MODULAR TRAINING IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS

HOW DOES OUR MODULAR SYSTEM WORK?

All IMB School training is modular. On this page you will find detailed information about each one of the Modules that make up the training offer of IMB School.  

Each module is implemented under one of the 3 learning methodologies (Active Online Learning, Interactive Online Learning and Learning by Doing) and is assigned a workload quantified in ECTS. 1 ECTS is equivalent to 25 hours.

Students can take and combine Modules as they wish according to their interests and availability. Depending on the total number of ECTS passed, the student will obtain a Master’s qualification, a Postgraduate Diploma or a Specialist Course. 

For the successful completion of each module a certificate will be awarded, which in some cases will be a Certificate of Knowledge Acquisition and in others will be a Certificate of Skills Acquisition

On this page you will find detailed information about each of the modules that are available within the IMB School training.

OUR MODULES

Make It Happen

45 ECTS

Business Planning

10 ECTS

Advanced Principles

5 ECTS

Legal Aspects

5 ECTS

Know-How

15 ECTS

Historical Analysis

5 ECTS

Internships

0 ECTS

Professional Development

5 ECTS

Do you want more information about all of our programmes?

IMB School - Brochures 2022/23

Enter your details in the form below so that we can send it to you.

Know-How

Interact with 40 international experts from the sector. They will explain the most relevant and unknown aspects of the music business and the jobs they perform.

Presentation

This module offers a 360º in depth understanding of the music business through the interaction with a selection of 40 international experts. Insights are gained by watching pre-recorded masterclasses from experts and are internalised through live online Q&A sessions with the same or related experts. 

This module features three distinctive characteristics: An international selection of expert teachers, first-hand information on how leading projects and organisations in the sector work, and content that offers a holistic view of the music business.

Although possibly the main value of the module lies in the possibility of accessing music business knowledge that can only be transmitted by those who are on the front line. 

Throughout the module, more than 40 experts will reveal the most relevant aspects of their roles, projects or organisations, sharing information that hardly appears in books and that is essential for understanding and becoming familiar with the reality of the business.

The diversity of the speaker and teacher profiles also guarantees that different views can be offered, which do not always coincide. This helps students to acquire a global understanding of how they work whilst developing a critical mind and their own vision of this reality.

This module is a must for anyone who wants to learn about and interact with all the roles in the music business.

Learning objectives

  • To understand and be able to make decisions on any music business issue.
  • To be able to develop critical thinking regarding any topic in the music business.
  • To develop and defend an opinion on different current and future issues in an environment of debate among peers and experts.
  • To understand how different roles and organisations organise themselves internally to deliver their products or services.
  • To understand the key aspects that determine the success of each professional, department and organisation.
  • To understand how different roles and organisations think.
  • To visualise business and professional development opportunities.
  • To identify the roles that can best be carried out within the music universe.
  • To be able to communicate orally and in writing using music business terminology.

Syllabus

This is a summary of the content to be covered in this module. 

The Business of Music Publishing

  • Author
  • Music publisher
  • Publisher A&R
  • Licensing and synchronisation manager
  • CMO of authors

The Business of Recorded Music

  • Independent artist
  • Major artist
  • Artistic producer
  • Music video production company
  • Major label
  • Record label A&R
  • Record label public relations
  • Record marketing manager
  • Digital distributor
  • Playlist curator

The Business of Live Music

  • Event promoter
  • Ticket Office
  • Booking agent
  • Booker
  • Live music venue

Artist’s Business

  • Personal manager
  • Tour manager
  • Agent for brand agreements

Cross-Sector

  • Music technology company

How it works

The Know-How module lasts between 5 and 6 months (depending on holidays). In this module, students will have access to 40 pre-recorded expert masterclass sessions, each representing a different role or organisation. After each student views the masterclass individually, they should do further research on the topic, write down any thoughts and prepare some questions that might arise. Then, students should meet online in teams of maximum 5 to share the individual work done in relation to the masterclass. The objective of this team meeting is to reach an agreement on which thoughts and questions to share with the expert before a livestream session with them. This way, the expert will have 1 week to prepare the live online session in relation to the student’s interests.

