Legal Issues in Music

 Midterm Assignment

Legal Issues in Music

 

 

Assignment

During the first half of the course we will have discussed the first two stages of the Creative Process—1.) Songwriting/Music Composition; and 2.) Band and Brand Formation—and the areas of law that apply to each stage.

 

For your Midterm Assignment, please assume a position within the Music Industry (ie. musician/band member/producer/record label/music publishing company/DJ, etc.), and from that perspective, research and discuss at least 2 of the common legal problems encountered by that entity during one of the stages of the creative process identified above, how to prevent those problems, and, if they can’t be prevented, how to resolve them if they occur. Please support your discussion with real world situations and examples that illustrate how the legal issues have been dealt with in the past by music industry players as well as the court system.

 

Due Date

  1. Wednesday, March 1, 2017 by 2pm: Completed Midterm Assignment Due.

 

Paper Length

A minimum of 1,250 words= 5 pages, Double spaced, 1-inch margins

 

Format

  1. Your Paper should be typed in Times New Roman 12-point font. At the top right hand corner of each page, please include your last name, a space, and page number.
  2. It should include a Cover Page with the following information (centered in the middle of the page):
  3. Title of Paper
  4. Stage of Creative Process and Position within the Music Industry Assumed
  5. Areas of Law and Specific Issues within those areas discussed
  6. Your Name
  7. Course Name
  8. Instructor’s Name
  9. Date of Submission

 

Sources

  1. You may use your Course Textbooks as sources for your paper. Please cite them when quoting or paraphrasing.
  2. You must use at least 4 other sources (ie. books, articles, cases, films, radio interviews etc.) to support your discussion. Please cite the source when directly quoting or paraphrasing.

 

Citation and Works Cited

  1. Internal Citation following the MLA required.
  2. Works Cited Page (at the end of the paper) following the MLA required.
  3. Rules and regulations regarding Plagiarism will be strictly enforced.
  4. For assistance on MLA Citation and Works Cited, please click on this link:

http://spcollege.libguides.com/content.php?pid=98920&sid=742312

 

Grading Criteria

The Holistic Evaluation of your Midterm Assignment will be based on the following criteria:

 

-Clear statement of Topic and Position within Music Industry assumed

-Identification and explanation of common legal problems within perspective assumed

-Discussion of ways to prevent and/or resolve legal problems

-Real world situations and examples explained and connected back to discussion of legal issue(s)

-Used at least 4 sources other than the Course Textbooks

-Paper Organization and Structure

– Compositional Skills: Engaging Writing Style/Grammar/Punctuation

-Followed Formatting, Documentation, and Works Cited Instructions

 

Extra Credit

Submit an Outline with your Paper