SYLLABUS: Fall 2005
SURVEY OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Volman OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
FAX/PHONE: 615-794-5801 E-MAIL: volmanm@mail.belmont.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class provides a basic overview of opportunities available in the music business. Basic techniques for negotiating with managers, publishing firms, record companies, producers, production deals and more. This class can give you the confidence to take charge of a career, and the savvy to understand the complexities in today's music industry.
COURSE OBJECTIVE: To provide the information necessary to compete in the music industry. The class will highlight the areas where music and business intersect. The focus will be on: career possibilities in the music industry; the development of business-related knowledge and skills necessary for effectively maintaining a professional music career; the vocabulary and terminology of the music industry and the distinction between music and business at the corporate level. The course will serve both the students wishing to increase his/her understanding of common business practices related to the music industry, and the student who is considering further study of music business/management.
TEXTBOOKS: “The Recording Industry” 2nd ed.
By: Geoffrey P. Hull
"All Area Access - Intro to the Music Business"
by Mark Volman
NOTEBOOK: Students should keep a notebook. Some classes could include a guest speaker, and you will want to keep a notebook of this material, which will not be available in the textbook. It could be used on the quizzes and tests.
ATTENDANCE: Missing classes is UNACCEPTABLE and WILL effect your final grade. Lectures are only given once, and it will be your responsibility to obtain missed notes. You are responsible for all material covered in class. MISSED CLASSES LOWER YOUR GRADE.
LATE POLICY: Tardiness will be noted and will result in a lower grade.
TOPICS AND
LECTURES: This semester schedule is subject to change, but the subjects
we will try and cover will be:
8/25 Opening - Terms
8/ 29 Business Systems - Cast of
Characters - Corporations
9/1 Income/Expenses - Personal
manager
9/6 Business
Manager/Bookkeeper - Attorneys
9/8 Agents – Analyze management
Contract - quiz
9/13 Off
9/15 Off
9/20 Label Departments
9/22 Major Versus
9 27 Types of Record deals -
Controlled Composition,
9/29 Analyze
record contract - Demo Diversity
10/4 Recording terms - Recording
Team,
10/6 The
jobs of the Record Producer - quiz
10/11 Etiquette - Pre-Production -
Creative Budget
10/13 Business
Budget, Breaking Even
10/18 Publicity, Press Kits
10/20 Promoting
to the Radio – Internet Web Design - quiz
10/25 Songwriters – Performing Rights
Organization
10/27 Songwriting Form
11/1 Inspiration - Ideas
11/3 Poetic Devices – Writing
Principals
11/8 The themes of love
11/10 Partnerships – Trademarks - quiz
11/15 Copyrights
11/17 Publishing
Deals – What publishers do
11/22 Touring team – tips for the road
– Finding Shows
11/24 Thanksgiving
11/29 Contracts & planning the
Show
12/1 Concert Promotion
12/6 Networking,
Career Planning
12/8 Quiz and Final Paper Due
GRADING PROCEDURE: There will be 3 or 4 quizzes during the semester. You will be allowed to drop your lowest quiz. The final quiz will not be dropped. There is final term research paper. There will also be homework assignments worth points.
GRADING SCALE:
94 -100% = A 88 - 93% = A-
84 - 87% = B+ 79 - 83% = B 75 - 78% = B-
73 - 77% = C+ 69 - 72% = C 65 - 68% = C-
60 - 64% = D+ 55 - 59% = D 50 - 54% = D-
Below 50% = Fail
MAKE-UP: There will be NO make-up Quizzes.
RESEARCH PAPER: You will be required to complete a research paper. This paper will be a minimum of 10 pages long and will be due the day of the Final Exam. This paper must include a bibliography of at least five sources. An outline of your paper is optional and will be worth points toward your final grade. You are not required to complete an outline but your professor would recommend that you do one. The outline is due by Week 13. The outline should include:
· The topic/thesis (must be "music business" related)
· Your expected content…in outline form
· A summary of sources you plan to use (at least 5 sources)
· What you hope to learn from this paper
The research paper will be due on the day of your final exam.
The research paper should include:
· Technical requirements:
1). Must be typed!
2). Minimum 10 pages
3). 12 pt. "Times" font
4). Margins: 1" top and bottom; 1.25" left and right
· Your graded outline (attached to the back of your paper)
· It should follow your outline content
· Bibliography with at five sources
Suggested Thesis/Topic:
1. An interview with a person(s) in the music industry (i.e. managers, agents, producers, business managers, artists, record company executives, A& R person, promotion, etc.). This paper should have a thesis related to an area of the business that personally interests you.
2. A research paper on a group or solo artist including the inception and pitfalls of their music business career. This does not need to be a successful musical artist, just a "real" story of an artist, songwriter, etc. This is not to be a biography on the artist.
3. Compare and contrast radio formats. Use a minimum of six different styles and examine the techniques of how they successfully make themselves different (i.e. programming, sales, promotion). Interview a radio disc jockey, music director, etc.