) |
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B+ |
87 (3.3) |
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B |
84 (3.0) |
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B- |
80 (2.7) |
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C+ |
77 (2.3) |
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C |
74 (2.0) |
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C- |
70 (1.7) |
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Final grades below 70 % will not apply to the major. |
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D+ |
67 |
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D |
64 |
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D- |
60 |
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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.
01/20/09 Overview of A & R Administration
01/27/09 Overview of Contractual and Financial Issues
02/03/09 Additional Contractual Issues and Review
02/10/09 Understanding Recording Projects
02/17/09 Test
02/24/09 Union Issues
03/03/09 Additional Union Issues and Recording Budgets
03/10/09 Spring Break
03/17/09 Review of Recording Projects / Work on Budget Project (due 3/20/09)
03/24/09 Test / Recording Costs & Repertoire Set-up
03/31/09 Creation of Products from Project Assets
04/07/09 Delivery and Other Overview
04/14/09 Verification of Assets
04/21/09 Test / Archiving
04/28/09 Digital Releases
05/05/09 Project / Final Overview
05/12/09 Final Exam