Music & Politics – Eastminster: a global politics & policy blog

Mercury Prize 2022: what rapper Little Simz’ win says about the UK independent music scene

October 20, 2022February 6, 2023 by Editor

Editor

John Street Emeritus Professor of Politics, School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies, University of East Anglia Speaking after she won the 2022 Mercury Music Prize, Simbiatu Abisola Abiola Ajikawo, aka Little Simz, was clearly honoured to be given the award. It wasn’t about the money (£25,000), or at least it wasn’t…

Legendary politics Professor John Street reflects on over 40 years of teaching politics at UEA

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 by Pierre Bocquillon

Pierre Bocquillon

Our good colleague and legendary politics Professor John Street will be retiring later this month after a career spanning over four decades at UEA. For UEA's latest Politics at the Edge podcast, John sits with Clare Precey, Alan Finlayson and Pierre Bocquillon, to reflect on 42 years of teaching politics,…

Understanding musical copyright in the digital age

January 28, 2018February 15, 2018 by Editor

Editor

We need a more nuanced view of the practices and values associated with copying in popular music culture, write Adam Behr, Keith Negus and John Street Copyright appears in one of two guises. It is either the backdrop to arguments about plagiarism – about how ‘Blurred Lines’ was stolen from…

Hugo Chávez, Alí Primera, and the politics of popular music in Venezuela

March 7, 2017 by Editor

Editor

Primera's tomb // lubrio/flickr, CC BY-SA Hazel Marsh, University of East Anglia on Hugo Chávez, Alí Primera, and the politics of popular music in Venezuela. In February 1992, a Venezuelan colonel called Hugo Chávez, together with other officers from a movement that had formed within the military, led an unsuccessful…

Long before Trump rolled in the deep, music and politics were entwined

September 13, 2016September 14, 2016 by Editor

Editor

Take three apparently trivial events: Ukraine wins the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, a rock star cancels a concert and a political rally features the song Rolling in the Deep by Adele. None of these moments might strike anyone as significant, and certainly not worthy of the attention of those interested…

‘Everybody’s talkin’ at me’: Popular music, politics and the general election

April 30, 2015May 15, 2015 by Editor

Editor

Adam Behr considers the history of politicians' attempts to fraternise with the pop glitterati for electoral gain. The Last Party, John Harris’s book about Britpop, opens with an account of Damon Albarn and Alex James of Blur visiting Tony Blair in 1995, as he was gearing up for his 1997…

This year’s election soundtracks won’t win many votes

April 27, 2015March 1, 2016 by Editor

Editor

Bill Clinton had Fleetwood Mac. New Labour had Britpop. Professor John Street considers what the campaign soundtrack for Ed Miliband, David Cameron or any of the other parties vying for victory on May 7 might be. As with shopping malls, so it is with election campaigns. Somewhere in the background,…

Blurred lines: The politics of copyright

March 11, 2015March 11, 2015 by Editor

Editor

Professor John Street considers the politics of copyright in the light of the Marvin Gaye/'Blurred Lines' judgement. A cursory glance at the news coverage of the Marvin Gaye/’Blurred Lines’ case would seem to suggest one thing, and one thing only: that Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and Charles Harris jr/T.I. had…

Marginal Notes: Music and the Scottish Independence Referendum

September 29, 2014January 9, 2015 by Editor

Editor

Professor John Street reflects on the importance of music in the Scottish independence debate. Last week, in the last days of the Scottish referendum campaign, I got a call from Radio Scotland. Would I take part in a discussion of the role of music in the campaign? This was two…

The song remains the same? Pop, plagiarism and professional pride

August 21, 2014January 9, 2015 by Editor

Editor

Copyright infringement in the music industry is frequently in the news. Dr Adam Behr shed light on the topic with the latest academic research. Copyright infringement is back in the mainstream news with high-profile stars Katy Perry and Led Zeppelin both facing accusations of theft. I don’t propose to enter…

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