One week after the team meeting, the live online session with the expert will take place. Although the expert might have the session prepared with the documents sent 1 week before, there will also be space for spontaneous discussion and questions.

These live online Q&A style sessions will not be recorded in order for the expert to feel free to share any information, and for this reason students will be required to sign confidentiality documents.

Additionally, each student will have to do 1 individual assignment every month, 5 in total. At the end of each unit (which are publishing, recorded music, live music, artist management and cross-sector), they will have to write an essay identifying a challenge in each sector and offering a solution.

FACULTY

APPLY NOW

Included in these recommended programmes:

23/24 Edition
Start: 9th Oct 2023
End: 15th Mar 2024
Schedule: Mondays to Thursdays, 17.30-21.30h CET

Workload: 375h (15 ECTS)

Methodology: Learning by Doing Online (Cohort-Based Online)

Certificate on completion: Certificate of Knowledge Acquisition in Know-How of the Music Business

Module Fee: €3,000

Make It Happen

Develop music projects in teams (an artist’s career, a festival and a label) with real money and the help of professional experts who will accompany you through workshops and mentoring. 100% immersive and practical.

Presentation

The Make It Happen module is a hands-on immersion into the music business. All participants embark on the conception and execution of real music projects from day one, generating a direct impact on the local music sector, and preparing themselves to face the music business at a global level. This is undoubtedly the most distinctive module of IMB School and the one that offers the most direct learning experience.

The students will be responsible for the IMB Artist Talent Programme, aimed at detecting and promoting emerging artistic talent. Once this talent has been detected, their job will be to manage it and connect it to music and creative industries professionals that are key for the project development.

Knowledge is acquired through sessions, workshops and mentoring to enable students to meet the objectives required in the IMB Artist Talent Programme which will be explained in the following sections. The work involved in the IMB Artist Talent Programme will take place mostly outside the classroom and in teams.

The IMB Artist Talent Programme is made up of four blocks:

  • IMB Artist Talent Contest: Open contest for up-and-coming artists. The winners will then work with the students from the Make It Happen module during the academic year.
  • IMB Artist Talent Incubator: 5-stage project that focuses on the development and management of the winning artists, from the recording of a single to the design of its live format.
  • IMB Festival: Event that gives visibility to all the work done and materialises the connection of its participants to the music sector.
  • IMB Label: Project focused on the management and production of the compilation of all the singles launched in the programme, as well as the dissemination of the knowledge and tools acquired among new managers.

During the academic year, students will become the managers of IMB Artist Talent Incubator, IMB Festival and IMB Label. These three projects are designed to be carried out under pressure and within a tight time frame, allowing students to live a fulfilling learning experience and make decisions that have a real impact outside the classroom. The performance required throughout the whole IMB Artist Talent Programme demands a great effort in teamwork coordination, as well as spreading a series of attitudes and skills regarding budget management, problem solving, anticipation, responsibility and commitment to the projects. In addition, students must work on their empathy and develop the capacity for transmitting important information in order to reach a consensus with the artist.

The experience is combined with specialised hands-on sessions and mentoring sessions as support tools in all parts of the process. Similarly, student performance will be regularly assessed every time they hand in assignments and deliver presentations within the Make it Happen module.

The completion of this module has an exceptional impact on each individual student’s training, as well as on the detection, development and visibility of new artistic talent for the music sector. The greater the success of the projects managed, the greater the recognition of the student’s work and their artist management skills.

Format

In order to enhance the learning experience and to provide students with the necessary tools to undertake the different tasks planned in the IMB Artist Talent Programme, a set of practical sessions in three different formats will be scheduled in the Make It Happen module:

  • Workshop: Intensive workshops provided by specialists on various topics related to the IMB Artist Talent Programme’s activities. In some cases, the artists will be invited to participate in the workshops to facilitate the development of the activities.
  • Step by Step: The module coordinator and a group of selected specialists will deliver these sessions where the step-by-step process associated with all stages of the IMB Artist Talent Programme will be analysed in detail.
  • Collective Mentoring: Doubt resolution, follow-up and feedback sessions with the module coordinator covering the different aspects of the programme.

In addition to the compulsory teaching sessions, students will have at their disposal individual 30-minute mentoring sessions outside the lective hours with the module coordinator to address specific doubts.

