German Society for
Popular Music Studies
German Society for Popular Music Studies
to the entire spectrum of popular music and its culture.
Since 1984, the independent German Society for Popular Music Studies
has established the strongest network of members in the
German-speaking world for this purpose. We publish our research primarily
in the established series Beiträge zur Popularmusikforschung and
the online publications SAMPLES.
News
ANNUAL CONFERENCE: PROGRAM
July 4, 2025 | We are delighted to invite you to the 35th Annual Conference of the GFPM, “More Than Words: Current Discourses in Popular Music Research,” which will take place from October 10 to 12, 2025, at the conference center of the Evangelische Akademie Loccum.
The preliminary conference program can be found here. The conference will feature presentations as well as numerous participatory formats such as workshops and open spaces. As a new team, the new board will continue the ideas of the previous board and facilitate exchange, discussion, and offers for specific support and consultation formats. These include, among other things, the option to book time slots for individual mentoring sessions. Information on this will be sent to those who have registered in a separate email.
In this context, we would like to point out that the GFPM is still awarding up to 4 full scholarships worth €214 to early-career researchers; applications are open until July 15; active participation (e.g., presentation) is not a prerequisite for application. All information on how to apply can be found in the newsletter dated April 30 and on our homepage.
We look forward to receiving numerous registrations for the conference at:
https://survey.academiccloud.de/index.php/946888?lang=de
Please note that this year’s conference fees must be paid in advance by bank transfer. Below you will find all the relevant information on the registration process and accommodation:
All conference participants will be accommodated in the academy’s guest house (single room + bathroom). The cost for two nights including full board is €214 per person and must be paid this year in the form of conference fees.
Please note that the participation fees must be received in the association’s account by July 31 at the latest; you will receive a confirmation of payment as soon as the money has been received. Late registration is unfortunately not possible. Therefore, the transfer of the participation fees is required; a refund of the registration fees is not possible after July 31.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the organization team at gfpm2025@popularmusikforschung.de.
Mission

Benefits of Membership
We offer numerous services to our members in the GFPM network. In our newsletter we communicate current announcements, job offers or calls for national and international conferences or publication projects. We also inform regularly about new publications. Members of the GFPM receive the current issue of the Beiträge zur Popularmusikforschung.
With their membership, our members not only enable this important networking, but also provide our early-career researchers with versatile support from the GFPM. This support is an important pillar of our work and a fundamental part of our mission.

Diversity
Popular music research is dedicated to a wide field of sounds, cultural texts, artifacts, contexts and practices. In order to analyze, discuss and communicate these, our association brings together a wide variety of methodological and theoretical approaches. Experts from the field meet scholars from numerous disciplines, from musicology and music education to cultural studies, sound studies, linguistics, journalism, journalism, and music business research.

International Perspective
For us, popular music research is determined by international cooperation. German and English are our publication and conference languages. We are connected to research organizations worldwide and invite international speakers to promote exchange and joint progress in the study of popular music.

Independence and commitment
As a non-profit association, we are financially, substantively and politically independent. We are committed to a cultural-political strengthening of the study of popular music, which opposes racist, sexist, chauvinist and nationalist tendencies.
Duties
Promotion and support
The support of scholars in the early career phase is anchored in our statutes and is practiced in a variety of ways: Every year, we award the Early Career Best Paper Award in the field of popular music research. During the sometimes difficult start of an academic career, we offer financial support for travel and publications from a support fund. We organize workshops and international post graduate summer schools. For many young researchers, our publication series offer a first publication opportunity.
Network and Science Hub
Through its transdisciplinary network, the GFPM offers an access point to various national and international experts, whom we are happy to refer to journalists, for expert opinions, legal expertise, cultural policy work or research assignments. Current results from popular music research are documented and actively communicated by the GFPM.
Contact US
Gesellschaft für Popularmusikforschung / German Society for Popular Music Studies e. V.
c/o Peter Klose
Hochstr. 18
44149 Dortmund
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)231 140348
Mail: kontakt@popularmusikforschung.de