Course Description
Summary
Why do we like the music we like? How do we discover music? How do we monetize music?
This course will explore the factors that influence our musical taste and how the industry monetizes our love of music. In the first half of the course, the class will examine the latest research on music, media, and science, bringing awareness to our freedom, or the lack of, in our everyday decision-making. We will look at recommender platforms, human connection, and community. In the second half of the course, we will focus on the business side of music. We will examine the recent history of the monetization of musical taste, as well as look at real life examples of contracts, productions, publicity, and other aspects of the music industry. We will also discuss emerging issues, such as artificial intelligence, music licensing, and the precarious nature of music streaming. This course will ask a lot of questions. But there will be no right or wrong answers. Participants will be encouraged to think about “what’s next” using music as its entry point. Please feel free to let me know of any accommodation needs.
Note: This course was formerly two separate seven-week courses: Musical Taste and Transformation and The Business Side of Music. Students who completed one or both of these seven weeks courses should not register for this course.