Similarly, during the development of both the IMB Festival and IMB Label, students will have extra group mentoring sessions available with the module coordinator to have constant follow-up and feedback during the process.

Learning objectives

  • To acquire a holistic vision of all aspects related to the design and execution of music projects.
  • To develop the necessary skills to manage music projects.
  • To expand the network of professional relationships through interaction with professionals from the music and creative industries.
  • To identify the main criteria and parameters that should determine decision making.
  • To analyse the impact of the actions carried out during the development of the projects.
  • To efficiently manage budgets in order to achieve strategic objectives.
  • To recognise through practice the roles that best match personal goals and strengths.
  • To understand the dynamics of working relationships between people involved in creative projects aimed at the market.

Structure

All sessions and mentorings in the Make It Happen module are organised in such a way as to accompany you throughout the IMB Artist Talent Programme. 

Estructura del módulo Make It Happen
SCHOLARSHIPS

Faculty

IMB Artist Talent Programme

The IMB Artist Talent Programme is made up of four blocks: IMB Artist Talent Contest, IMB Artist Talent Incubator, IMB Festival and IMB Label. 

IMB Artist Talent Contest

The IMB Artist Talent Contest is open to all up-and-coming music artists based in Barcelona or Madrid. It is fully promoted and managed by IMB School and it is the starting point of the IMB Artist Talent Programme.

The contest is aimed at any solo artist or music group willing to boost their projects and careers. The prize consists of:

Artist Talent Contest Prize

Artist Talent Contest Prize

Thanks to this contest, students have a database of talent available to them which they will have to choose from depending on which artist proposal they feel they connect with the most. Later they will have to defend this proposal in front of their peers and commit to its development. This becomes a key moment in the learning experience in the Make it Happen module.

IMB Artist Talent Incubator

 

IMB Artist Talent Incubator es un sistema de desarrollo de talento emergente organizado en 5 etapas que articula el trabajo que estudiantes y artistas llevan a cabo con sus proyectos musicales. Con el objetivo de proporcionar una experiencia real de aprendizaje, cada proyecto artístico tendrá asignado un presupuesto total de 3000€, que será gestionado de común acuerdo por cada equipo de estudiantes y distribuido según las tareas asignadas a cada una de las etapas.

Cada equipo estará integrado por 4 o 5 estudiantes, pero solo uno de ellos asumirá el rol de coordinador y se mantendrá fijo como enlace con el artista a lo largo de todo el programa. Este rol se asignará a los estudiantes que hayan defendido los artistas ganadores en la Etapa 1 (A&R). El resto de integrantes de cada equipo rotarán entre el resto de proyectos artísticos durante las siguientes etapas.

Stage 1: A&R

Objective(s)

To sign artistic talent to be developed during a year.

Budget allocated

€0 / project

Each student needs to select one artist that has entered the IMB Artist Talent Contest* and together with this artist prepare some presentation material to defend their artistic proposal. This material will be shared with the rest of the students through IMB School’s LMS.

The final list of winning projects will be the result of a voting system that will give priority to student preferences over IMB School’s Artistic Committee. Students who have defended the proposal of any of the winning artists will have to sign an agreement between three parties (student, artist and IMB School). This agreement will establish the terms and conditions of their participation in the IMB Artist Talent Contest, IMB Label and IMB Festival.

*It is possible to select an artist who does not appear in the initial database, as long as the artist enters the contest within the deadlines indicated by IMB School.

Stage 2: Single selection and recording

Objective(s)

To produce the final master of a single.

Budget allocated

€700€/project

Together with the artist, the team must identify a single from the artist’s repertoire (or from any given songwriter’s unpublished repertoire) and then proceed to hire the best suitable services for the recording, mixing and mastering of the single. It may also be necessary to manage the hiring of an artistic producer, studio musicians and featuring artists.

Stage 3: Development of image, music video and owned media

Objective(s)

To define and configure the artist’s image and owned media. To produce these materials: music video, cover and photo session. 

Budget allocated

€1,500€/project

Each group must define a branding strategy coherent with the identity of the artistic project and also manage the decision-making process related to the artist’s overall image, referring to photo sessions, brand image (colours, logos and typography) as well as to the cover of the single, the production of the official music video of the single and other audiovisual content for promotion. Here the implementation of the artist’s website, newsletter and social media channels is also included.

