Music produced for movies generates revenue in two ways: sales of musi

Question

Music produced for movies generates revenue in two ways: sales of music albums and licensing deals for advertisements. Film producers keep the entire revenue from album sales to themselves. However, some of the revenue generated through licensing deals is shared with the music directors. Therefore, music directors are clearly entitled to some of the revenue from ringtone sales too.

Which of the following is useful in evaluating the argument?

A. Whether revenue from licensing deals is at least as much as revenue from music album sales.
B. Whether music directors want to accept the money from ringtone sales.
C. Whether music directors will produce better music if they are given a share of ringtone sales revenue.
D. Whether a separate version of music needs to be created to make it more compatible for sale as a ringtone.
E. Whether the use of music as ringtone is more comparable to the use of music in advertisements than in music albums.

S1905 · Answer

Conclusion: music directors are entitled to some of the revenue from ringtone sales too.

Given: Revenue is generated in two ways:
1. Sales of music albums -> Film producer keeps the complete revenue from here
2. Licensing deals for advertisements -> some of the revenue is shared with music directors

Prethinking: if music directors are entitled to some of the revenue from ringtones we need to find an option that relates the ringtone sales to deals for advertisement.

Option Analysis:
 
Irrelevant - We do not care about the amount of revenue.

Irrelevant - whether the Music Directors want to accept or not is out of scope here

Irrelevant - We do not care about the quality of music here

Irrelevant - Still does not link advertisements and ringtones

Perfect! - we found the option that compares advertisements and ringtones

P.S - A similar question from the OG -  https://gmatclub.com/forum/even-though-most-universities-retain-the-royalties-from-faculty-member-15136.html#p93913

captainredbeard · Answer

Depending on the specific purpose of the discussion, the options may have different priorities. However, in the context of evaluating the argument, option A ("Whether revenue from licensing deals is at least equal to revenue from music album sales") is the most important. This is because it determines the importance of revenue sharing from licensing deals compared to music album sales, especially in assessing the impact and value of a music director's work.

mmax36884 · Answer

Whether the use of music as ringtone is more comparable to the use of music in advertisements than in music albums.

nosaj · Answer

Passage/STEM analysis 
 - Music from movies (not music from anything else) generate $$$ via (1) albums and (2) licensing deals for ads. 
 - Only revenue from licensing deals is shared with Music Directors  
 - Conclusion - music directors should get a share of the ringtone revenue LIKE licensing deals for ads

Internal Monologue: OK we need some information to figure out WHY or WHY NOT music directors should get some share of ringtone revenue

A. Whether revenue from licensing deals is at least as much as revenue from music album sales.  - If we had this answer, this doesn't give us a reason WHY or WHY NOT music directors are entitled  
 B. Whether music directors want to accept the money from ringtone sales.  - Conclusion is about if they are 'ENTITLED' not if music directors would/would not accept  
 C. Whether music directors will produce better music if they are given a share of ringtone sales revenue. -  Felt tempting because if they do produce better music it is potential rationale for why Music Directors should be paid more - excluded because 'better music' is a bit broad  
 D. Whether a separate version of music needs to be created to make it more compatible for sale as a ringtone. -  Felt tempting because it indicates an activity performed by Music Directors (but this is not stated anywhere... but easy to assume) - which would entitle them to more pay potentially   
 E. Whether the use of music as ringtone is more comparable to the use of music in advertisements than in music albums. -  Correct Answer   based on what we are given from the passage/STEM - this is the MISSING PREMISE - if we had this premise that ringtones = licensing deals - it would support our conclusion. If we have ringtones does not equal licensing deals - it would NOT support our conclusion

Any ideas on how to better eliminate C/D?

davidjamed · Answer

I think answer E is the most correct answer to the above problem.

Music produced for movies generates revenue in two ways: sales of musi

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Music produced for movies generates revenue in two ways: sales of musi

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