Making money from intellectual property, whether software programs, manufacturing patents, or creative arts such as music or visual art, is big business. A significant portion of Canada’s economy comes from such endeavors, and innovations in these areas are affecting other businesses. Take the music industry, for example. Businesses that ignore the major changes occurring in this industry may be unprepared for changes infiltrating non-music businesses.

This course will not make you an expert in the financial business of music. Being such an expert would require an understanding of both contractual and technological matters as well as practical experience. Artistic knowledge might also be an advantage. Instead, this course will provide you with an overview of how the business is handling major change.

This material is organized into two modules, with ten multiple-choice review questions to test your understanding. Module 1 discusses how the business of music is changing, with an overview of the challenges that artists and companies are facing. Module 2 features some of the new business models being employed by industry participants. It also draws some parallels to other industries and businesses that rely on intellectual or creatively produced property to earn income.

Module 1 How the financial business of music is changing

Module 2 New business models

Karen Horcher CGA, CFA, is a treasury consultant and has written extensively on a number of business topics, including intellectual property. She is the author of several finance books and has a keen interest in finance and intellectual property. Karen has attended international industry conferences and written several articles about the changing financial features of the music industry for financial and business publications.