SPRING 2006 SYLLABUS

 

MBU 4820: ARTIST MANAGEMENT

 

Note: Please read this syllabus thoroughly and retain it until the end of the semester since it contains information which should be useful to you in this course.  By enrolling in this course and being supplied with a copy of this syllabus, you shall be subject to all of the requirements specified herein.

 

Professor:                                 J. Rush Hicks

Phone:                                      460-6473

Office:                                      Rm. 222

e-mail:                                      hicksr@mail.belmont.edu

Location/Class Hours:               Tues, Thurs 2 PM – 3:15 PM in Room 204

                                                Tues, Thurs 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Room 200A  

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will provide an overview of the relationship between the recording artist and manager.  Topics will include finding a manager, understanding the key terms of a management contract, addressing the business state of the artist's career and managing money, employing a professional support team, mapping out the artist's career, assisting the artist in securing a record deal, developing global opportunities and managing the artist's tour. 

 

TEXT: This Business of Artist Management (4th Edition), by Frascogna and Hetherington, Billboard Books

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS & PARTICIPATION:   You are expected to come to class prepared to participate in class discussions.  Participation includes the responsibility of having read any assigned materials prior to class.  If you do not keep up with the assigned reading, you will likely fall behind and your performance may suffer accordingly.  Additional reading materials may be assigned in class.  From time to time, I'll arrange to have guest speakers.

 

ATTENDANCE:         The policies of the current Belmont University Undergraduate Bulletin will apply to this class (i.e., “Belmont University is committed to the idea that regular class attendance is essential to successful scholastic achievement).  Regular class attendance is expected. Since Belmont’s policy allows for a significant number of absences without any direct penalty, I do not make any distinction between excused and unexcused absences.  You do not need to inform me of the reason for absences and absences will not directly affect your grade for the course except: (1) The failure to attend class on any exam date without the professor’s prior approval may result in a grade of 0 for such exam; and (2) exceptional attendance and participation may result in borderline grades for the course being rounded up (e.g., if your course grade based on exams and assignments is an 89, it could be rounded up to 90 giving you an A- rather than a B+ for the course).  It is solely your responsibility to keep up with your absences.

 

GRADING:      The grading system specified in the current Belmont Undergraduate Bulletin applies to this class.  Exams, including the final, will be averaged to determine your grade.  Plus and minus grading, but no A+, will be utilized.

 

EXAMS:          The format for exams will consist of some or all of the following: multiple choice, true/false, matching, essay and short answer questions. The final will be comprehensive as required by College policy and will take place on the date specified by the Belmont University finals week.  University policy does not allow me to change this date and any exceptions must be approved in writing by the Provost.

 

HONOR CODE:         It is expected that students will abide by the Belmont University Honor Code at all times (see the Belmont University Bulletin for specific provisions).

 

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, immediately notify the Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of Student Affairs (460-6407).

 

MATERIAL COVERED:         The first test will cover chapters one, two, three, four & five.  The second test will cover chapters six, seven & eight.  The third test will cover chapters nine through thirteen.  The fourth test will cover chapters fourteen through eighteen.  The final will be comprehensive as well as include chapters twenty, twenty-one and twenty-four.

 

GROUP PROJECT:     During the semester, the class will be divided into several groups to prepare reports to be presented to the class on the relationship, personal and business, between Elvis and his well-known manager, Colonel Tom Parker.  Participation in the group project is expected.  Non-participation will result in a reduction of 10 points from the final grade.

 

MY SPACE:    Please sign up for a Myspace.com account and periodically, let's discuss as a class new artists, their material, news, new technologies, etc.