Rob owns and runs The Music Business Academy (MBA), a school that was born of the need to teach music students about the music business. Through his association with Soul Candi, Soul Candi Institute of Music, UJ, Vega, Wits, Boston, The Global School of Business, LISOF, The School of Business & Technology and Ibilion Music (Jonathan Shaw), Rob has lectured thousands of students on marketing and also on the music biz, including DJ Shimza, Cuebur, Producer 041 and DJ Obvie McLee.

Although MBA initially focused on music business courses only, the offering has now been extended to both music production and DJ'ing, in conjunction with partners Cuebur and Mark Watson/Brainwave Music.

All music business students will be required to procure a copy of the textbook for any of the courses. This is included in the course fees. Also available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Off-Your-Musical-Ass-ebook/dp/B07MLHBKPW

Interested in a course? Check out the details below:

SUMMARY OF COURSES ON OFFER:

 

Music Business

  • These courses are taught at Motherland Coffee Shop in Rosebank (8 weeks per module)
  • Online course = R1,700 (per module)
  • Advanced course = R3,500 (per module)

 

Music Production: Cubase, FrootyLoops, LogicPro, ProTools, Mixing, Mastering

  • These courses are taught in Randpark Ridge (16 weeks per module)
  • Introductory course = R2,000
  • Advanced course = R4,000

 

DJ’ing

  • These courses are taught in Blairgowrie, Randburg (10 weeks per module)
  • Introductory course = R2,000
  • Advanced course = R4,000

 

COURSE OUTLINES:

 

Music Business: Marketing & Branding

  • What is marketing?
  • What is branding?
  • Marketing strategy
  • The 8 principles of branding
  • The 4 basic principles of marketing
  • Social media
  • Becoming a star

 

Music Business: Copyright & Law

  • When can I use a sample?
  • What is a cover and can I do one?
  • What is an adaptation?
  • Copyright & how it’s changing
  • Collecting royalties & making money

 

Music Business: Management & Finance

  • How to make money in the music industry
  • How to run a record label
  • Successful & profitable events
  • Saving & investing your money
  • Collecting royalties & needletime

 

Production

  • ProTools
  • Logic
  • Cubase
  • FrootyLoops
  • Mixing
  • Mastering

 

DJ’ing

  • Equipment
  • Mindset
  • Decks vs CDJs & other technology
  • Winning over the crowd
  • Creating hot sets
  • Connecting with musos to get your music out there
  • Recording your own stuff
  • Case studies: from David Guetta to Black Coffee

 

COURSE FEES (MUSIC BUSINESS):

 

ONLINE Courses (Music Business ONLY)

  • You do the course on your own (similar to Unisa) – you submit assignments which get marked and returned
  • Once you pass, you are issued with a certificate
  • You must complete the course within 6 months, or you have to repeat it
  • 3 Music Business course streams (independent of each other)
    • Copyright & Legal Aspects = R1,700
    • Managing Your Music Career (Business Management & Finance) = R1,700
    • Marketing & Branding = R1,700

 

ADVANCED Courses:

  • You need to attend lectures on a regular basis
  • Once you pass, you are issued with a certificate
  • You must complete the course in the timeframe, otherwise you must repeat it
  • Each course runs for 8 weeks and the courses are repeated twice a year
  • 3 course streams (independent of each other)
    • Copyright & Legal Aspects = R3,500
    • Managing Your Music Career (Business Management & Finance) = R3,500
    • Marketing & Branding = R3,500

 

DISCOUNT: If you do all 3 courses together, you qualify for a 10% discount per course

 

COURSE FEES (PRODUCTION & DJ’ING):

 

INTRO Courses = R2,000

  • You need to attend lectures on a regular basis
  • Once you pass, you are issued with a certificate
  • You must complete the course in the timeframe, otherwise you must repeat it
  • The courses are repeated twice a year

 

ADVANCED Courses = R4,000

  • You need to attend lectures on a regular basis
  • Once you pass, you are issued with a certificate
  • You must complete the course in the timeframe, otherwise you must repeat it
  • The courses are repeated twice a year

 

DISCOUNT: If you both courses, you qualify for a 10% discount per course

 

The music business courses are run by Rob Rodell, with the following credentials:

  • Head of Music Business Education at Soul Candi, 2009-11
  • Has lectured at the University of Johannesburg, Vega The Brand Communications School, Wits (BMus 4th year – Music Business), Boston Media House, Varsity College (IMM and Unisa courses), Global School of Business, School of Business & Technology, LISOF the fashion school
  • Busy with PhD (Strategic Communications) (UJ)
  • Busy with BMus (Unisa)
  • MA (Marketing Communications) (UJ)
  • DipABRSM (Royal Schools of Music)
  • LRSL (licentiate) cum laude (Rockschool)
  • Certificate in Management & Marketing for the Music Industry (Wits)
  • Certificate in Business Principles for Songwriters & Music Publishers cum laude (Wits)
  • Nominated for a SAMA
  • Gold certified single (RiSA)

 

The production courses are run by Mark Watson, with the following credentials:

  • Has worked with Bongo Maffin, Stone & Speedy, Thandiswa Mazwai
  • Has worked with Idol Bianca le Grange, Obita and many other artists as both producer and keyboard player
  • Jingles created for radio & songs for hundreds of artists
  • Worked at Urban Brew Studios as resident producer
  • Affiliated to SABC

 

The DJ’ing courses are taught by Cuebur, with the following credentials:

  • Long-time friend & associate of Shimza
  • Has created some monster hits, including Pepe and Could This Be Love
  • Has worked with numerous artists and DJs
  • Has performed internationally many times

 

WHEN do the courses happen?:

  • Courses run between 8 and 16 weeks per course, give or take
  • Why is this flexible? If we have a good rapport going, we may take a little longer to get through the course material – unlike other institutions, we focus on QUALITY, which takes time – the MBA courses are the best on the market, with the most qualified lecturer – ask our students, they will tell you
  • The cycle of courses is usually twice a year – so, we do each of the 3 courses between January and June (1st semester), and then again between July and December (2nd semester)
  • Because of the specialised nature of the courses, we may delay the start of a course while new students join us - most musicians are blissfully unaware of the business…
  • Start dates may thus be delayed
  • The option exists for one-to-one tutoring, which happens if the uptake is small
  • There is no additional charge, provided that the lecturer is available

 

WHERE do the courses happen?:

  • Again, because the classes are so small and most people do not focus on the industry (to their detriment), classes are usually held around a table at Motherland Coffee Shop in Rosebank, at a studio in Randpark Ridge, at a DJ’s place in Blairgowrie
  • Perhaps to your surprise, this in no way affects the quality of the lectures, which, it must be reiterated, are the best on the market, with the most qualified lecturers
  • Should there be a sudden surge in interest, then classes will be transferred to a bigger venue in Jozi
  • Music business classes take place between 10am and 2pm on Saturday mornings – please allow for some flexibility in this timing as lectures sometimes start later, by mutual consent, and also finish later
  • Best to clear your schedule between 10 and 2
  • Online courses are the best option if you are not available on Saturday mornings
  • Alternatively, try the tutoring option
  • Other streams (Music Production, DJ’ing) have classes during the week

 

CONTACT INFO:

 

We look forward to being of service to YOU! Musical greetings.