module specification

Module Brief:

This module explores the sectors within the Music Industry and Creative Arts with the focus on areas of economic growth and sustainable employment. The students will learn about current UK and International markets and their contribution to the economy, research the same to identify key factors guiding the industry and find ways to place their work as well as Music Production and Sonic Arts related skills within the industry. Students will be asked to consider the processes of globalisation in the Music and Creative sectors and discuss how this affects ways in which music, including their own, can be marketed, locally, nationally and internationally. Through guided case study research the module will focus on the practical issues in the Music and Creative sectors including production, distribution, performance, galleries, research centres, festivals and competitions, as well as commercial sectors of the industry such as film, performing arts, show business, marketing and sales, affording students with an understanding of the wide spectrum of the Music and Creative sectors and markets.

With a clear employability focus, the module will provide students with transferable skills emphasising research, self-efficacy and promotion in the contemporary globalised Music industry. The student’s research will inform and update their employability skills, encouraging online digital literacy in the self-promotion of work and portfolios.

Aims of the module:
● Afford students the opportunity to realise the career potential of their accumulated skills, subject knowledge and understanding. The skills will include identifying and researching career opportunities and working environments within the Music or Creative Arts sectors, exploring the requirements and benefits of the careers against their own skills and motivations and then learning about and producing the evidence that will enable them to exploit that opportunity after graduation.
● Develop key skills in managing facts and figures relating to the Music business and Creative Arts Industry.
● Analytical review of case studies to recognise economic movements in critical areas, drawing on reference from, BPI, UK Music, IFPI, Creative Industries Council (CiC), Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE), The Association of Sound Designers (ASD), publications such as The Wire, and The Arts Council England.
● To develop a range of professional, practical skill sets required to work in the fundamental sectors of Music and the Creative Arts.
● Learn the vital skills required to work in the Sonic Arts and Music Sectors including: volunteering, freelance, production, distribution, marketing/promotion, sales and live performance.
● Identify the value of the key Awards and Festivals including the Mercury Music Prize, Grammys, SXSW, Glastonbury, The Music and Sound Awards, MPSE Golden Reel Awards, CiC’s Createch, and The Prix Ars Electronica..
● Gain vital knowledge through industry visits and guest speakers.

The syllabus is organised to meet the needs of the Music Production pathway cohorts. By consolidating the practice in the creation and production of music, the syllabus aims to equip students with the knowledge of the Music sectors and a specialised set of skills that will allow for a faster response to the diverse demands music industry will ask of them following graduation in the professional environment.

● Employment Sectors - Researching a career destination. Identifying the key areas of employment in the Music and Sonic Arts sectors and aligning them with existing skills.

● Globalisation - Analysing the UK and Global Music and Sonic Arts sectors in case-studies, highlighting areas of economic growth and importance

● Digital Markets and distribution – Analysis of the effect of digital technology on the Music Sectors and its distribution and dissemination including the streaming services and the “Value Gap”. The Sonic Arts related sectors and the side effects of digital markets on the activities of artist agents, promoters, museums, gallery curators..

● The Live Music and Performance Sectors – Music festivals, concerts and performances, career paths in the Live Music sectors.

● The alternative/experimental Music and performance sectors. Art music festivals, concerts and performances. Career paths outside the mainstream scene.

● Promotion, Awards and celebration of talent – Identifying the importance of awards such as the Mercury Prize to the Music sectors. The Prix Ars Electronica to the Sonic Arts related sectors.

● Music in Numbers – The economic value of the Music sectors, areas of growth, future trends and managing figures relating to Music.

● UK creative industries – facts and figures. UK Futures – predictions and useful links to forecasts about the UK creative industries, in special the Sonic Arts related sectors.

Learning Outcomes LO 1 - 4

The balance between independent study and scheduled teaching activities within this
module is 70% and 30% respectively.
Scheduled teaching follows the average contact time, per standard 30-credit module across the University, at 3 hours per week. The scheduled teaching is divided in Lectures, Workshops, and Seminars and they take place in the Class Room and Computer Labs.
Independent study provides students with the opportunity to develop LO3 - The Ability to evaluate their Music Technology and Production skills and critically evaluate this in relation to their graduate career goals. For example, by reflecting on their own Music Technology practices and reviewing them against real world practices and preparing career plans.
Students have access to the entire Music Studios facilities via online booking system, and Library facilities at London Met. Blended Learning is maintained via Weblearn Course and Module pages with full documentation of the activities developed in class.
Opportunities for reflective learning/PDP are promoted through feedback and written
reports, embedded in all assessments with emphasis on reflection of their work. Formative assessment and feedback is planned to address their learning development needs and to capture their learning achievements with a regular request of reflective commentaries in all written submissions.

On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate:

LO1. Knowledge and analytic understanding of the requirements and benefits of a range of careers in context of the character and conditions of the Music and Creative Arts sectors.
LO2. Knowledge and understanding of the economic importance of the key sectors in the Music and Creative industries.
LO3. Ability to evaluate their Music Technology, Production and Sonic Arts skills and critically evaluate this in relation to their graduate career goals.
LO4. Apply the ideas and arguments they have learned to review, consolidate, and extend their knowledge in a research project of their own.

Essay

Students will be given a choice of essay questions or appropriate written exercises, from which they must choose one. The options will relate to all the key themes and issues dealt with during the module, including Career Planning and/or Industry market analysis.
The word count for the assessment is c. 2000 words.

Career Plan Dossier and Portfolio Website

Students will be required to develop a career plan dossier which will include; a thoroughly developed Personal Statement identifying their strengths and weaknesses, a well-designed sector-specific Curriculum Vitae, a Careers list identifying required skills, aligned with their own. Finally, students are required to develop a complete Portfolio Website displaying their work throughout their time at University.

Core and Additional Reading list available on:

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/8942350E-B5FF-7053-2351-A511F8930607.html?lang=en-GB&login=1