LT4059 - Music Publishing (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27 | ||||||||
| Module title | Music Publishing | ||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
The module will explore the nature of music publishing and copyright in the digital age, focusing on the management and exploitation of important music rights. Supported by the latest practice and industry commentary, we shall consider the recent disruption and development of the music business and how the future is being shaped by technology and consumer trends. The module will analyse the business activities of; major and independent publishers, songwriters and performers, as well as other key music publishing personnel. It will examine the various collection societies for handling copyright blanket licensing and other associated royalty collection and distribution.
ESJ Framework:
This module will give students the opportunity to choose their subject of assessment within the syllabus according to their own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.
This module will place students at the heart of their learning experience, allowing them to develop both personally and professionally within their chosen legal employment sector. This is in accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ Framework. Music Publishing is a rapidly growing international sector, offering diverse employability opportunities to future-ready students.
Module Aims:
1. To understand the importance and role of music publishing within the music and related industries
2. To introduce the major and independent music publishing organisations and corporates
3. To explain the internal operations of music publishing businesses.
4. To introduce the relationship between publishing and other music business income streams
5. Understand why the music and creative media industries are commonly known as the ‘copyright industries’
Prior learning requirements
NO
Syllabus
1.Song, songwriters & the development of Music Publishing sector
2.Modern Publishing companies & practice
3.Creator, Artist and Record Company, Music Publisher relationships & dynamics
4.Song plugging
5.Business structures and career paths
6.Negotiating Agreements: career and cash flow implications for creator / performers
7.Types of Publishing deals
8. Important cases and legal principles
9. Revenue Streams in music publishing
Learning Outcomes LO 1 - 3
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
-Formal delivery: of the teaching and learning will be based on three contact hours per week
spread over 12 weeks with an additional enrichment week mid-way through the module. The teaching and learning techniques employed on the module will consist of the following: workshops, case-study discussions, videos, as well as problem solving questions in relation to current Music Publishing issues. Where possible, guest speakers will be invited.
-Outside of class contact hours: students will also be expected to undertake independent study and collaborative work (reading, discussions and own/group research).
-In class students will be set home study questions to prepare for the next class. Students are responsible for preparing for class, and studying relevant materials (articles, texts, case study, video etc) before coming. Teaching is delivered through a blended learning model, using weekly classroom workshops and Weblearn Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), in order to explore themes and identify issues typical of the Music Publishing sector.
-Feedback -Students will receive both formative and summative feedback for their assessment, within 15 weekdays.
Assessment & ESJ Framework:
1.Formative Assessment: In preparation for the assessment, students will be invited to collaborate in groups on an early formative assignment in week 5.
In accordance with the Identity, Personalisation and Reflection aims of the ESJ Framework, this is designed to help students’ build confidence, self-efficacy and emotional resilience, and creating trust and safe spaces to enable our students to express themselves and have their contributions validated.
Seminars will also be used to facilitate the building of good relations among students and teachers and develop peer relations and the use of peer support.
Opportunities for reflective learning will be available throughout the module as students are given the opportunity to consider their approach to tasks/discussions, whilst having the opportunity to reflect upon informal feedback.
2. Summative Assessment
This module will give students the opportunity to choose the subject of assessment within the syllabus, according to their own particular interests.
In accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework, this will help our student partners become co-creators of assessment knowledge, researching ideas about content that reflects individual students’ identities, experiences and interests. The opportunity to choose the assessment topic and format aims to reduce assessment anxiety and develop student confidence.
This module is designed to help students to self-evaluate, to aid decision making, to learn from mistakes and to help orientate the students’ future career and build employability skills
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
LO1: Identify the different types of publishers and their roles
LO2: Describe the contemporary context of music publishers and their relationship to a changing media and copyright environment
LO3: Evaluate basic music publishing contractual principles, and
performer, songwriters, music publisher, and artist revenues
Bibliography
Weblearn - Online Reading List:
https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/F3D4FFFB-FE4C-F612-1077-09B2FED57AF8.html?lang=en-GB
Textbook:
Gammons, H (2016) The Art of Music Publishing: An Entrepreneurial Guide to Publishing and Copyright for the Music, Film, and Media Industries. Taylor & Francis
Passman, Donald S. (2023). All You Need to Know About the Music Business (11th ed.). Simon & Schuster.
Krasilovsky, M. William et al. (2017). This Business of Music (10th ed.). Routledge.
Harrison, Ann. (2021). Music: The Business – The Essential Guide to the Law and the Deals (8th ed.). Virgin Books.
Other Texts:
Krasilovsky, W and Shemel, S. (2010) This Business of Music. Billboard Books.
Music Managers Forum. (2010) The MMF Guide To Professional Music Management. Sanctuary Publishing.
Davis, S. & Laing, D. (2009) The Guerilla Guide To The Music Business. Continuum International Publishing Group.
Kemp, C. (2005) Music Industry Management and Promotion. 2nd edition. Elm Publications.
Kusek, D & Leonhard, G. (2005) The Future of Music: Manifesto for the Digital Music Revolution (Omnibus Press)
Journals
Billboard – Publishing News
https://www.billboard.com/business/publishing/
Music Week (UK)
https://www.musicweek.com
IFPI – Global Music Report
https://www.ifpi.org.
The Economist
Broadcast
Campaign
The Guardian Newspaper Media section
The Stage
Screen International
Websites
https://mpaonline.org.uk/
Electronic Databases:
Westlaw
Relevant law journals and case reports are available from the library (hardcopies) and on-line library resources (e.g. Lexis Library and WestLaw)