Stage 4: Promotion and release of the single

Objective(s)

Promotion and release of the single.

Budget allocated

€600/project

The team guides the artist in the selection of a digital distributor for the release of the single. The team also assists the artist by designing and putting into action a communication plan to enable the artist to attain the maximum visibility within their target audience. At this stage, it is often vital to invest in online and offline advertising and/or influencer marketing as well.

Stage 5: Live format design

Objective(s)

To increase the booking opportunities of the live show. 

Budget allocated

€200€/project

The team will define different live show formats and establish the corresponding artist fees. At this stage, it is necessary to identify the HR and production needs, to develop the technical rider, the hospitality rider and the portfolio, and finally to develop a successful presentation for booking agents and promoters, as well as offering legal advice which is vital for the live performance billing. During this same stage, a marketing strategy should be developed for the artist to sell more shows. 

Parallel to the IMB Artist Talent Incubator, students will embark on the realisation of two collective projects that lead to the peak of their learning process.

IMB Label and IMB Festival are two different expressions of the same identity, two interconnected projects that are built on top of the work done throughout the IMB Artist Talent Incubator. Even so, they offer distinctive value propositions that each working team must promote and make visible to their target audience.

IMB Label

IMB Label

Budget: €8,500 budget shared with the IMB Festival.

IMB Label is the record label managed by the IMB School students. The label’s mission is to boost the visibility of up-and-coming talent to key players in the music industry.

In order to achieve this, it carries out different actions, among which the following stand out: the edition of the annual compilation of singles by the artists of the IMB Artist Talent Incubator (in vinyl and digital format) and the promotion of the IMB Artist Talent Portfolio, which collects all the work done by the students, artists and creators during each stage of the year and provides content to the IMB Festival through different actions.

The timing, format and content of the actions are determined by the students. In order to do that, students will have to do an in-depth analysis of the context and identify how they can bring value to all those involved in the project.

The team of students involved in IMB Label will be distributed in the following departments:

  • A&R Department
  • Product Department
  • Communication and Marketing Department
  • Administration and Finance Department

IMB Festival

IMB Festival

Budget: €8,500 (shared with IMB Label)

The IMB Festival is the annual event organised by IMB School’s students as the closing event of the IMB Artist Talent programme. It is the first festival dedicated to the interaction between up-and-coming artistic talent, new music business professionals and creative industries professionals who want to develop their careers within the music sector.

At the same time, the IMB Festival is used as a launching platform for the artists involved in the IMB Artist Talent Programme and has the mission of making their talent visible to a specialised audience.

The date, format (either in person, blended or online) and contents of the IMB Festival will be defined by the students throughout the academic year, so that the event can effectively respond to the needs that the music sector and the artistic community have on the IMB Festival’s date of celebration (given the preventive health measures of the local government).

The team of students involved in the IMB Festival will be distributed among the following departments:

  • Production Department
  • Sponsors and Partners Department
  • Communication and Marketing Department
  • Administration and Finance Department

APPLY NOW

Included in these recommended programmes:

Barcelona: September 2023 to June 2024

Madrid: September 2023 to June 2024

Language: 90% Spanish / 10% English

Workload: 1125h (ECTS 45)

Methodology: Learning by Doing In Person

Sessions Format: Workshops, Step by step and collective mentoring.

Certificate on completion: Certificate of Acquisition of Professional Skills in Project Development

Module Fee: €11,250

Business Planning

This module has been designed for anyone willing to lead and assume the highest responsibilities in the creation and management of any music-related business.

Presentation

This module has been designed for anyone willing to lead and assume the highest responsibilities in the creation and management of any music-related business. This can either be done on your own (entrepreneur) or within a particular organization (intrapreneur). No previous studies or professional experience in business management are required, just commitment and determination to get the most out of it.

Business Planning shows a fine-tuned methodology for creating a solid business plan. It is structured around the crucial milestones and challenges that any entrepreneur or intrapreneur will have to face along the way. However, it is important to bear in mind that the ultimate goal of this module is a deep understanding of all the aspects involved in building and managing a business, as well as establishing an entrepreneurial mindset that allows: acquiring confindence in the process of decision making, effectively communicate the value proposition and be prepared for possible negotiation scenarios.

