Students

MUS 209 – The Music Business

2016 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
waldo.garrido
Contact via waldo.garrido@mq.edu.au
Y3A 165F
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
15cp
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
In this unit students apply music industry theory to a range of real life situations. They create and market an artist's image, organise and promote a live gig, and learn how to plot a musician's career path. This unit provides a holistic outline of the music industry that considers all five income stream groups (record sales, live performance, song publishing, merchandise and sponsorship) in relation to artists' and industry practitioners' careers. The artist manager is the only other individual, besides the artist, who gets to see and touch all the jigsaw puzzle pieces that fit together to create the artist's career. This unit therefore focuses on artist management in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the different facets that constitute the industry.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.
  • Interpret and evaluate various music business contracts in order to design contractual relationships between artists and other parties, including (but not limited to) artist managers, agents, producers, record companies, and song publishing companies.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

General Assessment Information

Assessment submissions:

All written assignment submissions are to be made via Turnitin.

Late Submissions 

Tasks 10% or less. No extensions will be granted. Students who have not submitted the task prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for Disruption to Studies is made and approved. 

Tasks above 10%. Students who submit late work without an approved Disruption to Studies extension will receive a penalty of 10% per day. This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Disruption to Studies is made and approved.

(Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html ) 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Postings on iLearn 20% Weekly No
Knowledge Test 30% Week 8 No
Marketing Plan 50% Week 13 No

Postings on iLearn

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:

This assessment task is only for the external students. The internal students are required to complete the group tutorial presentation. Each week the external students are required to engage with the content available via the iLearn site and post at least one comment to the discussion forum concerning it. 

Marking Criteria:

In order to pass this assessment task, students will need to:

- Display comprehension of key debates, theories, and perspectives, through the detailed analysis of key texts and further readings

- Demonstrate an adequate familiarity with and communication of the relevant literature in the field

- Actively engage with the class in order to generate discussion

- Demonstrate knowledge of current industry trends

- Integrate the information presented with the broader themes of the week

- Demonstrate independent research of the topic

- Appropriateness of links provided to websites that are of interest


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.

Knowledge Test

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:

This test will be based around the unit content for weeks 1 - 7 Questions may relate to the readings, the lectures. The test will be given during the tutorial times in Week 8. This will involve short answers and multiple choice questions.

 

Marking Criteria

Accuracy of your answers 

Understanding of the key issues concerning the music industry and business.

Capacity to demonstrate learning associated with the unit content.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Interpret and evaluate various music business contracts in order to design contractual relationships between artists and other parties, including (but not limited to) artist managers, agents, producers, record companies, and song publishing companies.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.

Marketing Plan

Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach:

Marketing Plan

Due: Week 13

Delivery: Printed document to be handed in during the last tutorial in week 13.

Length: 2000 words

 

Prepare a marketing plan for the release of a musical product/CD into the marketplace. This plan should include the following items:

Product overview

Market research

Marketing objectives

Target market

Product strategies

Promotion strategies

Pricing strategies

Distribution strategies

Overview of budgeting

Conclusions

References

 

Marking criteria

 

How well the project is researched and planned

Clear and insightful communication of ideas

Creative solutions and strategies

Correct grammar and spelling in the report

Professional presentation of the report

Your ability to keep within the maximum word count in the written proposal. 

Demonstrated ability to research, interpret and apply academic sources

Relevance of sources

Credibility of sources

Clear identification of assignment aims (and whether these are achieved)

Demonstrated ability to conduct independent wider research

Cited works should be referenced using an established system

Clarity of expression in line with expected academic standards  


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Delivery and Resources

CLASSES

Delivery:

Day as well as external (online)

This unit will use:

iLearn, Audio Lectures (MP3 Files)

Times and Locations for Lectures and Tutorials:

Tutorials start in week two.

For current updates, lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetables website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au.

MUS209 - Music Business is offered both internally and externally. The unit outline will be available for download via the unit iLearn site:

http://www.ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Internal and external students are encouraged to communicate with each other electronically. The internal students will need to attend one lecture and one tutorial each week.

 

Required Readings

Required readings will be listed on iLearn. All required readings will be available through the library's MultiSearch function.

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/

Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Additional information

MMCCS website https://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/faculties_and_departments/faculty_of_arts/department_of_media_music_communication_and_cultural_studies/

MMCCS Session Re-mark Application http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914

Information is correct at the time of publication

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.
  • Interpret and evaluate various music business contracts in order to design contractual relationships between artists and other parties, including (but not limited to) artist managers, agents, producers, record companies, and song publishing companies.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment tasks

  • Postings on iLearn
  • Marketing Plan

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment task

  • Marketing Plan

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment task

  • Marketing Plan

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.
  • Interpret and evaluate various music business contracts in order to design contractual relationships between artists and other parties, including (but not limited to) artist managers, agents, producers, record companies, and song publishing companies.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment tasks

  • Postings on iLearn
  • Knowledge Test
  • Marketing Plan

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Interpret and evaluate various music business contracts in order to design contractual relationships between artists and other parties, including (but not limited to) artist managers, agents, producers, record companies, and song publishing companies.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment tasks

  • Postings on iLearn
  • Knowledge Test
  • Marketing Plan

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.
  • Interpret and evaluate various music business contracts in order to design contractual relationships between artists and other parties, including (but not limited to) artist managers, agents, producers, record companies, and song publishing companies.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment tasks

  • Knowledge Test
  • Marketing Plan

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.
  • Summarise music business literature and collaborate with other students in order to evaluate, contrast and defend personal judgements concerning the music business.
  • Interpret and evaluate various music business contracts in order to design contractual relationships between artists and other parties, including (but not limited to) artist managers, agents, producers, record companies, and song publishing companies.
  • Apply professional and personal judgment and initiative regarding the complexity, ambiguity and diversity that is generated by the changing music business environment.
  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment tasks

  • Postings on iLearn
  • Knowledge Test
  • Marketing Plan

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Practice creative thinking in order to discover new knowledge concerning the music business.

Assessment tasks

  • Postings on iLearn
  • Knowledge Test
  • Marketing Plan

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Describe the history of the music business and locate their own arguments within a broad historical context.

Assessment tasks

  • Postings on iLearn
  • Knowledge Test
  • Marketing Plan