SYLLABUS:  SPRING 2006

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 schedule is subject to change, but we will try and cover:

1/12                 Opening  - Terms

1/17                 Business Systems - Cast of Characters - Corporations

1/19                 Income/Expenses - Personal manager

1/24                Business Manager/Bookkeeper - Attorneys

1/26                 Agents – Analyze management Contract - quiz

1/31                 Off

2/2                   Off

2/7                   Label Departments

2/9                   Major Versus Indies - Starting Your Own Label

2/14                 Types of Record deals - Controlled Composition,

2/16                Analyze record contract - Demo Diversity

2/21                 Recording terms - Recording Team,

2/23                 The jobs of the Record Producer - quiz

2/28                 Etiquette - Pre-Production - Creative Budget

3/2                   Business Budget, Breaking Even

3/7                   SPRING BREAK

3/9                   SPRING BREAK

3/14                 Publicity, Press Kits

3/16                Promoting to the Radio – Internet Web Design - quiz

3/21                 Songwriters – Performing Rights Organization

3/23                 Songwriting Form

3/28                 Inspiration - Ideas

3/30                 Poetic Devices – Writing Principals

4/4                   The themes of love

4/6                   Partnerships – Trademarks - quiz

4/11                 Copyrights

4/13                 EASTER BREAK

4/18                Publishing Deals – What publishers do

4/20                 Touring team – tips for the road – Finding Shows

4/25                 Contracts & planning the Show

4/27                 Concert Promotion

5/2                  Networking, Career Planning

5/4 - 5/9           Final Quiz and Final Paper Due

GRADING PROCEDURE: There will be at least 4 quizzes during the semester.  There is final term research paper.  There will also be homework assignments worth points.

 

GRADING SCALE:

            96 -100%  = A                                    90 - 95%   = A-

85 - 89%   = B+          80 - 84%   = B             77 - 79%   = B-

74 - 76%   = C+          69 - 73%   = C             65 - 68%   = C-

60 - 64%   = D+          56 - 59%   = D                        50 - 55%   = 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 April 11.  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/Topics for Term Paper and Extra Credit:

            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.

4.  A research paper of one song from any period in rock.  You may relate the song to the history of rock.  You should consider:

*Lyrics and/ or the music.                   *Background vocals                *Success

*Instrumentation                                  *Form                                      *Social implications    

*Solo vs. ensemble                              *Video

*Placement of song on album              *Marketing

5).  Pop festivals

6).  Payola

7).  Rock - censored.

8).  Styles of Music: Reggae, Punk, New Age music, Contemporary Ethnic Rock Music (Latin influences, etc.), Rock soundtracks

9).  Compare and contrast three recordings from the 50's or 60's and their re-releases in the 80's or 90's.

10).  Attend a musical performance during the semester.  The music should lie within the genres studied. Include as many of the following as possible:

                        *Program (or list the players, instruments, and the songs performed.

                        *Presentation and Spectacle                             *Influences

*Discuss styles                                                        *Review and analyze

11).  The Gatekeepers of Radio – Then and Now

12).  Music from the Street – The Popular Music Industry

13).  New Technology and an expanded music business