The effort of creating your own business plan is very demanding and satisfying, so if you are willing, this module will help you produce an impressive result and turn it into a powerful professional management and business generation tool.

Learning objectives

  • Identify and filter business opportunities through market analysis.
  • Create a solution with a sustainable business model around a business opportunity.
  • Develop a feasible plan in order to run a business, including areas of operations, human resources, marketing and finance.
  • Being able to present an executive summary of the business plan and convince the audience.
  • Being able to negotiate with interested parties.

Syllabus

  • Business planning for new or existing companies.
  • The mindset of the entrepreneur or intrapreneur.
  • The team.
  • Market research to detect a hypothetical unresolved problem or inefficiency.
  • Design Thinking process to develop a product or service:
    • Empathize with the people affected by the problem
    • Definition of the problem
    • Devise a solution
    • Prototype (Digital MVP)
    • Tests and feedback
  • Competitor analysis
  • Business opportunity (TAM)
  • Operations plan
  • Human resources plan
  • Marketing plan
  • Financial plan
  • Legal plan
  • Pitching
  • Negotiation

How it works

Through online content capsules, you must follow the instructions to build a business plan and a pitch deck. During the process, you will be guided by a mentor who will offer you individual 30-minute mentoring sessions every 2 weeks to offer you qualitative feedback on progress. Once a month there will be a collective session where all the students will present their progress to the rest of the class so that you can benefit from each other and learn from the collective feedback. At the end of the module, you will have to submit a finished business plan and present a pitch deck in front of a jury.

SCHOLARSHIPS

APPLY NOW

Included in these recommended programmes:

1st Edition: 2 oct 2023 until 9 feb 2024

2nd Edition: 19 feb 2024 until 28 jun 2024

Idioma: English

Schedule:
At the student’s pace / Flexible.

Workload: 250h (10 ECTS)

Methodology: Learning by Doing Online (Cohort-Based Online)

Module Fee: €2,000

Professional Development

With the help of an expert coach, you will develop a personal strategy and acquire the skills you need to achieve your career goals.

Presentation

Mostly everybody who has a job, dedicates one third of their time to their professional life. It is an essential activity for the economic sustainability of every individual (including family and personal projects), as well as being an essential aspect of self-fulfilment in life.

However, the labour market is increasingly changing in an environment where technology and global challenges are evolving faster than humans’ own processing capacity.

For this reason, now more than ever, it is essential to carry out personal self-analysis and reflection in order to identify our place in the world, to think about what it is that we really want to do, and to set objectives in order to be able to design a strategy that will allow us to achieve them.

This module is designed to help students in their personal process of self-knowledge, the design of their professional strategies and the acquisition of professional skills that are key in any work environment.

Learning objectives

  • To get to know oneself better and also understand more clearly professional life motivations (finding one’s own “Ikigai”).
  • To understand the current challenges of the labour market and future trends.
  • To develop a professional strategy aligned to one’s own goals.
  • To identify the distinctive assets for building a consistent personal brand.
  • To communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
  • To improve the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts.
  • To strengthen resilience and to adopt an agile mindset to cope with constant change.

Syllabus

These are some of the contents that will be covered in this module

Self-knowledge

  • Self-analysis – Knowing yourself
  • Professional strategy
  • Personal branding

Keys of a good professional

  • Effective communication (oral and written)
  • Productivity
  • Teamwork
  • Negotiation
  • Adaptation to change
  • Management of emotions
  • Constant learning

Strategies for job search

  • Future of work – Analysis of trends
  • Networking
  • What companies are looking for
  • Recruitment processes
  • Understanding a job offer
  • Corporate values and cultures
  • CV creation + LinkedIn profile
  • Cover letter creation
  • Pitching
  • Preparing for a job interview

How it works

During 2 months, the student will have to follow a roadmap of individual assignments guided by a mentor. The contents will be learnt online autonomously and all the assignments will be reviewed by a mentor who will provide qualitative feedback so that the student can improve. During the course, the student will have 3 live online meetings with the mentor.

