Articles on Musicians

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A cross stitch recreation of Nirvana’s classic album cover by Mr X Stitch. Jamie Chalmers/flickr

March 30, 2017

Can an album still define the times? Oh Well. Whatever. Nevermind.

Sally Breen, Griffith University

Nirvana's Nevermind was emblematic of the 1990s. But in today's fragmented digital age, can anyone nominate an album that defines the first or second decade of the 21st century?

Is the system broken? 'Record Player' via www.shutterstock.com

February 10, 2017

Are the Grammys really about good music?

Alex Lubet, University of Minnesota

After winning his Grammy in 1996, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder said, 'I don't think this means anything.' Was he right?

January 23, 2017

Boycotts by celebrities and musicians hit Trump where it hurts

Adam Behr, Newcastle University

Musicians have largely greeted Trump with the sound of silence – and in doing so, they check the normalisation of the current administration.

Punters cheer at the 2016 Glastonbury Festival. Revenue from live performances is growing. Stoyan Nenov/Reuters

November 27, 2016

Why music is not lost

Richard Vella, University of Newcastle; Shane Homan, Monash University, and Tracy Redhead, University of Newcastle

In Australia, musicians' total income actually went up last year. While the music industry still faces many challenges, there is now a world-wide push to boost artists' royalties paid by streaming services such as Spotify.

Janis Joplin in Janis: Little Girl Blue (2015)

August 23, 2016

‘No reason for livin’: early death in female popular musicians

Dianna Theadora Kenny, University of Sydney and Anthony Asher, UNSW

Female popular musicians die younger – and from more unnatural causes like suicide, homicide and accidents – than women in the general population. What's going wrong?

After the likes of Joan Jett, Janis Joplin and Debbie Harry, why are women in rock still marginalised? Shutterstock

July 12, 2016

Harder, faster, louder: challenging sexism in the music industry

Catherine Strong, RMIT University

Why are women still marginalised in the rock industry? There are many reasons - from a male dominated music canon to belittling attitudes - but women are speaking up and lobbying for change.

July 7, 2016

How blockchain could help musicians make a living from music

Marcus O'Dair, Middlesex University

Bitcoin, blockchain and automatic royalty payments could transform how musicians earn.

The cover of Ray Lema’s album, ‘Nangadeef’.

June 29, 2016

Under the influence of … Congolese virtuoso Ray Lema’s ‘Nangadeef’

Michael Shakib Bhatch, University of the Western Cape

The Congolese album ‘Nangadeef’ remains largely unexplored, despite its genius. As a rich repository of Afrofuturistic data, it deserves to be delved into by lovers of African art.

Nicki Minaj arrives at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. She has been largely considered a bad influence on young women. Reuters/Danny Moloshok

September 15, 2015

Celebrity, youth culture and the question of role models

Kirsty Fairclough, University of Salford

Musicians and performers have long been considered to influence young people in negative ways.

Top contributors

Dianna Theadora Kenny
Professor of Psychology and Music, University of Sydney
Shane Homan
Associate Professor, English, Communications and Performance Studies, Monash University
Catherine Strong
Senior Lecturer, Music Industry, RMIT University
Richard Vella
Professor of Music, University of Newcastle
Kirsty Fairclough
Senior Lecturer in Media and Performance, University of Salford
Adam Behr
Lecturer in Popular and Contemporary Music, Newcastle University
Marcus O'Dair
Senior Lecturer in Popular Music, Middlesex University
Anthony Asher
Associate Professor, UNSW
Michael Shakib Bhatch
Lecturer of English. PhD Candidate in Afrofuturism and African Studies, University of the Western Cape
Alex Lubet
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music, University of Minnesota
Tracy Redhead
Senior Researcher Music Export and Technology, University of Newcastle
Sally Breen
Senior Lecturer in Writing and Publishing, Griffith University