module specification

This module provides an Introduction to the Events, Music, Sport and Tourism Industries. A foundation to Higher Education study is also embedded in the module. Students are encouraged to become critical, reflective learners who can communicate effectively and understand different types of information. The module provides a foundation for research, relevant to their higher education study.

With an emphasis on a co-creation of knowledge, the module engages students in an exploration of themes and topics that are appropriate to their field of study, and to themselves as learners.

The over-arching aim of the module is to provide a comprehensive foundation of the principles and nature of the Events, Music, Sport and Tourism Industries in preparation for subsequent study and ultimately employment within these industries (specifically Events, Music, Tourism and Sport), via a number of more specific sub-aims:

1. To develop an understanding of the nature, significance and development of the Cultural and Creative Industries as a phenomenon in modernity.
2. To develop a solid base for acquiring further knowledge of the business of the Cultural and Creative Industries.
3. To introduce students to the key stakeholders and key sectors in the Cultural and Creative Industries.
4. To understand both positive and negative impacts generated by activities and development in the Cultural and Creative Industries sector
5. To introduce core concepts and models useful in the interpretation of the dynamics of the Creative and Cultural Industries.

The also aims to develop students’ skills, in particular:

1. Academic Reading
2. Researching
3. Application of Knowledge and Presenting Data
4. Academic Writing/literacy/digital literacy
5. Communicating/presenting – orally and in writing.
6. Enterprise skills, including taking initiative, being creative, leadership, completing tasks and projects, taking calculated risks
7. Career management

Events pathway

1. Defining Event Management themes, concepts and issues
2. The historical development of the Event Studies field
3. The structure of the Event Industry
4. The challenge of an event management career.
5. Motives and benefits of event consumption.
6. The age of hyper-festivity.
7. Cultural, social, economic, political and environmental impact of events.
8. Event led regeneration
9. The nature of events management research.

Music pathway

1. Introduction to the music industry – record labels, managers, agents, promoters, artists, producers, retailers, digital sector.
2. Introduction to the media industries – TV, film, advertising, digital communications, music services/media online.
3. History of the music and digital media industries.
4. The role of the corporate bodies in the music industry specifically and the creative and cultural industries more broadly.
5. The role of the corporate bodies in the development of creative platforms and networks.
6. The meaning of synergy, convergence and ICT in the contemporary multi-skilled labour market.
7. Principles behind entrepreneurial decision-making in the creative sectors.
8. Skills of business analysis placed in the context of the music and associated industries.
9. The role of the economic cycle on the industries.
10. Basic media economics.
11. Old economy business models and distribution platforms.
12. The role, threats and opportunities posed by new digital technologies

Tourism pathway

1. Defining tourism themes, concepts and issues
2. The historical development of tourism as a phenomenon and a discipline
3. Organization of tourism and travel industry and linkage between the two
4. Tourism Area Life Cycle and implications to mass tourism
5. Tourism demand and motivation
6. Tourism stakeholders: attractions, hospitality and ancillary services
7. Tourism policy and it’s role in development through tourism
8. Tourism impacts: environmental, economic, social and cultural aspects
9. Tourism-led regeneration
10. Tourism and sustainability
11. Tourism destinations’ management and marketing
12. Tourism crisis management
13. Fair trade and ethical issues in tourism
14. Tourism and contemporary challenges – global warming
15. Forms of tourism

Sport pathway

1. The nature of sport and recreation
2. History and development of modern sport and the sports business
3. The demand for sport
4. Sports participation and behaviour
5. The organisation and delivery of sports
6. Analysis of the providers, and the relationships between them: public sector, commercial and voluntary agencies
7. The development of the sports business
8. Components of the sports industry
9. Relationships between the sports industry and other business sectors
10. Sports development and participation – the role of the State in the sports business
11. Policy, planning and development
12. Volunteerism in sport
13. The sustainability of sport in communities
14. Sports governance
15. Globalisation of sport

Learning and teaching shall be delivered through pathway specific workshops that are organised around relevant problems, tasks or questions, to promote active, collaborative learning. The underpinning strategy shall be inquiry-based learning, requiring students to cognitively engage in making sense of the problems, tasks and questions through collaboration with peers and through the consultation of a variety of resources in order to solve them. The academic shall facilitate the learning process, and will provide directed activities for self-managed learning in preparation of workshops and lectures. The teaching will also include guest lecturers and field trips to events, venues and cultural and creative quarters in the London area.

The module will facilitate both the critical discussion required at this level of education and the development of information and digital literacies.

Learning and teaching shall be supported by online resources and Web 2.0 technologies to deliver multimedia content. The module shall have content within the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) through which students shall be required to work both collaboratively and individually.

1. Identify a range of possible career paths into the Events, Music, Sport and Tourism sectors.
2. Discuss the social, cultural, economic, political and environmental issues associated with the Events, Music, Sport and Tourism Industries
3. Be familiar with key academic journals and other publications published in the Events, Music, Sport and Tourism Industries area, including industry specific publications
4. Identify the various academic discourses in which the Events, Music, Sport and Tourism Industries are examined.

The assessment strategy will consist of four components:

1. Seminar tasks & contribution which addresses Learning Outcomes 1-4.
2. A group presentation (15mins) Learning outcomes 1
3. An individual written report (1,500 words) which addresses Learning Outcome 2
4. An individual electronic portfolio/Weblog (2,500 words) which addresses Learning Outcomes 1-4

Events Management Students:
Bowdin G et al (2011) Events Management. 3rd Ed. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.
Getz, D. (2012). Event studies: Theory, research and policy for planned events. London: Routledge.

Music Business Management Students:
Doyle, G (2013) Understanding Media Economics. Sage
Negus, K (2013) Music Genres and Corporate Cultures. London. Routledge
Passman, D S (2015) All you need to know about the music business. Simon & Schuster

Sports Business Management Students:
Beech, J and Chadwick, S (2013) The Business of Sport Management. Harlow: Pearson.
Houlihan, B and Malcolm, D (2016) Sport & Society: A Student Introduction. London: Sage.
Trenberth, L and Hassan, D (2012) Managing Sport Business: An Introduction. Oxon: Routledge.

Tourism and Travel Management Students:
Fletcher, J.; Fyall, A.; Gilbert, D. and Wanhill, S. (2013) Tourism: Principles and Practice, 5th ed. Pearson. (available online)
Inkson, C., Minnaert, L. (2012) Tourism management: an introduction. London: Sage.