APPLY NOW

Included in these recommended programmes:

Dates
5th Edition: September 2023 to December 2023

6th Edition: January 2024 to March 2024

Language: English

Workload: 125h (5 ECTS)

Methodology: Learning by Doing Online (Cohort-Based Online)

Certificate on completion: Basic Professional Skills Certificate

Module Fee: €1,000

Internships

This module is the one that articulates the optional internships in companies in the sector. 

One of the main objectives of IMB School is that students have the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge acquired in the programmes.

How it works

Get Internships

For anyone that met the requirements, doing Internships is optional. This means that the student can decide whether to do an internship or not. However, not all students who want to do an internship find an organisation that will take them, currently the ratio of students who manage to find an organisation that will take them on an internship is 64%. The reasons behind are the following:

  • Each organisation has its own recruitment process and it is up to the student to pass the corresponding recruitment processes.
  • There are students who only want to do internships in highly competitive and sought-after positions. This means that if 10 students apply for the same internship, 1 will make it and 9 will be left out. And in some cases those who are left out, decide not to apply elsewhere.

Limited Available Hours of Internships

The maximum number of internship hours a student can do is the same as the workload of the big modules included in their programme. That is to say:

  • Make It Happen – 45 ECTS – 1,125h
  • Challenges – 30 ECTS – 750h
  • Know-How – 15 ECTS – 375h

If the student has more than one of these modules in their programme, the total number of hours would be added together. For example, the Master’s Plus in Music Business Management, which includes, among others, the Make It Happen and the Know-How, would allow the student to do up to a maximum of 1,500 hours.

The maximum number of hours does not have to be used, nor should they necessarily be done in the same organisation. For example, a student could do:

  • Organisation 1 – 250h
  • Organisation 2 – 450h
  • Organisation 3 – 500h
  • Total: 1,200h

Internship Process

In case the student wishes to do an internship in an organisation, the following steps should be followed:

  1.  First of all, the student must ensure that:

    • The organisation has an agreement with IMB School or that the desired organisation by the student meets the minimum quality requirements defined by IMB School.
    • In case the student does not live in the country where they wish to carry out the internships. The student must ensure that they comply with all the legal requirements of the country where the organisation is located in order to travel, stay, reside and carry out the placement (this implies having the financial means, visas, insurance and any other requirements that the country in question may require).
  2. If the student meets the requirements, they must proactively apply for an internship in that organisation, applying the knowledge acquired in Professional Development. In cases where the organisation already has an agreement with IMB School, some internship offers might be published on our LMS. However, students who go ahead and proactively apply to companies without waiting for offers have a better chance of success.
  3. If the company decides to take the student on an internship, IMB School will arrange the academic agreement (in English or Spanish) with the company and the student.

The schedule of the internships should be compatible with the academic obligations that the student may have with other modules of the programme they are studying.

Final Report

The student must write a final report on what they have learnt during the internship.

Statistics

Distribution of internships by company

Category % of Internships
Promoter (Concerts and/or Festivals) 47,2%
Distributor 11,1%
Record Label 8,3%
Live Music Venue 8,3%
Communication / Creative Agency 8,3%
Management 5,6%
Music Technology 2,8%
Rights Management 2,8%
Consultant 2,8%
Booking Agency 2,8%

APPLY NOW

Module included in the following recommended programmes:

Methodology: Learning by Doing In Person

Workload: Optional Internships

Schedule: Optional as long as they are compatible with the academic calendar of the other modules in which the student is enrolled.

Requirements:

The student will have the option to do Internships if all of these 3 requirements are complied: 

    • To have successfully passed the Professional Development module.
    • To have successfully passed the Advanced Principles module
    • To be enrolled in a programme containing Make It Happen, Challenges and/or Know-How. For students only enrolled in the Know-How module, they will have to successfully pass the module before being able to do the internships.

Advanced Principles

It is the theoretical basis on which the rest of the IMB School modules are built, and therefore the first step for any recommended programme.

Description

Presentation

In order to acquire a real understanding of the music business it is necessary to assimilate the terminology that allows us to understand the roles of the different existing figures and how they interrelate with one another. This initial familiarisation with the main business models then allows us to understand the function of the music industry and the music sector as a whole, to finally visualise the potential of interactions with other sectors within an expanding music universe.

