Welcome to The International Association for the Study of Popular Music UK and Ireland Branch

Take Two: Expanding the Field of Music Production Research

Posted: December 24th, 2024 | Filed under: Calls for Papers | Comments Off on Take Two: Expanding the Field of Music Production Research

Building on the success of the inaugural SMPR conference, we now turn our focus to Canada’s west coast, a region where the extraordinary natural environment inspires us to push boundaries and explore new ideas. It’s time for take two!

Using Victoria’s ecological diversity and soaring landscape as a metaphor, we have chosen three themes to map out research directions for Music Production Research (MPR): equity, diversity and inclusion; social responsibility; and innovation. We want to explore these themes both from within the MPR community, and also by turning our collective creativity outwards. At this conference, we aim to test the limits of conventional thought by fostering discussions about how music production and research can, broadly speaking, make a positive social impact.

Paper Submissions: 

We encourage proposals from both researchers and practitioners that respond to our themes of equity, diversity and inclusion; social responsibility, and innovation, as well as, those that cover the length and breadth of music production, its research and practice. Possible topics for proposals may include but are not limited to:

  • Practice-Oriented Research
  • Industry Insights
  • Sonic Analysis and Interpretation of Recorded Music
  • Music Production Techniques
  • Music Production Education
  • Perceptual and Psychological Impact of Music Production
  • Music Industry Dynamics
  • Case Studies of Music Production
  • Cultural Perspectives and Impact of Music Production
  • Historical Perspectives of Music Production

Conference Panels and Workshop: 

To address our main themes, we have curated three panels and one workshop. These events will spotlight leading voices from the academic, industry and nonprofit sectors, ad illuminate the following areas:

Building Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Music Production1
Advancing Environmental Sustainability through Music Production2
Sustaining cultural heritage through Libraries, Archives and Museums in Music Production3
Innovating with AI in Music Production4

Moderated and presented by academic leaders and emerging stars from within the field of music production research: Allison Sokil (MacEwan University)1, Nyssim Lefford (Luleå University of Technology)2, Timothy Anne Burnside (Smithsonian Institute)3 , and Philippe Pasquier (Simon Fraser University)4; these events will look towards the future, challenge expectations regarding contemporary music production, and we hope, inspire new research directions and collaborations.

Speculative Solutions Challenge:

By this point it should be obvious that we seek to shake things up, and we recognize that bold exploration demands a kind of inventiveness that does not always rest comfortably in a traditional peer-review process. We want to make this conference a safe place to speculate – yes, really, speculate – about how music production can help build a more equitable, socially responsible and innovative world.

To make room for breaking new ground, in addition to standard, peer-reviewed paper submissions, we are offering a Speculative Solutions challenge based on the conference’s main themes. This is an opportunity to go a bit wild (like the Victoria landscape), present a vision for the future, and get feedback on the ideas from interested and knowledgeable colleagues. Speculations might involve new business models, (music production) technology solutions, organised actions, etc. Regardless, contextualise the proposed solution in a critical framework. In keeping with the spirit of speculation, submissions will be evaluated by domain experts who appreciate the goals of the challenge.

We want to make it easy to speculate. Submissions should take the form of an extended abstract, no more than 300 words, that explains the following:

  • The problem being addressed by the proposed solution, and how it relates to one of the conference themes: DEI, Social Responsibility or Innovation (please choose one main theme, even if a solution potentially addresses needs across categories)
  • The proposed solution
  • What would be necessary for its realisation
  • The expected impact

The abstract may be accompanied by images or diagrams.

Three submissions from each category (DEI, Sustainability or Innovation) will be chosen for presentation at the SMPR conference in Victoria. Presentation at the conference will consist of a poster session (a poster should be created for the conference) and an opportunity to make a 10-minute oral presentation about the idea. The poster may be accompanied by audio or video. However, presenters should be prepared to play this media off their own laptops as a/v equipment may not be available for the poster sessions.  All submitted speculations will be evaluated by topic area experts who are participants in the conference’s panels or workshop. These experts will choose the top three for their respective themes.

Please submit proposals via this link by midnight (UTC) February 21, 2025. Submission types:

  • Individual Papers – 20-minute presentations with 5-minute Q&A. Submit an abstract of up to 300 words. Include the Title, Author(s), contact information, and 3-5 keywords. Abstracts should summarize the context and argument of the paper and a brief conclusion.
  • Speculative Solutions – 30-minute poster display period, 10-minute oral presentation alongside a panel of co-speculators followed by Q&A and discussion. Submit an abstract of up to 300 words covering the information described above. Include Title, Author(s), contact information, 3-5 keywords, and any special requirements for the poster session or presentation.

About SMPR:

The Society for Music Production Research is dedicated to building knowledge and dialogue among practitioners and scholars related to all aspects of music production. SMPR promotes research, publication, and networking among scholars and practitioners in the domains of creation, technologies, historical and industry contexts, aesthetics, and reception. The field is broad and includes all aspects of music production.

SMPR encourages multidisciplinary and intersectional engagement between its members, the music production industry, researchers, and related organizations and seeks to reinforce how research in music production impacts educators and students, while providing and encouraging a supportive space where members can contribute genuinely and sincerely by actively working to negate practices that perpetuate systems of oppression and exclusivity.

About the University of Victoria:

The University of Victoria Campus is located on the traditional lands of the Lǝḱwǝŋǝn peoples, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. We are privileged to do our work in a way that is inspired by their history, customs, and culture.

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, the University of Victoria is one of Canada’s top-tier research-intensive universities. As an internationally renowned hub for teaching and research, we tackle essential issues that matter to people, places, and the planet. Our location within the Pacific Rim fosters a passion for exploration, and this extraordinary environment inspires us to defy boundaries, discover, and innovate in exciting ways. We live, learn, work, and explore at the edge of what’s next.

The UVic School of Music is dedicated to experiential learning and training for musicians and music scholars, turning passion into profession. The School is home to 45 performers, composers, educators, theorists, musicologists, and professional staff, as well as 190 undergraduate majors and 40 graduate students. We offer Bachelor of Music degrees in composition, music education, performance, musicology and sound studies, and musical arts along with a combined degree in Music and Computer Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Music. The School offers graduate degrees in composition, performance, musicology and sound studies, and music technology. We are strongly committed to inclusive excellence and equity and to increasing the diversity of approaches and perspectives in teaching, research, and creative output. In 2021 the school hosted AUDIO+: A Research Forum to Transform our Traditions.

Conference Venue: Sŋéqə ʔéʔləŋ (Sngequ House), built to Passive House and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) V4 Gold certifications.

Please note: 

All conference presenters must be SMPR members by the time they register for the conference. For membership information visit: SMPR Membership.

Please spread this CfC widely throughout your own personal networks:

https://bit.ly/SMPR2025CfC

Conference committee: