DIY Music Business

The music business has undergone staggering changes in recent years due to changing technologies, and the collapse of many of the old gatekeepers, corporations, and power structures. Funding, production, promotion, and distribution have largely become the artist's responsibility. While this has democratized creative music-making in exciting and powerful ways, it has also placed new responsibilities on the independent artist. This course will begin with an examination of the traditional aspects of music business, including Copyright, royalties, distribution, licensing, publishing, and record contracts. We will follow that with an extensive study of the new DIY music business. We will look at the practical methods and skills required of today's musician, including Direct engagement with listeners, creating an effective online presence, promotion, contacting media, booking shows, and successful methods for releasing and distributing recorded music. We will also examine the complex social and artistic issues that are a result of changes in the music business, such as Copyright and ownership in the digital age; the (de)commodification of recorded music; power structures between corporations and the independent artist. Our dialogue surrounding the above topics will be based on the writing of experts in the field, the shared knowledge and experience of class members, and case studies/analysis of current artists and their innovative and creative methods in music business. *All students are welcome to participate in this course, whether they are an active musician or are simply interested in the state of the current music business. Texts: Herstand, Ari. How to Make it in the Music Business: Practical Tips on Building a Loyal Following and Making a Living as a Musician. Liveright, 2016. Passman, Donald. All You Need to Know About the Music Business. 9th ed., Free Press, 2015. Requirements/Evaluation: Students will be expected to complete readings and viewings for each class meeting, and actively participate in the resulting discussions. There will also be written reflections on select topics and readings. Students will complete a music business/entrepreneurship project on a topic of their choosing, which they will present to the class.