Phil Smith, director of percussion and music publishing in South Plains College’s Commercial Music department, described how the program combines professional touring experience with classroom instruction and music business training.

"Music publishing is 1 of the most important music businesses that that any young musician can learn about," Smith said. He outlined course material that covers copyright law, ways to copyright material, mechanical and performance royalties, synchronization licensing and risks tied to predatory publishing deals.

Smith said the department offers an associate degree in performance, one-year performance certificates and a music business certificate that covers management, publishing and event management. He described annual events the program runs to connect students with professionals; he cited Groove Day, a visiting-artist event in which the program recently brought drummer Kenny Aronoff.

Why it matters: Students are exposed to both creative and business sides of the music industry; Smith said that knowledge can protect writers from exploitative contracts and help graduates monetize their work. Smith noted that publishing and copyright are nuanced and that graduates who learn the business can avoid costly legal disputes.

Practical outcomes: Smith said the program emphasizes employable skills — touring, recording, publishing and event organization — and keeps instructors engaged in professional work so students learn current practices. He encouraged interested students to contact him by email (psmith@southplainscollege.edu) or consult the college’s program pages.

Context and limits: Smith’s comments describe course content and program structure; they are instructional descriptions from an interview and do not represent new policy, an external funding award, or a legal opinion.