Digital Pop and the Death of the Musical Artefact
A one day symposium supported by the Popular Music Research Unit, Department of Music, Goldsmiths, University of London, Saturday 15 October 2011, in the Small Hall Cinema, Main Building, Goldsmiths University of London.
Schedule
10.30am Coffee
10.45am Introduction
11.00am Digital debates: economies, apps and engineers
Eamonn Forde – music industry commentator, Digital Editor Music Week
Introduction
Eamonn will briefly highlight various issues that are posing dilemmas for musicians and practitioners throughout the music industries, taking in the economics of digital music production and distribution, emerging creative possibilities, and changing approaches to consumer marketing.
Nicola Dibben – musicologist, currently collaborating with Björk
Björk in App-Land: Digitalisation not Dematerialisation
Nicola will focus on the Biophilia album and app suite (to be released in October) as one artist's response to the possibilities and threats of music digitalisation, as a new way for the industry to make money from music in the download and file-sharing age, and as a new mode of musical experience.
Samantha Bennett – recording engineer and academic
Back to the Future? The Quest for Sonic Perfection in the Age of Digitalization
Drawing from interviews with recordists and studio owners, Samantha will address some of the history behind current debates. She will talk about the way digitization of recorded music has divided the opinions of recordists and sound industry practitioners, and ask if the recording industry’s quest for ‘sonic perfection’ is achievable - or even relevant - in today’s, almost wholly digital age.
1pm Lunch (not provided)
2pm – 3.30pm Roundtable: 'Problems, solutions and disputes'
Holly Bott - Planner, Sony Music
Fred Bolza – VP Marketing, Sony Music
Ben Jones – National Organiser, Recording & Broadcasting, Musician’s Union
Wayne Marshall – Techno-Musicologist (via Skype)
4pm – 5pm Creativity and Digital Pop Music
Matthew Herbert – musician, composer, Accidental Records
Lisa Busby – musician and scholar
5pm – 5.30pm Conclusion
5.30pm – 7.30pm Reception and live digital music – Room 167
Speakers will include:
Nicola Dibben – musicologist, currently collaborating with Björk
Eamonn Forde – music industry commentator, Digital Editor Music Week
Matthew Herbert – musician, composer, Accidental Records
Holly Bott and Fred Bolza – Sony Music