Comprehensive Study Notes on Music Business Operations, Artist Team Structure, and Academic Policies

Composition of the 10-Member Artist Team

  • Comprehensive Overview of the Artist Team: A complete artist team in the music industry consists of 1010 distinct key roles and entities working together to manage creative, business, legal, financial, and promotional operations.

  • The 10 Primary Team Roles:

    • 1. Attorney / Lawyer: Handles contract negotiations, deal structures, legal protections, and legal counsel (including specialized PR attorneys for legal crisis management).

    • 2. Publicist: Manages public relations, sets up press interviews, coordinates red carpet appearances (e.g., Grammys, American Music Awards), handles official statements, and executes reputation repair/crisis management strategies.

    • 3. Booking Agent: Secures live performances, tour dates, venue bookings, and show appearances. This role is separate from general career management.

    • 4. Personal Manager: Oversees the overarching strategy, day-to-day operations, and overall career trajectory of the artist.

    • 5. Record Label: The primary corporate entity responsible for financing, producing, marketing, and commercializing master recordings.

    • 6. Distributor / Distribution Company: Distributes physical and digital audio content to Digital Service Providers (DSPs).

      • Independent Distributors: Entities like DistroKid and United Masters.

      • Major Distribution Arms: Entities like The Orchard, which operates as a distribution subsidiary under Sony.

    • 7. Accountant / Financial Manager: Manages business accounting, bookkeeping, income tracking, tax compliance, and budget planning for the artist.

    • 8. Digital Media Manager: Oversees digital strategy, social media footprint, fan engagement, and digital media presence across online platforms.

    • 9. Publisher: Represents song copyrights, manages composition licensing, and works alongside performance rights entities to collect publishing royalties.

    • 10. Bandmates and Creative Contributors: The creative force producing the actual musical content, consisting of:

      • Bandmates: Instrumentalists such as drummers and guitarists.

      • Creative Contributors: Songwriters and record producers.

Performing Rights Organizations (PROs)

  • Definition and Function: Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) collect performance royalties on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers whenever their copyrighted compositions are broadcast, streamed, or performed publicly.

  • The Three Major U.S. PROs:

    • ASCAP: American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

    • BMI: Broadcast Music, Inc.

    • SESAC: Society of European Stage Authors and Composers.

  • Regional Presence: All three major PROs (ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC) maintain regional offices in Atlanta.

Course Policies and Academic Expectations

  • School of Business Attendance Policy:

    • Student Affairs Exemption Changes: Student Affairs no longer issues official excused absences for routine short-term illness; excuse notes are limited strictly to major hospitalizations or significant emergencies.

    • Absences Threshold: Students are permitted up to 33 unexcused absences before incurring an academic penalty.

    • Grade Penalty: Exceeding 33 unexcused absences results in an automatic reduction of the final course grade by 11 full letter grade.

    • Policy Start: Attendance tracking officially begins on the final day of the add/drop period.

    • Official University Absences: Student-athletes, performers, and student government representatives traveling on official university business are exempt from the 33-absence limit upon submitting formal documentation from a university official.

  • Executive Presence Rubric:

    • Former Designation: Previously referred to as the Professional Disposition Rubric.

    • Evaluation Criteria: Assesses students across six core professional standards:

      • Class participation

      • Professional appearance

      • Articulate communication

      • Ethical behavior

      • Responsiveness to feedback

      • Respectful discourse

    • Grade Impact: Standardized across all School of Business and Sport & Entertainment courses; lower scores on the rubric can drop an earned academic grade (e.g., reducing a final grade from an A to a B).

  • Grading Breakdown:

    • Midterm Presentation: 25%25\% of final grade.

    • Quizzes: 20%20\% of final grade.

    • Project: 10%10\% of final grade.

    • Final Exam: 30%30\% of final grade.

    • Executive Presence & Class Participation: 15%15\% of final grade.

  • Academic Rigor and Examination Policy:

    • Assigned textbook readings are mandatory for passing quizzes and examinations.

    • Industry interest or informal engagement in class is insufficient to pass without strong performance on written academic assessments.

  • Accessibility Services and Accommodations:

    • Accommodations must be processed formally through the Office of Accessibility Services.

    • Accommodations are non-retroactive and take effect only after official paperwork is received by the instructor.

    • Approved students receive communication regarding assessment arrangements (taking quizzes inside vs. outside the classroom setting).

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy:

    • The School of Business enforces an open-use AI policy.

    • Students may utilize AI tools for coursework, slide presentations, and visual asset generation.

    • Citation Requirement: Full citations detailing AI tool usage and content generation must be disclosed at the end of submitted presentations and assignments.

  • Administrative Withdrawal Policy:

    • Instructors reserve the prerogative to administratively withdraw students prior to the withdrawal deadline for poor attendance or failing academic performance with no path to recovery.

Experiential Learning Opportunities and Credit Mechanics

  • Industry Field Opportunities:

    • Field-based opportunities offered include a 55-day hands-on experience working the Chris Brown / Usher tour in Atlanta, projects with The-Dream (Radio Killa), work with Fanbase, and human resources/record operations with The Orchard (Sony).

    • Past student field experiences have included traveling to Los Angeles and working on projects tied to BJ the Chicago Kid, Trippie Redd, Prince, and the James Brown estate.

  • Tuition and Credit Load Mechanics:

    • Students taking 1515 credit hours can add an extra credit/practicum course without incurring extra tuition charges.

    • Students taking 1818 credit hours incur additional out-of-pocket tuition charges if adding extra course credits.

    • Alternative Projects: Students unable to register for off-site practicum hours due to credit-limit tuition caps or scheduling conflicts are assigned alternative course projects with zero grade penalty.

Student Introductions and Class Profile

  • Student Profile — David DeLovis III:

    • Name: David DeLovis III

    • Major: Mass Media Arts

    • Academic Year: Senior

    • Focus: Music producer/musician enrolled to learn the business side of the industry.

    • Hometown: Paterson, New Jersey (Instructor notes origin in Elizabeth, New Jersey).

    • Athletic Status: Former athlete.