IASPM Journal Special Issue: Mental Health in Popular Music

This Special Issue is motivated by the increasing visibility of mental health discourses in popular music. From long-standing myths of “sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll”, the “27 Club”, or the “tortured genius”, to recent disclosures by artists across genres, health-related themes have shaped the history of popular music cultures around the world. The tragic deaths of Avicii, Lil Peep, Amy Winehouse, Kim Jong-Hyun, Liam Payne, and others have placed mental health at the centre of public and industry debates. At the same time, contemporary stars such as Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Justin Bieber have significantly altered the visibility of how psychological struggles are communicated and negotiated – both artistically and through practices of self-representation in online and offline contexts. Their work reflects and, in turn, influences wider societal debates and experiences of mental health.

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Producing Music, Producing Knowledge: Practice, Technology, and Culture in Music Production

Society for Music Production Research 3rd Annual Conference
September 9-11, 2026,  University of Huddersfield, UK

Overview
The 2026 Society for Music Production Research (SMPR) Conference, Producing Music, Producing Knowledge, brings together the international music production research community to explore the creative, technical, and cultural practices that define how music is produced, experienced, and understood.

SMPR is an international society dedicated to building knowledge and dialogue among practitioners and scholars of music production. Its work spans creation, technology, pedagogy, aesthetics, and reception—bridging research and practice across diverse musical and cultural contexts.

Hosted at the University of Huddersfield, home to one of the world’s largest communities of music production and popular music researchers, the conference provides a forum for critical, creative, and professional exchange.

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