Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

Sing, single song

A songwriter can put himself/herself at a disadvantage if single-song contracts are not perused thoroughly. Ken Sanney, adjunct recording industry professor and licensed attorney, says such an agreement should contain a list of the title or titles of the song or songs covered by the agreement. However, “if a single-song agreement is the transfer of songs that have already been composed, there should not be any options for yet-to-be-composed songs or songs that are not specifically enumerated in the agreement or addendum,” Sanney says. “It therefore, seems to clearly follow that there should not be a term (length of time the contract lasts) or options for additional songs. Lastly, there should never be any language in the agreement that would make the songwriter’s services provided exclusively to the publisher.”

Contact Sanney at 615-456-6502.
ksanney@mtsu.edu

The old folks at home

With the recession taking its toll on employed people with salaries, why aren’t elderly people on fixed incomes, who are even more vulnerable, moving back in with their adult children? Dr. Brandon Wallace, sociology, says it was relatively common for children to live with their parents until industrialization. “Even after industrialization, most Americans continued a rural agricultural existence until World War II,” Wallace says. “The rapid industrialization brought on by World War II and the prosperity that followed it allowed children to leave home and find jobs rather than stay and work their parents’ farm. This accounts for much of the dramatic decline in the number of elderly and adult children living together. Even today, adult children are more likely to live with their parents than parents are to live with their adult children.”

Contact Wallace at 615-898-5976.
jbwallae@mtsu.edu

Can’t even give it away

All that pressure on fast food restaurants to provide healthier choices has resulted in some changes, but KFC’s attempt to give away grilled chicken turned out to be a real turkey. Dr. Don Roy, management and marketing, says the real problem was an image issue. “A brand cannot run away from its heritage,” says Roy. “KFC will never be known as a ‘good for you’ brand. It is not alone; fast feeders like McDonald’s and Burger King will not ascend to that level, either. The difference is McDonald’s and Burger King are finding ways to remain relevant to customers. McDonald’s has added healthy menu options, but it remains focused on its core items. A brand cannot be all things to all people.”

Contact Roy at 615-904-8564.
droy@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS--“People are shouting too many philosophies of health and happiness at us,” notes a commentator on the recent explosion of interest in a topic of vital interest to us all—our own perceived well-being. But long before the shouting began, philosophers like Aristotle, Epicurus, Montaigne, Spinoza, Mill, Hume and James were carefully considering the question of how to get happy and stay that way. Dr. James Oliver will lead students through an examination of this subject in “The Philosophy of Happiness,” a class slated for Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall at MTSU. “In this course, we’ll survey older philosophical ideas about happiness, the new approach in psychology, and some of the best fictional literature,” says Oliver. ”Our approach will be calm, reasonable and interdisciplinary, with no gratuitous shouting.” Contact Oliver at 615-898-2050 or poliver@mtsu.edu.

GET A CLUE!--MTSU is expanding its popular CSI: MTSU four-day program for students entering the 10th, 11th and 12th grades in Rutherford and surrounding counties. This year’s event is slated for June 16-19. The goals of CSI: MTSU are: to allow students to explore many unique career possibilities in forensic science; to provide a “real life” reasons to tackle higher level math and science courses; and to develop skills in teamwork, seeing and understanding details, critical thinking and presentation skills. The student investigators will be presented with a re-creation of an actual crime scene. Each student is trained in the fundamental processes of collecting evidence, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fibers, simulated blood spatter, and shoe prints. For more information or to register, call 615-898-2462 or send an e-mail to eshockle@mtsu.edu.