Music, Capitalism, and AI

We are pleased to announce an interdisciplinary conference hosted by The Research in AI, Arts, Frontiers and Thought (RAAFT) group, formally the College of Liberal Arts Data Science Initiative (CLA-DSI). The conference will bring together prominent thinkers in various disciplines (Music Studies, Media and Communication Studies, Journalism, Law, Cultural Studies, American Studies)  to explore the role of AI in the production, circulation, and dissemination of music, as well as recent and dramatic changes to the political economy of music associated with streaming platforms, rent extraction, automation, and oligopolies. 

This event will facilitate vital dialogue between music academics, journalists, lawyers, local musicians, and other artists and researchers regarding the role of AI in the modern musical economy.

Speakers and Invited Guests:

• Olufunmilayo Arewa (Law Faculty, George Mason)

• Matthew Blackmar (Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University)
• Jordan Brown (CSCL Grad, UMN)
• Ginger Dellenbaugh (Music Department, Columbia)
• Dana DeVlieger (Copyright Associate at Latham & Watkins)
• Eric Drott (Music Faculty, UT Austin)
• Thomas Hodgson (Ethnomusicology / Musicology, UCLA)
• Charles Kronengold (CSCL, UMN)
• Esther Viola Kurtz (Department of Music, WashU)
• Jeremy Wade Morris (Communication Studies Faculty, UW Madison)
• Liz Pelly (Journalist, NYC)
• Elliott Powell (American Studies Faculty, UMN)
• Xiyin Tang (Law Faculty, UCLA)
• Amy Skjerseth (Department of Music, UC Riverside)

Organizing Committee:  

• Michael Gallope (Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature, UMN)

• Sumanth Gopinath (Music Theory, UMN)

• RAAFT 

• AI Hub