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RPM Conference

September 11 & 12, 2023

Flagler College
St. Augustine, Fla.

Research in Popular Music Conference

Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., is hosting an academic conference for those in higher education who conduct research in popular music and the business of the music industry. This intimate conference will allow scholars to present their research to peers and have their papers discussed. Join us in St. Augustine this September!

Schedule*

Monday, Sept. 11

Session #1  

Pedagogy in Popular Music Education (1:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.)

"Reimagining Pop Vocal Pedagogy through the Lens of Critical Performance Theory." Ruth Debrot, Boston University

Discussant: Chris Sampson

"Identity Formation in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy." Radio CremataIthaca College

Discussant: Sam Howard-Spink

"Developing a Pedagogical Framework for the Multi-Instrumentalist in Popular Music." Chris Sampson, University of Southern California

Discussant: Ruth Debrot

Session #2  

Historical Perspectives in Popular Music (3:15 p.m.– 4:45 p.m.)

"The Beatles in The Digital Era: Rebooting Beatlemania in Each Stage of the Digital Age." Joe Rapolla, Monmouth University

Discussant: Michael Butler

"WTF Are NFTs, and How Is Blockchain Tech Disrupting the Music Industry To Empower Artists?" Andrea Johnson, Berklee College of Music

Discussant:  Joseph Steinhardt

"Say it Loud! James Brown, Racial Pride, and Black Capitalism in the Age of Nixon." Michael Butler, Flagler College

Discussant:  Radio Cremata

"A Little Ditty 'Bout a Fast Car." Tosh Sargeant, Southeastern University

Discussant: Scott Swan

Opening Dinner (6 p.m.– 8 p.m.)

"Historic Venues, Live Music, and Economic Development." Numa Saisselin, President, Florida Theatre.

Tuesday, Sept. 12

Session #3  Theory and Practitioners in Popular Music (9 a.m.–10:15 a.m.)

"The Value of Glocalization Theory for Music Business Education." Sam Howard-SpinkNew York University

Discussant: Clint Randles

"Taking it to the Streets: The Social Aesthetics of African American Doo Wop in Jacksonville, Fla. in the 1950s." Scott Swan, Flagler College

Discussant:  Joe Rapolla

"Music Teacher as Music Producer: Practicing Our Creativities in Music Education." Clint Randles, University of South Florida

Discussant: Tosh Sargeant

Session #4  The Business of Popular Music (10:45 a.m.–noon)

"The Modern Music Business Entrepreneur." David Berry, Converse College

Discussant: Yvan Kelly

"The Distribution of Vinyl Sales During the Recent Vinyl Record Sales Boom." Joseph Steinhardt, Drexel University

Discussant:  Andrea Johnson

"Not Your Parents' Top 20. Or, Is It?" Yvan Kelly, Flagler College

Discussant:  David Berry

St. Augustine Amphitheatre tour (3 p.m.)

Closing Reception (4 p.m.–6 p.m.)

* schedule subject to change

Conference Fee

$125 - This fee includes the opening dinner and closing reception.

Hotel Information

The official hotel partner of the conference is the DoubleTree by Hilton St. Augustine Historic District. A discounted room rate of $149 per night is available by calling 904-825-1923 ext. 0 and asking for the "23 RPM Conference, group code: RPM" rate. If you book your room directly using this link, the hotel will waive the $22/day parking fee.

Questions/Further Information

For more information, contact Dr. Yvan Kelly, the conference organizer, at kellyyj@flagler.edu.