Making Money Moves: Navigating the Music Industry

Making Money Moves: Navigating the Music Industry

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand how to earn money in the music industry and identify key organizations involved in the collection of income.

Introduce the learning objective to the students and set expectations for the lesson.

What do you already know about making money in the music industry?

Understanding Music Income Streams

Explore different income streams in the music industry, such as live performances, streaming royalties, sync licensing, and merchandise sales.

Explain the various ways musicians can generate income and provide examples for each stream.

Performance Royalties

Discuss performance royalties and the role of performance rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in collecting and distributing these royalties.

Explain how musicians earn money from performances and highlight the importance of PROs in managing these royalties.

Mechanical Royalties

Explain mechanical royalties and the role of mechanical rights societies like Harry Fox Agency in collecting and distributing these royalties from the reproduction and distribution of music.

Provide examples of mechanical royalties and emphasize the role of mechanical rights societies.

Sync Licensing

Introduce sync licensing, its significance in placing music in TV shows, films, and commercials, and the role of music supervisors and sync licensing agencies.

Engage students by discussing popular songs they've heard in TV shows or movies and explain how artists earn money through sync licensing.

Publishing Royalties

Explain publishing royalties and the role of music publishing companies in collecting and administering these royalties on behalf of songwriters and composers.

Discuss the importance of songwriting and the role of music publishing companies in managing publishing royalties.

Merchandising

Explore the revenue potential of merchandise sales for artists and bands and discuss the importance of merchandising companies in managing and promoting merchandise.

Encourage students to think about their favorite artist's merchandise and discuss the impact of merchandising on an artist's income.

Digital Streaming Royalties

Explain how digital streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube generate revenue for artists through streaming royalties.

Discuss the rise of digital streaming and its impact on the music industry, including the challenges and opportunities it presents for artists.

Identifying Key Organizations

Identify key organizations involved in the collection of music income, such as performing rights organizations, mechanical rights societies, music publishing companies, and merchandising companies.

Summarize the main organizations discussed in the lesson and emphasize their importance in managing and distributing music income.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.