It is the theoretical basis on which the rest of the IMB School modules are built, and therefore the first step for any recommended programme.

Designed by the IMB School Academic Board and a selection of experts specialised in the music sector.

Learning objectives

  • To acquire a global vision of the entire business that is generated around music: content, music brands and music experiences.
  • To understand all the roles performed by the different figures involved in the music sector.
  • To make sense of the map of relationships and value exchanges in the music sector.

Syllabus

1.Introduction

a) Music

b) Music business

2. The Business of Music Publishing

a) Musical work

b) Copyright

c) Author

d) Music publisher

e) The CMO of musical works

3. The Business of Recorded Music

a) Phonogram

b) Neighbouring rights

c) Artistic team

d) Record company and the label

e) Digital distributor

f) Streaming platforms

g) CMO of neighbouring rights

4. The Business of Live Music

a) Performance

b) Promoter

c) Live Music Venue

d) Ticketing platform

5. The Music Brand Business

a) Music brand

b)Trademark and image rights

c) Building a brand

d) Exploitation of a trademark

6. The Artist’s Team

a) Personal manager

b) Business manager

c) Booking agent

d) Brand partnership agent

How it works

Access to Content

The student will have access to the module for 1 year as soon as enrolment is completed.

In any of the recommended programmes that include this module, the student will be able to access the contents of this module before the start of the programme, as long as the registration fee is paid in full.

Deadlines

If studied separately, there are no deadlines set for the completion of this module.

However, if this module is studied within a recommended programme, deadlines must be met in each case.

At IMB School, we recommend that students complete the Advanced Principles module before the start of any programme. Therefore it is advisable to enrol as soon as possible in the desired programme in order to be able to access the contents as soon as possible and start studying.

If it is not possible to complete the Advanced Principles module before the start of a programme, then there will be a specific deadline in which to complete it depending on the programme.

CAPSULES and TESTS

This module is structured in capsules. Each capsule will contain a combination of theory, external videos and exercises. At the end of each capsule there will be a test to pass. The student has as many attempts to pass a test as needed, and only once they pass the test will they be able to advance to the next capsule. Until all the capsules are completed.

Included in all the recommended programmes:

Language: English or Spanish

Workload: 125h (5 ECTS)

Methodology: Active Online Learning

Access time: 1 year

Certificate: Certificate in Acquisition of Knowledge in Advanced Principles of Music Business

Module Fee: €500 

Description

Presentation

Many of the existing problems and tensions between the main players in the music business arise as a result of the lack of knowledge and information that at least one of the parties has concerning the rules of the game. These rules, which may differ from one country to another, are defined by the set of laws, rights and usual practices contained in contracts that, most of the time, are not signed with the proper terms because they have not been understood and analysed with due care. Access to this information is critical in order to design a legal strategy that remains consistent with the objectives of any music project or organisation, especially at a time when there is an increasing number of options when it comes to the exploitation of music content and brands within (and beyond) the music sector.

The Legal Aspects module is the legal theoretical basis on which the rest of the IMB School modules are built, and is key to understanding the professional relationships between the different players that make up the music business.

This module explains the rules of the game in the music business and identifies those critical aspects that are often the source of tensions between all parties involved and that all too often hinder the harmonious and profitable development of music projects.

Designed by the IMB School Academic Board and a selection of lawyers specialised in the music sector.

Learning objectives

  • To understand the impact of laws and rights regarding anything related to the music business, from a global framework perspective to the regional particularities of the most relevant countries in terms of turnover.

 

  • To identify the essential aspects of all contracts necessary for the creation, the production and the distribution of any music content or music brand in the music business.

Syllabus

1. Rights

  1. Rights:

i. Intellectual property rights

a). Copyright

b). Neighbouring Rights

      • Phonogram Owner
      • Performer

ii. Industrial property rights

a). Trademark rights

iii. Image rights

2. Contracts and authorisations

  • Music Publishing
    • Co-writing agreement
    • Registration of musical work
    • Publishing contract
    • Synchronisation licence
    • CMO deal
  • Recorded music
    • Hiring creators:
      • Professionals who have or may have intellectual property rights during the recording: artistic producer, session musicians.
      • Designers, illustrators, photographers.
      • Audiovisual producers.
    • Record deal
    • Phonogram synchronisation licence
    • Online distribution deal
    • CMO deal
  • Live music
    • Hiring professional musicians
    • Booking agent – artist deal
    • Show contract (artist/booking agent – promoter)
    • Venue contract
    • Ticketing distribution contract
  • Musical brands
    • Brand exploitation agreements
    • Image rights
    • Sponsorship agreements
  • Management
    • The management contract

How it works

Access to Content

The student will have access to the module for 1 year as soon as enrolment is completed.

