[ecrea] CFP: The small economies of the ‘new’ music industry

Call for papers

Severn Pop Network inaugural conference

The small economies of the ‘new’ music industry
University of Bristol

25th March 2013

The music industry is in a well-publicised state of upheaval. The
emergence of digital reproductive technologies (such as CD burners and
MP3s), of digital distribution and consumption technologies (such as the
iPod, iTunes and Spotify), and of new social media (such as Myspace and
Facebook) have radically disturbed established systems of production and
consumption. The benefits of these changes have fallen unequally and
most cultural commentary has focused on the problems caused to the
global record industry. However, one of the distinctive features of the
music industry is the continuity between localised ‘para-industrial
acts’ and mainstream commercial practices. The importance of geographic
and genre-based scenes means that small music economies have a greater
significance for the structural organisation of the music industry than
in other cultural industries: 'in the music industry... the small is as
significant as the big' (Frith, 2000).

This conference focuses on the small-scale commercial practices
developing in the ‘new’ music industry, paying particular attention to
local economies and ‘direct’ interactions between musicians and fans.
While research exists on how declining record sales may be affecting the
major industry, how (if at all) are they impacting musicians at a more
local level? Is declining record income relevant or is it being offset
by falling costs of recording and distribution? Are the
disintermediating technologies of the internet offering greater
opportunities for ‘monetising’ musical activities? How are musicians,
managers, labels, promoters and fans adapting to the new circumstances?
How are the relationships between these key players changing?

We invite papers on any aspect of the ‘new’ music industry
outside/beyond the major-dominated mainstream. Possible topics include:

Fan funding and crowd sourcing (such as Amanda Palmer’s Kickstarter
campaign)
The ‘monetisation’ of fan engagement
Initiatives to create local economy/scene infrastructure
The effects of changing regulation (including copyright) on local music
economies
The emergence of new cultural/economic intermediaries (such as Bandcamp)
The role of recorded music in local music economies
New business models (such as Netlabels)
Promotion in the online music industry.

Please send proposals, of up to 250 words, for 20 minute papers, and a
short author bio, (toSevernPop /at/ gmail.com). The deadline for submissions
is 18 January and authors will be notified of the outcome by 30 January.

***
The Severn Pop Network is an academic network of scholars interested in
popular music and based at several universities spanning the river
Severn. We meet approximately four times each year for paper
presentations and reading group discussions. If you would like to get
involved, please (contactSevernPop /at/ gmail.com)

--
Dr Lee Marshall
Senior Lecturer in Sociology
SPAIS
University of Bristol
11 Priory Road
Bristol BS8 1TU
(0)117 928 7504
http://bristol.academia.edu/LeeMarshall
New book: The International Recording Industries
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415603454/


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