AGENDA

The IASPM 2025 biennial conference invites the exploration of these questions across all popular musical genres, emphasising their multidisciplinary nature, a key characteristic of popular music studies. Perspectives are welcome from anthropology, economics, sociology, aesthetics, musicology, history, and political fields, from technical studies, etc. This list is not exhaustive, and the intention is also to encourage cross-fertilisation between all possible approaches to the subject.

From 1 to 3 July, the World Health Organisation will host a consultation on the Make Listening Safe initiative, including dedicated working groups — one of which focuses specifically on music venues. Live DMA will attend to reiterate its key arguments: advocating for realistic sound regulations and monitoring tools that are compatible with the realities of live music venues, while highlighting the positive impact of music on health and well-being.

Silvia Käsk, representing the Live DMA Board, and Erica Romero will take part in Music Week Poland in Warsaw from 25 to 27 June. They will join the Music Moves Europe Dialogue sessions and attend panels addressing fairness in the music sector and sustainable touring.

Live DMA, represented by Cécile Moroux and its member ASACC, will participate in Primavera Pro Conference. This panel will address the current challenges faced by live music venues in different European cities, based on the findings of the study “Live Music Challenges in European Cities”, carried out by researcher Cécile Moroux, who will join the talk online. Among the topics to be discussed are gentrification, economic instability, changes in cultural consumption habits and the challenges involved in the coexistence of these spaces in increasingly complex urban environments.

Live DMA, represented by Cécile Moroux, will participate in the panel “la santé des clubs: quel avenir pour les clubs et les salles de concert?”. In recent years, clubs and concert halls have been faced with major challenges: soaring operating costs, reduced subsidies, changing audience habits and a shortage of skilled labour. These are all issues that call into question the resilience and adaptation of the sector. Cécile will present her research study on small and mid-sized live music venues challenges in Europe.