Understand what you are about to build — two businesses under one roof — learn the vocabulary that makes every later week make sense, and create your Master Business Document (your "business brain" for the whole semester).
Everything you do this semester feeds into TWO final documents. Understanding the difference now will keep you organized all the way to Week 15:
The coursework record. Every worksheet answer and checkmark you complete in this workbook, from all 15 weeks, with completion percentages. Generated automatically by the site and saved as a PDF. This shows your instructor what you did and learned — it's the gradable artifact.
The business record. Your polished action plan with your actual account numbers, IPI, EIN, trackers, and the attached W-9. This is the document you keep using after the semester ends — and present from in Week 15.
They overlap a little by design — key numbers like your EIN and Publisher IPI appear in both — but they serve different purposes: one proves the work, the other runs your business going forward. Week 15's submission checklist asks for both: "Master Business Document finalized" + "Portfolio Report saved as PDF."
You can't build a house starting with the roof. Each week of this course is a foundation layer for the next. By Week 14 you will have legally formed your publishing company and record label, registered for every royalty stream, and become investment-ready.
Know these terms before anything else makes sense. Each one comes with a plain-English analogy.
| Term | What It Means | Think of it as... |
|---|---|---|
| © Copyright Symbol | Protects compositions: lyrics and melody | "The recipe" |
| ℗ Phonogram Symbol | Protects sound recordings | "The dish made from the recipe" |
| Publishing Company | Business entity that owns and manages your compositions | The recipe holder |
| Record Label | Business entity that owns and manages your master recordings | The restaurant |
| PRO | Performing Rights Organization — ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. They collect performance fees on your behalf | "The parking meter company" |
| Mechanical Royalty | Fee paid when your composition is reproduced in a recording | "Franchise fee paid every time someone uses your recipe" |
| Sync License | Permission to use your music with visual content (TV, film, ads) | "Catering contract for a film set" |
| Exploitation | Actively licensing and monetizing your rights. NOT negative — this is how you earn | "Deploying your assets" |
| LLC | Limited Liability Company — a legal wall between your business and personal life | The legal wall |
| DBA | Doing Business As — a legal nickname for your LLC | The nickname |
| EIN | Employer Identification Number | "Your business's Social Security Number" |
| ISRC | Unique code for each sound RECORDING | "VIN number for your recording" |
| ISWC | Unique code for each COMPOSITION | "VIN number for your written song" |
| UPC | Barcode for your album/release | "ISBN number for your album" |
| Bundle of Rights | The 6 exclusive rights copyright law grants you the moment you create a song | "A stack of tickets — every use of your music needs the right ticket" |
| B2B | Business to Business — large transactions between companies | Company-to-company deals |
This is your "business brain" — one single document containing ALL the critical information about your record label and publishing company. You'll build it throughout the semester and use it for your final presentation and business action plan.
Check off each item as you complete it — your progress saves automatically.