80A Music Business

Class 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

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• 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.

Course Outline

1. Music Businee Intro
2. Recording Contracts
3. Music Production Libraries
4. Song Copyright
5. Blockchain
6. Team Strategies
7. Midterm Review
8. Producer Deals
9. Lawyers

Foothill Legacy Course Outline

• How music generates income in the entertainment industry
  • Publishing and licensing
  • Publishing rights in the U.S
  • Copyright ownership
  • Arrangements
  • Works for hire
• Licensing musical compositions and arrangements
  • Who may license
  • Fair use
  • Licensing organizations: BMI, ASCAP, SESAC
• Representation in the music industry
  • Agents and personal managers
  • Regulations in California
  • Conflict of interest
  • Licensing of agents
• Talent agencies
  • Unions and guilds (American Federation of Musicians, Screen Actors Guild, American Guild of Musical Artists)

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

• When taught on campus:
  • Access to a CD and DVD player; classroom sound system, screen, overhead projection system.
• When taught via Foothill Global Access:
  • On-going access to computer with email software and capabilities; email address; JavaScript enabled internet browsing software

Methods of Evaluation

• Written examinations on copyright law in the U.S. since the copyright act of 1976 (and subsequent revisions) as it pertains to musical works
• Proposing written hypothetical publishing scenarios and detailing the legal aspects of such
• Writing contracts that license arrangements of a musical work
• Comparing and contrasting agents and personal managers and the regulations that pertain to them in California, the U.S., and the world in written essays

Method of Instruction

• Lecture presentations and classroom discussion using the language of the music business
• In-class viewing of video interviews with music business experts
• Listening to audio examples from 1920-1970 that demonstrate elements of copyright law

Lab Content

• Develop a business plan for a record label.
• Design a distribution and marketing plan for an online music distributor.
• Create a flowchart for a distribution network handling mixed media.

Required Reading, Writing and Outside of Class Assignments

• LinkedIn Learning
  • Available free through public libraries
• Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) software.
• No other equipment or software required.
• No required textbook.