Why streaming offers so little revenue to performers and songwriters

There's a fantastic new academic article out by Ruth Towse that explains in some detail why the 'supply side' of music streaming is so bad for artists and songwriters. It's worth reading in full but for many who can't access the paywall I've summarised it here--a lot more detail missing but this is the basic … Continue reading Why streaming offers so little revenue to performers and songwriters

Sounding Dissent: online book launch with Stephen Millar 4pm, 4th June 2020

Virtual Book Launch 4pm, Thursday 4th June 2020 (online via zoom) Sounding Dissent: Rebel Songs, Resistance, and Irish Republicanism (Music and Social Justice series, University of Michigan Press) Dr Stephen R. Millar (Cardiff University) in conversation with Dr Simon McKerrell (Chair of the British Ethnomusicology Forum & Newcastle University) followed by live Q&A Zoom login … Continue reading Sounding Dissent: online book launch with Stephen Millar 4pm, 4th June 2020

Fully funded Doctoral Scholarships at Newcastle University

If you're interested in doing a PhD with me or one of my colleagues at Newcastle University--do get in touch as soon as possible. The Northern Bridge consortium of universities in the North of England and Northern Ireland operates a competitive process for fully funded fees and living costs for the very best PhD students. … Continue reading Fully funded Doctoral Scholarships at Newcastle University

NAFCo and Anglo/Celtic Traditional Music Symposium

Delighted that there is going to be a really fascinating NAFCo conference next year at Limerick in June 2020--and also that Simon Keegan-Phipps and I will be coordinating a special pre-conference symposium on Anglo/Celtic Music and its peripheries--call for participants now, deadline 31st January 2020. North Atlantic Fiddle Convention 2020 Call for Participants The Irish … Continue reading NAFCo and Anglo/Celtic Traditional Music Symposium

Towards Practice Research in Ethnomusicology (DRAFT) for comment

I'm uploading a draft version of the paper I presented at ICTM Bangkok 2019 here for comment. Given that there's been quite a surge of discussion internationally about the role and place of performance research or artistic research in ethnomusicology, I'm posting a draft of a paper I'm working on here. I'd dearly love to … Continue reading Towards Practice Research in Ethnomusicology (DRAFT) for comment

BFE CfP 2020 Bath Spa: Music, Culture and Nature

Call for Papers British Forum for Ethnomusicology Annual Conference 2020 16-19 April 2020, Bath Spa University, Newton Park, Bath, UK Keynote speaker: Dr Angela Impey (SOAS, University of London) As with all BFE Annual Conferenceswe welcome papers and panels on any aspect of current ethnomusicological research. The 2020 theme will be Music, Culture and Nature. … Continue reading BFE CfP 2020 Bath Spa: Music, Culture and Nature

Panel at SEM (November 2019) ‘Celtic Music and the New Dynamics of Commerce and Authenticity in the 21st Century’

Delighted to be part of the Society for Ethnomusicology's 'Celtic Music' SIG which is sponsoring our panel at the November conference at Indiana University in Bloomington, United States in November! https://www.ethnomusicology.org/page/Conf_2019 Our panel title will be, "Celtic Music and the New Dynamics of Commerce and Authenticity in the 21st Century" The panel consists: Dr Simon … Continue reading Panel at SEM (November 2019) ‘Celtic Music and the New Dynamics of Commerce and Authenticity in the 21st Century’

How can musicians make a living in today’s economy?

I've been reading a fantastic book recently by long-time Warwick academic Chris Bilton: Chris Bilton (2017) The Disappearing Product, Marketing and Markets in The Creative Industries, (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing). This book comes at exactly the right time for me, when I am both reimagining the focus of my research to look at music … Continue reading How can musicians make a living in today’s economy?

British Forum for Ethnomusicology seeks new committee members

Call for New BFE Committee Member Deadline for Nominations: Friday 7th June 2019 Dear BFE Members, The British Forum for Ethnomusicology seeks nominations for election for a new position on the BFE Committee. This role is intended to consolidate and develop the BFE’s current outreach activities. It is vital for the future of the BFE … Continue reading British Forum for Ethnomusicology seeks new committee members