Music Business Course

Lesson 1 • The Artist Career Lifecycle

Traces the typical stages of an artist's career from emergence to legacy. Helps students align business strategies with career stage.

Lesson 2 • Industry Overview and Ecosystem

Maps the full music industry ecosystem including creators, intermediaries, and consumers. Provides the foundational framework for all subsequent business concepts.

Lesson 3 • Key Stakeholders and Their Roles

Identifies every major stakeholder from artist to end consumer. Clarifies how each party creates, captures, or distributes value.

Lesson 1 • Copyright Fundamentals in Music

Explains what copyright protects, how it arises, and how long it lasts. Grounds students in the legal logic underlying every music deal.

Lesson 2 • International Copyright Considerations

Explains how copyright protection extends across borders through international treaties. Prepares students to manage rights in global markets.

Lesson 3 • Infringement, Fair Use, and Sampling

Defines copyright infringement and the defences available against claims. Addresses sampling clearance as a critical practical skill.

Lesson 4 • Types of Music Licences

Catalogues every licence type used in music commerce and explains when each applies. Connects licensing theory to real-world deal structures.

Lesson 1 • The Publishing Business Model

Explains how publishers generate revenue by licensing compositions and collecting royalties. Positions publishing as the core monetisation engine for songwriters.

Lesson 2 • Sync Licensing as a Revenue Strategy

Positions sync licensing as a high-value publishing revenue stream. Covers pitching, negotiation, and fee structures for film, TV, and advertising placements.

Lesson 3 • Mechanical Royalties and Collection

Covers mechanical royalty generation from physical, digital, and streaming sources. Explains collection mechanisms and the role of mechanical licensing agencies.

Lesson 4 • Publishing Deal Structures

Analyses the spectrum of publishing agreements from full assignment to administration deals. Students evaluate deal terms and negotiate from an informed position.

Lesson 1 • Record Label Business Models

Compares major, independent, and self-releasing models across A&R, marketing, and distribution functions. Establishes the economic logic of each label type.

Lesson 2 • Recording Contract Key Terms

Dissects the essential clauses in a standard recording agreement. Students identify artist-favourable and label-favourable provisions.

Lesson 3 • A&R and Artist Development

Covers the A&R function as the creative and commercial bridge between artists and labels. Explains how development investment shapes contract terms.

Lesson 4 • 360-Degree and Multiple Rights Deals

Explains how labels expanded into touring, merchandise, and publishing through 360 deals. Evaluates when these deals benefit or harm artists.

Lesson 1 • Metadata, ISRC, and Rights Management

Establishes metadata accuracy as the foundation of royalty collection in digital distribution. Covers standard identifiers and common metadata errors.

Lesson 2 • Physical and Digital Distribution Models

Compares traditional physical distribution with digital aggregator models. Establishes the cost, reach, and control trade-offs of each approach.

Lesson 3 • Emerging Distribution Channels

Surveys new and growing distribution channels beyond traditional streaming. Prepares students to adapt distribution strategies as the landscape evolves.

Lesson 4 • Streaming Economics and Platform Deals

Explains how streaming platforms pay rights holders and how royalty pools are calculated. Connects platform economics to artist and label income.

Lesson 1 • Streaming Platform Marketing

Explains how to market music within streaming platforms using editorial and algorithmic tools. Connects platform marketing to distribution strategy from the previous chapter.

Lesson 2 • Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy

Covers platform-specific content strategies and paid digital advertising for music. Students build a social media plan aligned with release goals.

Lesson 3 • Artist Branding and Identity

Defines the components of a compelling artist brand and how it differentiates in a crowded market. Connects brand clarity to marketing effectiveness.

Lesson 4 • Press, Radio, and Traditional Media

Covers earned media strategy including press campaigns, radio promotion, and TV placement. Positions traditional media as a credibility amplifier.

Lesson 1 • Tour Budgeting and Financial Management

Builds skills in creating and managing a tour budget from guarantee to net profit. Connects live financial management to overall artist income planning.

Lesson 2 • Contracts and Legal Agreements in Live Music

Covers the key contracts governing live performance relationships. Students identify critical clauses and negotiate from an informed position.

Lesson 3 • Booking, Routing, and Tour Planning

Explains how tours are routed, booked, and logistically planned for profitability. Students apply routing logic to minimise costs and maximise revenue.

Lesson 4 • Festivals, Events, and Alternative Live Formats

Examines festival business models and emerging live formats beyond traditional touring. Expands students' view of live revenue opportunities.

Lesson 1 • Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships

Covers how artists and music companies structure brand partnership deals. Evaluates alignment, valuation, and negotiation of sponsorship agreements.

Lesson 2 • Music Business Plan Development

Guides students through building a complete music business plan with financial projections. Synthesises revenue, marketing, and distribution strategies from prior chapters.

Lesson 3 • Building the Artist's Business Team

Identifies every professional role in a complete artist business team and explains when to hire each. Connects team structure to career stage concepts from Chapter 1.

Lesson 4 • Artist Management Fundamentals

Defines the manager's role as the strategic architect of an artist's career. Covers commission structures, responsibilities, and manager-artist relationship dynamics.