Belmont University:

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

ARTIST MANAGEMENT COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Title: Artist Management

Course #: MBU 4820.01 Credit Hours: 3 Semester: Fall 2004

Class Location: 200B Meeting Time: Monday evenings @ 6:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.

Final Exam: Monday, December 13 @ 7:00 p.m.

Instructor: Gary Voorhies

Contacts: office: 329-1040 e-mail: gvoorhies@majorbob.com

Office hours: by appt.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

An analysis of the various aspects of artist management including talent agencies, personal management, performance and recording contracts, tours and artist promotion.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

To provide students with a basic understanding of artist management, including all aspects of the creative and legal issues facing the artist manager in developing and exploiting an artist’s career.

GOALS OF THE MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS:

The following school of business objectives will be applied toward class 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 entertainments.

-To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of Christian ethical principles.

HONOR CODE:

As members of the Belmont community, students, faculty staff and administrators are all responsible for ensuring that their experiences will 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 fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance: As per the Undergraduate Bulletin http://www.belmont.edu/catalog/undergrad2004/apolicies.htm, when the number of absences for any reason exceeds four time the number of scheduled class meetings per week, the student is involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of “WF”. Appeal is to the Provost

Materials: textbook is This Business of Artist Management by Frascogna and Hetherington. Other course materials will be handouts or research assignments.

Participation and Prepared Assignments: All students are expected to contribute to class discussions. There will be one research paper, which will be a minimum 10 page double space presentation. This paper will be equal to one exam grade. Each student will select an actual recording artist signed to a major recording company (or previously signed to a major recording company). The paper will include the following elements:

a) an analysis of the management style, decisions and direction that have been employed up to the date that you (hypothetically) take over management duties

b) how you will set up your management company including financial start up resources

c) a long term career plan for your artist including an analysis of your artist and the current market and market forecasts

d) a set up plan for their next record

e) touring plan

f) promotion and publicity plan that includes traditional elements and internet opportunities

Keep an extra copy (or a back-up file on disc) until you have received a grade for any reports or projects submitted for this class.

TESTING:

Exam #1: 100 pts.

Exam #2: 100 pts.

Final Exam: 100 points. The final exam will be comprehensive. All students must take the final.

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BASIS OF GRADE EVALUATION:

97-100 = A +

93-96 = A

90-92 = A -

87-89 = B +

83-86 = B

80-82 = B –

77-79 = C +

73-76 = C

70-72 = C –

67-69 = D +

63-66 = D

60-62 = D -

Below 59% = Failing

Some Notes and observations:

Make Up Exams: In accordance with Music Business policy, there will be no make-up exams given in this course. If you miss an exam and the absence is “excused”, the final exam will count double. You may not “skip” an exam and expect to substitute the final exam grade for it.

When exams are returned, there will be time in class to discuss any questions you may have.

ACCOMODATION 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.

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Class Schedule

MBU 4820.01

Fall 2004

Gary Voorhies

Mon, Aug 30 Introduction to class, Overview, Review syllabus & schedule

Mon, Sept 6 Holiday

Mon, Sept 13 Chapter 2 Launching A Career

Chapter 3 Find A Manager/Finding An Artist

Mon, Sept 20 Chapter 4 Asking The Right Questions

Chapter 5 The Management Contract

Mon, Sept 27 Chapter 6 Taking Care of Business

Chapter 7 Attorneys, Managers, and Business Managers

Mon, Oct 4 Test # 1

Mon, Oct 11 Chapter 8 Taking Creative Inventory

Mon, Oct 18 Chapter 9 Creating The Career Plan

Mon, Oct 25 Chapter 10 Making Your Own Breaks

Chapter 11 The Artist Development Team

Mon, Oct 31 Chapter 12 The Recording Deal

Chapter 13 Music Publishing

Mon, Nov 1 Chapter 14 Music Videos, TV, Radio & Film

Chapter 15 Personal Appearances

Mon, Nov 8 Test # 2

Mon, Nov 15 Chapter 16 Merchandising, Commercials

Chapter 17 Thinking Globally

Mon, Nov 22 Chapter 18 The Managers Juggling Act

Chapter 19 Helping The Record Company Help You

Mon, Nov 29 Chapter 20 Managing The Road

Chapter 21 Career Review and Evaluation

Mon, Dec 6 Chapter 22 Coping With Success Stress

*Turn in paper

Mon, Dec 13 Final Exam

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