IASPM ANZ

The Australia/New Zealand branch of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music is holding its annual conference in November in Auckland. The title this year is WHAT'S IT WORTH? with the theme of ‘Value’ and Popular Music. It will be held from 27-29 November 2009 in the Fale Pasifika Complex, Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The organisers state:

The theme of this year's conference seeks to generate discussion and debate around the ‘value’ we ascribe to popular music(s). ‘Value’ relates to music as commodity and economic project, but social, cultural and aesthetic perspectives profoundly inform any measures or contentions of ‘value’. This theme is particularly timely given recent technological developments that are radically re-shaping the ways in which music is produced, distributed and consumed.

I will be attending and would recommend anyone else interested in this field to go as well. Papers will cover a whole range of topics including new technologies, copyright law, music in every day life including communities, subculture and politics as well as artistic and aesthetic value, authenticity, performance and many other areas.

You can find out more information about the conference here and here.