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Dear all,

For anyone who may have missed this on other lists:


From:    Conference Admin <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Second CFP - Record Label Conference, Nov 6-7th 2014. Newcastle University

One Century of Record Labels –
Mapping places, stories and communities of sound

International Centre for Music Studies, Newcastle University,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
November 6th – 7th 2014
Keynote: Dr Pete Dale (Slampt Records, Manchester Metropolitan University)

This two-day interdisciplinary conference will expose, question and
celebrate the enduring role of independent and commercial record labels in
the construction of musical patrimony, from the early days of the record
industry to the present. Record labels have traditionally functioned as
organs of representation (replicating for instance racial stereotypes),
codification (setting genres and trends), as well as emancipation (allowing
for marginal trends, voices and groups of artists to emerge). They exist at
the intersection of the public and the personal, capturing the collective
imagination as well as the private fascination of the collector. They
occupy different spaces and scales, from internationally influential,
legendary record labels (Stax, Motown, or Columbia) to more obscure,
bedroom-run, non-commercial labels (Sarah Records, Musical Traditions
Records). The aim of the conference is to gather a variety of perspectives
on the past and present legacy of record labels, and to examine their
changing status and relevance in an age of increasing dematerialisation.

While this conference should be of interest to researchers in popular music
studies, we particularly encourage contributions from within the fields of
musicology, cultural studies, media studies, and sociology.

Papers could address (but are not limited to) the following aspects:

-        Record labels, race and gender. Representations of minorities
through records (for instance, early American 'race records' or 'ethnic
records'). The role of record labels in colonialism and post-colonial
development.
-        Record labels, resistance and subculture. The politics of DIY,
non-commercial, micro-record labels, which are especially relevant in
subcultural scenes such as punk, hardcore, rap, hip hop and twee pop.
-        Record labels, consumption and geography. Local, national,
transnational and globalised identities. Audio tourism and the
commodification of cultural difference.
-        The sonic iconicity of record labels and associated
studios/producers (Sun, Motown, Chess). The linked histories of audiences,
record labels and record production.
-        The material culture of record labels and ‘gramomania’ (Katz).
Fans, collectors and personal archives. Lost record labels and their
subsequent revivals, through practices of vinyl archaeology, collecting,
curating and reissuing. The visual iconography of labels, cover-art and
liners note as paratext (also digital metadata or downloadable
supplementary visual/textual content).
-        Historiographical perspectives. How have record labels impacted
the creation of musical canons? The many ways in which labels have
organised musical production; the construction and contestation of
normative production practices and codes.
-        How labels mediate ideologies of musical creativity/talent.
-        Representations of record labels in the media.
-        Record labels in the digital age. MP3 labels, netlabels and the
use of technological platforms such as Bandcamp, Soundcloud or YouTube.

A selection of papers will be included in an edited book or journal.

Proposals for individual papers (thirty minutes including discussion) and
for panels (up to one hour) will be considered. Abstracts (300 words
maximum) should be submitted to [log in to unmask] with a
short biographical note. Proposals for panels should also include an
abstract for each individual paper.

The deadline for submissions is 4th July 2014. Selected speakers will be
notified by the first week of August.

Conference organisers:

Dr Elodie A. Roy (Newcastle University)

Matthew Ord (Newcastle University)


(posted by Simon McKerrell, Newcastle University)