PhD Scholarships on Music Copyright in the Digital Age, UK

Deadline: 31 May 2011
Open to: interested holders of a Master’s degree from and outside the EU
Studentship: annual stipend of £13,590, contribution towards research/travel costs

The prestigious Lord Kelvin/Adam Smith Scholarship scheme was established in 2007 to support the development of innovative, boundary-crossing research at the University of Glasgow and is now in its fifth year. The scheme supports new partnerships between members of staff and will offer outstanding research students both from home and abroad the opportunity to undertake doctoral training in the context of cutting edge interdisciplinary research projects.

Music Copyright in the Digital Age – Investigating streaming and live music

At present the ‘creative industries’ within the UK currently contribute 6.4% of total GDP, while enjoying year on year economic growth. The UK music industry alone is currently worth around £3.6bn per annum. Copyright, it is said, underpins the success and the operation of the creative industries. Of late, however, copyright policy has become a much contested site, and the appropriateness of proprietary models for regulating cultural production has been called into question. The music industry lies at the epicentre of that contemporary debate.

Following recent developments such as the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property (2006), the music industry’s co-ordinated efforts to convince the European legislature to extend the copyright term for sound recordings, and the passing of the UK Digital Economy Act 2010, this is a particularly appropriate time to interrogate music copyright law and policy as it effects three key groups: musicians, record companies, and consumers. In particular, this project proposes to explore two emergent, but under-researched, responses to the ‘digital crisis’ facing recorded music: internet streaming and live performance. At the same time it will locate these phenomena within a broader historical analysis about the interplay between music, performance, technology, and law. In short, this ambitious project aims to make a significant contribution to shaping the contemporary debates and policy concerning music copyright in the digital age, as well as to bring together researchers in Music and Law.

Eligibility

The Kelvin Smith Scholarships are open to home/EU and international/overseas students.

Scholarship

Each scholarship will run for 4 years and will provide the successful students with an annual stipend at the Research Council recommended rates (£13,590 for 2011/12). On top of this the project will benefit from £5,300 per year as a contribution towards research and travel costs. Appointed students will receive a fee waiver.

Application Procedure

Deadline for applications: 31 May 2011. Interviews are likely to take place on 13 June.

Applicants should provide the following:

* CV including a list of qualifications
* 2 academic references (to be received by the closing date)
* Applications should be accompanied by up to a MAXIMUM of 500 words on: The most important issues facing Music Copyright in the Digital Age (applicants writing over 500 words will not be considered). Those selected for interview should expect to present for up to 10 minutes on the same topic as part of the interview process.

Contact: Professor Ronan Deazley Ronan.Deazley@glasgow.ac.uk
University of Glasgow

The official webpage.

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