Belmont University: MBU 2130: History of Recording Industry
SYLLABUS: Summer Semester, 2005 (213SylM)
Instructor: Dr. Don Cusic
OFFICE: MBC 223
Phone: 460-5438
FAX: 460-5516
e-mail: cusicd@mail.belmont.edu
Office Hours: MTWRF: 1-4:30 p.m.
Course Number: MBU 2130.01 (CRN #30003)
Credit: Three (3) hours
Class Location: MBC 203A
Meeting Time: 7:30-9:15 a.m.
Inclement Weather Hotline: 460-5000 OR Belmont.edu
Course Description: This is a study of the development of the domestic market for recorded product. It begins with the creation of initial recording technology during the Industrial Revolution and its impact on the development of the mass market through the evolution of recording companies, retailers and the mass media during the period 1877-present in the United States.
Course Objective: To provide students with an historical overview of the music industry through the development of the business, the technology and recordings. Also, to provide a contemporary context and historic background in order to facilitate understanding and perceptions of the contemporary American recording industry. By examining the chronological development of the American domestic market for recorded product, students should have a better understanding of the foundational structure of the contemporary American recording industry.
Goals 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.
Honor Code
As members of the Belmont community, students, faculty, staff and administrators are all responsible for ensuring that their experiences be free of behaviors which compromise value. In order to uphold academic integrity, the University has adopted an Honor System. Students and faculty will work together to establish the optimal conditions for honorable academic work. Following is the Student Honor Pledge that guides academic behavior:
"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 faud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of the 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 Tammye Tanksley, Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of the Dean of Students (460-6407) as soon as possible.
Course Requirements:
Mon: Jun 13: EXAM #1
Mon: Jun 20: EXAM #2
Mon: Jun 27: EXAM #3
Tue: Jul 1: EXAM #4
Thu: Jul 6: FINAL EXAM
POP QUIZZES (Unannounced) (5 pts each)
Attendance: Will be computed from Pop Quizzes.
Other Dates to Note: Mon: July 4: HOLIDAY
Materials:
The American Recording Industry by Don Cusic (Course Pack)
The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel and Christian Music by Don Cusic
Prepared Assignments: None
Testing: 5 Exams.
Basis of Grade Evaluation:
EXAM #1 (100 pts)
EXAM #2 (100 pts)
EXAM #3 (100 pts)
EXAM #4 (100 pts)
EXAM #5 (FINAL) (100 pts)
POP QUIZZES (Unannounced) (5 pts each)
TOTAL POINTS: 600 max. Grading: A+=97-100%; A=93-96%; A-=90-92%; B+=87-89%, B=83-86%, B-=80-82%; C+=77-79%, C=73-76%; C-=70-72%; D+=67-69%, D=63-66% D-=60-62%; F=59% & below.
Some notes and observations:
All of the overheads in the course and all of the Study Guides will be on WebCT; I will also email them to your "Pop" account.
DOING WELL IN THE COURSE: I have found that students who do best in the course (1) do not believe I have done everything for them when I post the overheads but also take notes in class; (2) re-copy your notes after the lecture--expanding on the material while it is still fresh in your mind; (3) join "study groups" to go over the Study Guides; (4) purchase the books and read them; (5) do not wait until the night before the Exam to read the books but read the and mark them as the course progresses; (6) go over the material several times before the Exam; (7) get a good night's sleep before the Exam.
MAKE-UPS: In accordance with Music Business policy, there will be no make-up Exams given in this course; if you miss an Exam, the Final Exam will count double. If you miss two Exams, the Final will count triple. Also, when I give Exams back, I go over them in class and you may ask any questions you wish. I will not go over Exams individually in my office. Also note:
You may choose to "skip" an Exam and let the Final count double; however, you are not allowed to begin an Exam, decide you don't want to finish and opt out. Once you begin the Exam, you must complete it.
If you take all of the Exams, I will drop the lowest grade and count the Final double, if it is to your advantage.
The Final Exam is mandatory.
Please bring a No. 2 lead pencil with you on Exam day.
PLEASE NOTE: "Excused absences" must be approved by the Provost (athletics and music performances) or Tammy Tankersley (sickness).
After you have finished an Exam, please don't ask me about questions on the Exam, or advising questions, or other questions that require more than a nod because other students are taking Exams and do not like the distraction. Each semester there are complaints from students who are trying to finish an Exam while another student is engaging the teacher in questions or conversation. Therefore, I will not answer questions or engage in discussions during the Exam time while others are taking Exams.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
Mon: Jun 13: EXAM #1
Mon: Jun 20: EXAM #2
Mon: Jun 27: EXAM #3
Tue: Jul 1: EXAM #4
Mon: Jul 4: HOLIDAY
Wed: Jul 6: FINAL EXAM
Thu: July 7: CLASS CANCELLED
Fri: Aug 12: COMMENCEMENT: 7:30 p.m.: Curb Event Center
SCHEDULE: MBU 213: SUMMER, 2005:
The course will be divided into four sections:
EXAM #1: The American Recording Industry: pp 1-133
The Sound of Light: pp 1-134
EXAM #2: The American Recording Industry pp 134-265;
The Sound of Light: pp 135-162
EXAM #3: The American Recording Industry: pp 266-333
The Sound of Light: pp 163-306
EXAM #4: The American Recording Industry: pp 334-367
The Sound of Light: 307-395
Don Cusic: Bio
Don Cusic is a pioneer in the field of music business education, developing courses, curriculum and material for the music business programs at Belmont University and Middle Tennessee State University. As an author, teacher, historian, musician, songwriter and executive, Cusic has been actively involved in the music business since 1973.
