BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:  Electronic Media and The Music Business

Course #:  MBU 3730.01   Credit Hrs:  3        Semester:  Spring 2006

Class Location:  Massey 203A         Meeting Times:  Wednesdays  12:00-2:15 PM

 

Instructor:             Mr.  Jimmy Carter

Contacts:               Phone:    615-403-2029         Email: Askjimmycarter@aol.com      

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course deals with the relationship of music business professionals and the various electronic/film media outlets where their product is exposed to the public. This course is intended to the give the non-communications major an elementary knowledge of the who, what, where and why or radio, television, cable, motion pictures  , music videos, jingles ,the Internet and other electronic media where music plays a role in production/programming.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

As a result of MBU 373.01, the student should be able to interface with their electronic media/film counterparts in the course of their artist management , publicity and promotion duties. Understanding the needs of the media and how the media can be used to the utmost by the music 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 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.”

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.    1.     Attendance:          As per the current Undergraduate Bulletin…Furthermore…

As in most things, you get out what you put in.. This class is a difficult one to make up. This class has a book and you can always get the lecture notes BUT that is a small part of the content.. Since we are talking about electronic media you have to SEE it in the form of videos , visual aids, and guest speakers. You just miss out if you are not here.. Class participation is 20 % of the grade. In the past, this has often meant a letter in the final grade. Basically, that 20% is equal to one the four tests. The participation includes  book reports, physical attendance but also outside projects. And ARRIVING AT CLASS ON TIME!! I hate late!!!!!  Also, the University does have an attendance policy so for more consult the current catalog.

 

 

2.             Materials: The required text will be at the campus bookstore for purchase by 01/20. . It is a paperback study guide….The material in this class is very timely. It changes every semester in some elements. That is why we have a paperback study guide updated every semester. There will be other assignments and reading materials needed and they will be discussed as we go. You MUST keep up with CURRENT events.. several bonus and regular tests question on each test. Example: What was number one film last weekend/who won the Best Actor Oscar last week, etc.

               

 

Participation and Prepared assignments:  The tests account for 80% of the grade…..The 2 small book reports can make a difference in a letter grade so they are important.   We will also have a field trip to WSMV-TV. 

          Book one.. Who Moved the Cheese.. Dr. Spencer Johnson   Many years ago, Dr. Spencer Johnson was having a difficult time dealing with a major change in his life. He thought it wasn't fair, and he was confused and angry.

After a while, he sensed that if he was going to deal with the change successfully, he needed to change - but he did not know how.

So he made up the story of Who Moved My Cheese? to get him to laugh at himself, with his follies and fears, and to encourage him to change, move on and realize something better.

He kept the story to himself and lived it until he found "New Cheese." When friends inquired about the obvious improvements in his life, he shared the story with them. One friend, Ken Blanchard, later told the "Cheese" story to business audiences around the world.

Many people who heard the story later revealed that it helped them change, and they improved their jobs, their marriages or their health.

Ken Blanchard encouraged Spencer Johnson to write the story and publish it by asking him, "Do you realize how many other people this could serve?"

The story of Who Moved My Cheese? was published as a book in 1998.

 

 

                In March, an informal research paper on MTV is due. Three pages minimum, typed/double spaced , that will include history and an overview of this important media that has changed the music business and society. Explain how they got started, their challenges, what changes they caused, how they have changed along the way,their worldwide presence and the present. No footnotes per se but a reference list page. You must use a minimum of three sources. Due 03/29.

 

4.             Testing: 4 tests each worth 20%...Missing tests will be dealt with severely ! You MUST alert me in advance of the test on any possible problem! My voice mail is always in town!!! Grade evaluation is on a 10 point scale...90-100 A  80-89B 70-19 C 60-69 D Below 60 F…Tests include current entertainment news bonus points.. They are ALL fill in the blank or list type. Very little discussion. And NO multiple choice.

 

 

5.             Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin.    Grade evaluation is on a 10 point scale...90-100 A…  80-89B… 70-79C… 60-69 D… Below 60 F…

 

ITEM                                                                                     CREDIT (or %)

 

A.  Test #1                                       20 %

B. Midterm                                     20%

C. Test # 3                                        20%

D. Final                                          20%

E. Class projects/Book Reports     20%

                                                                        Total Points  100 %)

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.                   Class Schedule: 

Wed.  Jan 11      Class #1        Introduction/ Media Terms

Wed.  Jan 18      Class #2        Hollywood/ Jobs/Unions/Warner Bros.

Wed.  Jan 25      Class #3        Media jobs/TV/ WSMV Field trip

Wed.  Feb 1        Class #4        Award shows/Specials

Wed.  Feb 8        Class #5        Test One /mouse book report due

Wed.  Feb 15      Class # 6       Music on TV /Music Video

Wed.  Feb 22      Class #7        The Beatles/Making of a Hard Day’s Night

Wed.  Mar 1       Class #8        Midterm

Spring Break      Mar 6-10       No class

Wed.  Mar 15    Class #9          Radio

Wed.  Mar 22    Class #10        Jingles/ Award Shows

Wed.  Mar 29    Class #11        MTV paper due/Test #3

Wed.  Apr 5       Class #12        Elvis/Country on TV

Wed.  Apr 12     Class #13        Music Video

Wed    Apr 19    Class #14        TV Programming/The Future

Wed.  Apr 26     Class#15         Review/last day of class

       Final schedule TBA

 

 

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.