Business of Independent Music Production

Syllabus

Lesson 1: Music Producer Agreement

• The Negotiating Players 
• Deal Memo 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Learning the Ropes 
• On the Record: Producer Agreements 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Learning the History of an Artist 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - The Team 
• Songwriting in the Producer’s Agreement 

Lesson 2: Demo Agreement 

• Demo Agreement Fine Points 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Demoitis 
• On the Record: Demo Agreements 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Demo to Master 
• Types of Demos 
• Demo Deal Hacks 
• Managing Expectations 

Lesson 3: Producer/Management Agreement 

• The Fine Points of Producer/Management Agreements 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - The Stable of Producers 
• On the Record: Manager Agreements 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture  

Lesson 4: Publishing Agreements - How Not to Sign Your Life Away 

• What Do Publishing Agreements Have to Do with You? 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Are You Signing with a Bank or a Creative Company? 
• On the Record: Publishing Agreements 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Keep Writing! 
• The New Market for Publishing Catalogs 
• The Bottom Line for Young Writers and Publishing Deals

Lesson 5: Intellectual Property, PROs, and Sound Exchange Agreements 

• Performance Rights Organizations 
• PRO Membership, Artist Contracts, and Letters of Direction 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Unfinished Business 
• On the Record: SoundExchange and PROs 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Signed and Registered LODs 
• International IP 

Lesson 6: The Mixing Agreement  

• Mixing Agreement Overview 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Music that Comes to You on a Stretcher 
• On the Record: Mixing Agreements 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - When They Already Love Your Work 

Lesson 7: Sync Agreement 

• Sync Agreement Overview 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Condensing Your Ideas Commercially 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Halo Effect 
• On the Record: Sync Opportunities 
• When Your Work Is Exploited without Permission  

Lesson 8: Business Concerns: Recording and Mixing Budgets - The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men 

• Budget Overview 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Help, We Are Over Budget Already! 
• On the Record: Budgets 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - A DAT player, a microphone, and a Pizza . . . Budget Complete! 
• Mixing Budgets and Mixers Types 

Lesson 9: Ancillary Income Streams and the Double-Edged Sword 

• Non Production-related Income Sources Streams 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Short Money and Thinking of Your Future 
• On the Record: Ancillary Income Streams 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Creating a Sound That the Public Can Buy 

Lesson 10: Starting Your Own Label or Production Company 

• My Experience Starting a Label 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Sign on the Dotted Line 
• On the Record: Running a Label 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Label as Talent Incubator 

Lesson 11: Promoting Your Brand 

• Branding Yourself in the Marketplace 
• Case Study 1: Unsuccessful Venture - Long Live the King 
• On the Record: Your Brand 
• Case Study 2: Successful Venture - Your Friend the Music  

Lesson 12: Review and a Look Forward 

• Mentors 
• Your Team 
• Your Next Venture 
• Next Steps