Cusic is the author of ten published books, including the biography Eddy Arnold: I'll Hold You In My Heart and an encyclopedia of cowboys, Cowboys and the Wild West: An A-Z Guide from the Chisholm Trail to the Silver Screen. Other books include Music in the Market, Willie Nelson: Lyrics 1959-1994, Hank Williams: The Complete Lyrics, Reba McEntire: Country Music's Queen, Randy Travis: King of the New Traditionalists, The Poet as Performer, The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel Music, and Sandi Patti: The Voice of Gospel. He has also contributed entries to the Grove Dictionary of Music, The Guiness Encyclopedia of Blues and Gospel, The Encyclopedia of United States Popular Culture, The Protestant Encyclopedia, The Tennessee Encyclopedia and the Country Music Encyclopedia published by the Country Music Foundation.
Don Cusic has had over 500 articles published since he began writing. He has been the Country and Gospel Editor for Record World and Cashbox, a columnist for Music City News and album reviewer and special correspondent for Billboard. In addition to these publication, he has had articles published in Country Music, Country Rhythms, Country Song Round-Up, Journal of Country Music, Popular Music and Society, Journal of American Culture, Musical Express, Hank, Contemporary Christian Music, Christian Retailer, Christian Life and numerous others.
He has written album liner notes for Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Sonny James, Gary Paxton, George Beverly Shea, Sheb Wooley and Floyd Cramer. He assisted with the Time-Life series on Country Music and wrote the booklet notes on the songs for Tammy Wynette. He wrote the liner notes for the Reader's Digest album on George Beverly Shea.
Don Cusic has presented academic papers for the Popular Culture Association, the Popular Culture Association of the South, the American Studies Association, the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, the International Country Music Conference, the International Popular Culture Conference (in Oxford, England), the Tennessee Philological Society, the Tennessee Folklore Society, the Western Music Association, the Baseball Symposium, the International Association for the Study of Popular Music and the Music Educators Industry and Entertainment Association (MEIEA)
In addition to his articles, liner notes and papers, Don Cusic has had songs recorded by the Lewis Family, Lynn Morris, Linda Davis, Pam Mark Hall, Carroll Baker, Darrell McCall and Chris Ledoux. His photography won a Tennessee Press Association award in l973 and he did the cover and liner photography for a Word album by Teddy Huffam and the Gems. He has hosted a television show, "The Music Biz," written for The Nashville Network and appeared a number of times on TNN programs, including "The Life and Times" of Eddy Arnold" and the A&E Biography Series (on Hank Williams).
Don Cusic was born in St. Mary's County, Maryland. He attended St. Mary's College and the University of Maryland where he received a B.S. in Journalism. Cusic moved to Tennessee in 1972.
Cusic's first job in the music industry was with the Country Music Association as a staff writer, then with Record World, a trade publication as Nashville editor. From there he joined Monument Records where he served as head of Artist Development and International Liaison (Monument was distributed by CBS International). After leaving Monument, Cusic and Dan Beck formed a management and public relations company where they managed Riders in the Sky and Dickie Lee. After the management/pr company Cusic became the first Nashville editor for Contemporary Christian Music magazine, then joined Cashbox as Country and Gospel Editor. During this period he served for three years on the Gospel Music Association's Board of Directors.
Don Cusic joined the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University in 1982 teaching courses in the music business. He earned a Masters and Doctorate in Literature from MTSU. Since August, 1994 he has been Professor of Music Business at Belmont University.
Cusic is the founding member and Chair of the Belmont Book Award, given each year to the best book in country music, and a member of the Ray and Pat Browne Book Award committee for the best book in popular culture from the Popular Culture Association. He is on the Editorial Boards of two academic journals, Studies in Popular Culture and Popular Music and Society.
Cusic is an active youth baseball coach and involved in Boy Scouts. He is listed in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, International Authors and Writers Who's Who and Contemporary Authors. He is a member of the Country Music Association (Lifetime), Western Music Association (Lifetime), the Gospel Music Association (Lifetime), the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the Popular Culture Association, the Tennessee Folklore Society, the International Bluegrass Music Association and the Music Educators Industry and Entertainment Association (MEIEA).
WORKING SCHEDULE: MBU 213 SUMMER, 2005: Dr. Cusic
Mon: Jun 6: CLASS 1:
Tue: Jun 7: CLASS 2:
Wed: Jun 8: CLASS 3:
Thu: Jun 9: CLASS 4:
Fri: Jun 10: CLASS 5:
Mon: Jun 13: CLASS 6: EXAM #1
Tue: Jun 14: CLASS 7:
Wed: Jun 15: CLASS 8:
Thu: Jun 16: CLASS 9:
Fri: Jun 17: CLASS 10:
Mon: Jun 20: CLASS 11: EXAM #2
Tue: Jun 21: CLASS 12:
Wed: Jun 22: CLASS 13:
Thu: Jun 23: CLASS 14:
Fri: Jun 24: CLASS 15:
Mon: Jun 27: CLASS 16: EXAM #3
Tue: Jun 28: CLASS 17:
Wed: Jun 29: CLASS 18:
Thu: Jun 30: CLASS 19:
Fri: Jul 1: CLASS 20: EXAM #4
Mon: Jul 4: HOLIDAY
Tue: Jul 5: CLASS 21:
Wed: Jul 6: CLASS 22: LAST CLASS: FINAL EXAM
Thu: Jul 7: CLASS 23: CANCELLED