MFA 550 Career Development and Business Practices for Media Music Professionals

The composer of music for visual media is a self-employed independent contractor as well as generally the sole proprietor of a small business. Whether the composer is the only employee or oversees a staff of forty, they must be thoroughly familiar with all aspects of the business. In this course, you will become familiar with the language of both “work-for-hire” and “all-in package” contracts, the metrics of performance royalties, their administration by Performing Rights Organizations (PRO’s), copyright law, and the rules and regulations governing intellectual properties in the age of AI. In addition, you will learn what it means to be your own publicist, and in the early stage of a career, an agent.

This course is 3 credits.