80 Music Business Syllabus

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Course Description

Study of legal and business aspects of the music industry. Emphasis on publishing, licensing, and promotion. Copyright law, interaction between songwriters and music publishers, record companies, distributors and the rules that govern them. How music is licensed, service marks, trademarks and patents. The role of lawyers, agents, personal managers, producers and promoters. Licensing and copyright of intellectual properties in the growing multimedia industry and the internet. Synchronization of music in film, video and television. Career development and how major/independent labels market and distribute media.

Learning Objectives

Demonstrate an understanding of the basic tenets of business as currently practiced in the U.S.
Discuss the traditional structure of record companies, and the changes taking place due to the advent of digital delivery
Discuss and define the role of songwriters in the music industry, including the publishing and licensing of songs both in the U.S. and abroad
Examine the role of agents and managers in the music industry
Examine the role of ethnic musical styles in the music industry by writing reports on record companies that specialize in culturally diverse styles

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this class.

Course Modules

Music Business Intro
Recording Contracts
Music Production Libraries
Song Copyright
Blockchain
Team Strategies
Midterm Review
Producer Deals
Lawyers
Final Project

Required Subscriptions

pureMix Pro Subscription
- Free coupon provided by in Canvas
LinkedIn Learning
- Free for students

Required Hardware

Computer

Although iOS and Android mobile devices are getting more powerful all the time, Music Technology students need a computer to do a lot of this work
- Either a Mac or Windows computer is fine
As much RAM as you can afford
As much internal storage as you can afford
Processor speeds are not as important

Additional Storage

Dedicated Media Drive is recommended

Required Software

Any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)
- Including Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton Love, FL Studio, Cubase, Digital Performer, Reaper, GarageBand, Audacity etc.

Required Textbook

There are no required textbooks in this class. We will recommend additional reading material in the course modules.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

Your contributions to this class are a vital ingredient for all of us. The exchange of information and sharing of the creative process contribute to a rich learning experience often greater than any textbook could provide. Music Technology Classes involve the creation of digital media content. Students will retain full ownership of all their works and copyrights. Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author who created the work. Only the author, or those deriving their rights through the author, can rightfully claim copyright. In other words, you hold the copyright once you've written it.

Diverse Range of Students

We acknowledge the diversity of the students in all of our Music Tech courses. Many of you join our classes ranging in age and with different backgrounds, experience levels, and skill sets. In teaching so many diverse students, one of our challenges as professors is to provide a personalized experience for all of our students so that you may get the most out of each course and walk away with skills and knowledge that you feel will benefit you for the future. That being said, given the diversity of your backgrounds, it is possible that at certain points, the courses may not be moving at the pace that you would like, whether that be too fast or too slow. If you feel the course is moving too fast and falling behind, please message me as soon as possible so we can help you get caught up and point you in the right direction for resources and materials to help you. If you feel the course is moving too slowly, we would also like you to contact us ASAP and let us know. We have many supplementary materials, including hundreds of articles, videos, and exercises, so you can learn at your preferred pace and get the most out of each course.

Welcome to Class!

We are all in this class because we are moved and inspired by the magnificent magic of music and sound. We are fascinated with Music Technology and the rapidly evolving tools and techniques used in the creative process. Learning the art and science of music production also requires focused work and self-discipline. You should plan on dedicating time each week to study and explore. Your instructors are here to help - so we can all learn and grow together.