Fame and Fortune: Developing a Simulation Game for the Music Industry Classroom

Abstract

This study documents the development of a classroom game simulating the effects of contractual arrangements on the economic relationships between artists, record labels, and consumers. The game was tested with multiple revisions in classroom settings over a period of three years by using surveys, interviews, session videos, and teacher observations. Using the approach of Grounded Theory, observations and insights were extracted from the collected data with the goal of identifying effective strategies for developing and using classroom simulations. Findings include evidence of deeper engagement with the subject through cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning.