The Business of YOU
Place your talent and entrepreneurial development at the center of your DAT-C learning pathway.
TCAA proprietary coursework
The gift is yours.
Development is the work.
Follow TCAA’s proprietary how-to roadmap: learn the foundations, develop your talent, and evaluate your progress. Use coursework, coaching, and demonstrated performance to make informed decisions about your next steps.
Begin with
the foundation.
Choose from coursework that connects creative skills with business knowledge and practical development. Assessments and feedback help you understand your strengths and consider the path that fits your goals.
Bi-vocational opportunities mean developing creative work alongside another profession or source of income. Your learning and performance help inform those decisions as you continue.
Introduction to the Creative Economy
Explore the connection between education, creativity, technology, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity.
Talent & entrepreneurial assessments
Begin by identifying your gift, interests, and development goals.
TCAA music-business development
Know the craft.
Know the business.
The music-business coursework outline connects creative practice with ownership, promotion, production, and financial preparation. Discuss current scheduling and the courses for your DAT-C pathway with TCAA.
The Business of Music Symposium
An overview of the music business through a two-hour panel discussion.
Introduction to the Music Business
Music-industry careers, sources of income, entertainment-industry relationships, and how record labels work.
Marketing & Promotions Part I
Identify your audience and connect your product, talent, and services with the right promotional channels.
The Creative Process: Copyright & Music Publishing
Song ownership, songwriting royalties, publishing administration, and artist and record-label income.
Imaging & Wardrobe
Develop your artistic image, wardrobe, stage presentation, and travel preparation.
Artist / Record Label Relationships
Understand team coordination and practical working relationships between an artist and a record company.
Marketing & Promotions Part II
Develop campaigns using graphic design, media, internet marketing, commercials, and proposals.
Graphic Design
Explore album covers, logos, photography, and artwork as part of an artist’s presentation.
Contract Negotiations, Management & Agency Deals
Understand music-business negotiations and the considerations involved in selecting managers and agents.
Setting Fees & Getting Booked
Explore artist fees, booking, budgeting, and professional connections.
Recording, Production Techniques & Skills
Develop a working understanding of studio recording and sound production.
Financial Management
Personal and business budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and tax considerations.
Publicity
Press releases, press conferences, media outreach, publicists, and public relations.
Music-business reading topics
The outline also includes Get It in Writing: The Musicians Guide to the Music Business, covering attorneys, managers, agents and accountants; copyright; record companies and distributors; record deals; producers, mixers and engineers; publishing and performance rights; merchandising and trademarks; business entities and band agreements; movies, TV and advertisements; and getting signed.
Build toward
readiness.
Additional development areas connect learning with hands-on creation and portfolio and product preparation.
- Branding
- Digital technology
- Finance
- Production
- Marketplace readiness
Keep learning.
Expand your possibilities.
TCAA plans to integrate free coursework options to help you build additional skills, explore new career directions, and continue learning alongside your creative development. Providers, course availability, and eligibility will be shared once confirmed.
These planned options are separate from the paid six-month TCAA/DAT-C development program. Free coursework does not automatically carry college credit or lead to a credential.
TCAA proprietary coursework is separate from accredited college coursework and credentials delivered by participating institutions.