Conference: Change and Continuity: Traditions, Tensions and Transformations in Music Production, SMPR, Leeds

Conference: Change and Continuity: Traditions, Tensions and Transformations in Music Production

Society for Music Production Research Inaugural Conference

September 12-14, 2024

Leeds Beckett University (Leeds, UK)

The Society for Music Production Research (https://musicproductionresearch.org/) 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.

Leeds is a vibrant hub of musical creativity, hosting a diverse range of genres within its lively music venues, nightclubs, dance halls, pubs, and other musical spaces. From crooners to indie rockers, the city has produced a myriad of musical talent. Both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Music and Sound programmes are delivered at Leeds Beckett University within Leeds School of Arts (LSA) new building, which officially opened in 2021. The LSA building provides music and sound students with state-of-the-art recording studios, performance spaces, production suites, dubbing theaters, acoustics testing labs and more. Music production research within the LSA Music and Sound team is diverse and ranges from composition, to designing and developing new instruments and music technologies. We’ve hosted a number of events such as the Sixth Art of Record Production Conference in 2010, Audio Engineering Society’s Up Your Output in 2017 and we’re excited to welcome you all to the very first SMPR conference here in the center of Leeds.

Because it is the inaugural SMPR conference the overarching theme is ‘Change and Continuity’ with a focus on tradition, history and practice and the ways in which these can all be balanced alongside innovation in imagining and reimagining new pathways, avenues and perspectives for music production research. Responses to conventional ideas, challenging traditional views, structures and formats can all provide a useful starting point to explore change, development or redesign.

Details of the conference including the confirmed keynote speakers can be found on the SMPR website here https://musicproductionresearch.org/leeds-2024

We also have a range of engaging panels, workshops, performances, and social events taking place across the 3 days. You can find details on getting to Leeds and accommodation options here: https://tinyurl.com/smprleedshotels2024

The early bird booking rates https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/events/conferences/smpr-2024/ (with a 25% saving) are only available until 19th July. All participants with an active SMPR membership at the time of the conference can take advantage of the further discounted SMPR member booking rates.  The SMPR membership booking link is available here: https://musicproductionresearch.org/join-1