CfP: Popular Music Books in Process Series, April 2022
Call for Proposals: Popular Music Books in Process Series, April 2022
Deadline: 15.04.2022
Since early in the COVID-19 crisis, Popular Music Books in Process has curated online events, usually weekly, for music writers and scholars to showcase new and recent books or works in progress for an engaged and interactive audience. The series is a collaboration between the Journal of Popular Music Studies, the Pop Conference, and IASPM-US. There have been 65 events so far, all preserved on YouTube.
Though the pandemic context has shifted, we believe this series still has a role to play, providing an accessible ongoing exchange inside music-writing communities and beyond. However, we are moving from a weekly to an every-second-week format, plus breathers to recharge between “seasons.” We’ll continue to feature single, paired, or grouped speakers. Unfortunately, with fewer events, our selection process will be tighter. But we hope this new format—along with our newly expanded organizing team—will help keep the series sustainable into the future.
We are inviting new proposals, particularly for Spring-Summer 2022, but also for the coming year. If you are publishing a book between now and May of 2023, or have a work in progress, please let us know. All kinds of formats are welcome, from pre-recorded “digital lectures” (of roughly 15 minutes) to group roundtables, always including a generous Q&A. Some authors have even incorporated live music. We do encourage authors to make the events conversational on some level; if you don’t have ideas for interlocutors or co-presenters, we may suggest some. Our YouTube page shows the variety of strategies presenters have used.
Whatever the format, our focus remains books, whether early in their gestation or after publication. We want to showcase popular-music writing of many kinds on many subjects, keeping our communities connected, and welcoming in new participants. Please feel free to share this call with others you think might be interested and appropriate.
For Spring-Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, or Spring 2023, please email to all five organizers by April 15:
A proposal of about 300 words describing the book(s) that you (or you and others) would like to present, along with your preferred presentation format(s);
Bio(s) of about 100 words for each participant;
An indication of which quarter (as listed above) would be best for you. Specific months or even specific, but flexible, dates are encouraged.
NB: If you are not ready to apply now, this likely will not be the final call for the later quarters.
Thank you!
Kimberly Mack, kimberly.Mack[at]utoledo[dot]edu, University of Toledo
Francesca Royster, froyster[at]depaul[dot]edu, DePaul University
Gus Stadler, gstadler[at]haverford[dot]edu, Haverford College
Eric Weisbard, eric.Weisbard[at]gmail[dot]com, University of Alabama
Carl Wilson, carlzoilus@gmail.com, Slate, Bookforum, and other venues