In any of the recommended programmes that include this module, the student will be able to access the contents of this module before the start of the programme, as long as the registration fee is paid in full.

Deadlines

By default, there are no set deadlines or timetables for the completion of this module.

However, if this module is studied within a recommended programme, deadlines must be met in each case.

At IMB School, we recommend that students complete the Legal Aspects module before the start of any programme that includes it as a compulsory module. Therefore it is advisable to enrol as soon as possible in the desired programme in order to be able to access the contents and start studying.

If it is not possible to pass the Legal Aspects module before the start of a recommended programme, the deadlines for passing the module must be respected in each case. 

Capsules and Tests

This module is structured in capsules. Each capsule will contain a combination of theory, external videos and exercises. At the end of each capsule there will be a test to pass. The student has as many attempts to pass a test as needed, and only once they pass the test will they be able to advance to the next capsule. Until all the capsules are completed.

Module included in the following programmes:

Optional in the following recommended programmes:

Idiomas: Spanish or English (coming soon)

Workload: 125h (5 ECTS)

Methodology: Active Online Learning

Access Time: 1 year

Certificate: Certificate of Knowledge Acquisition in Legal Aspects of the Music Business

Module Fee: €500.

Historical Analysis

Understand the business from a multidisciplinary perspective (social economics, technological, musical) and analyse the evolution of the music business with a critical perspective. 

Presentation

Both historical processes and technological innovation have shaped music and the industry that surrounds it. From the invention of the printing press, which allowed the massive distribution of sheet music, to the music tours hosted on video game platforms. The music industry has been able to adapt to the opportunities and challenges throughout history, which lately are growing exponentially.

The Historical Analysis module aims to analyse these processes, which are key to understanding the dynamics of the music industry and thus shed light on how to face the unprecedented challenges it currently faces.

Designed by the IMB School Academic Board and a selected group of journalists and historians specialised in the music sector, this module provides a vision over time that allows us to understand the function of the music industry, analysing the changes that are taking shape and providing the student with tools for critical thinking that will allow them to take advantage of current technological innovations.

Learning objectives

  • To develop a mental framework that allows the establishment of relationships between technological progress, the evolution of music business models and the emergence of music genres within a socioeconomic context.
  • To obtain a critical view of the decisions made by the music sector throughout history.
  • To understand the reasons for the current functioning of the music business.

Syllabus

Summary of contents included:

  • Development of the music business from the fifteenth century to today.
  • Technologies and innovations that have shaped music and its business.
  • Evolution of musical genres.
  • Forms of musical creation and consumption from antiquity to today. 
  • Main social and economic factors that have influenced the music business and musical genres.

How it works

Access to Content

The student will have access to the module for 1 year as soon as payment is made. 

In any of the recommended programmes that include this module the student will be able to access the contents of this module before the start of the programme, as long as the registration fee is paid in full.

Deadlines

By default, there are no set deadlines or timetables for the completion of this module.

However, if this module is studied within a recommended programme, deadlines must be met in each case. 

Capsules and Tests

This module is structured in capsules. Each capsule will contain a combination of theory, external videos and exercises. At the end of each capsule there will be a test to pass. The student has as many attempts to pass a test as needed, and only once they pass the test will they be able to advance to the next capsule. Until all the capsules are completed.

Module included in the following programmes:

Optional in the following recommended programmes:

Languages: English or Spanish

Workload: 125h (5 ECTS)

Methodology: Active Online Learning

Access Time: 1 year

Certificate on completion: Certificate in Acquisition of Knowledge in Historical Analysis of the Music Business

Module Fee: €500

RECEIVE PDF BROCHURE

ONLINE Q&A SESSION

APPLY NOW