Courses / Module

The cultural sector:
The operational context for the artist: overview of the cultural sector and the opportunities in Ireland and Europe.
Includes visits to cultural institutions (concert halls and other music venues); expert guest speakers offering insight into key topics.
Creating and managing income streams:
The artist as a business: income from writing; from recording; from managing; from publishing; negotiating publishing rights; tax exemptions from artists. Understanding royalties, performing rights and copyright. Managing your finances; understanding spreadsheets and simple accounts.
Event management:
The artist as a manager: organising and managing an event; business management of live performances; sources of funding; contract negotiations.
Business models and value propositions:
The artist as a value creator: understanding different business mode. Being able to identify the components of a compelling value proposition. Developing your own value proposition.
Developing your career plan:
The artist as a career professional: talents, experience, uniqueness, opportunities and threats –action points based on this evaluation. Establishing goals and timelines.
Marketing and social media:
The role and value of agents: finding your audience and defining your market (targeting and segmentation); how merchandising works: digital distribution basics: online music retail: publicity, blogging and press kit essentials.
The values of creativity in society:
How the state can encourage creativity.
Creativity and entrepreneurship:
Types and models of creativity; the entrepreneurial mindset; scanning for opportunities; leveraging resources; creating networks.
How technology is rewriting all the rules:
file sharing; app development; digital empowerment: new licensing approaches.
Who is this for?
Students will explore innovative ways of harnessing their musical creativity and interests to enterprising activity. The focus will be on developing the skills to identify and take advantage of opportunities to create and develop their own new business, to engage in social enterprise and to lead new initiatives for existing organisations.
The module is ideal for:
• Composers, musicians and/or performers wishing to treat their musical ventures in a professional business manner
• Songwriters who wish to act as their own publishers
• Those interested in creating production companies
• Aspiring artist managers, booking agents, publicists, radio promoters, internet marketers.
• Those interested in music merchandising
• Those wishing to start their own record label or publishing company
• Those wishing to become more effective marketers
• Music technologists