Each lecture/session may come with some specific recommended readings. Readings can also occasionally be found underneath the blog posts that contain the lecture notes.
Use the sub-headings via the websites drop-down menu in this section to quickly locate some useful background reading.
Week 1: why study popular music
Week 1: popular music and consumerism
Week 2: American black popular music
Week 2: Music and the American counter-culture
Week 3: Soul music, protest and civil rights
Week 3: Afrobeat and the politics of Fela Kuti
Week 4: Roots, rock, reggae: the politics of Bob Marley
Week 9: Gangsta rap and gender problems
Week 9: Rap: authenticity, commercialism and capitalism
Week 10: Electronic music production
Week 11: Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll?
Week 12: Boybands
Week 12: Women in pop
Further Reading: Englishness and folk
Further Reading
There are a few helpful academic journals that address popular music. Some of these require a subscription (which the University has) and others are locked behind a pay-wall with some free content available. The following may be useful:
Popular Music (Cambridge) – University subscription provided
Rock Music Studies (Routledge) – some issues are free to access
Popular Music and Society (Taylor Francis) – University subscription not provided. Some issue are free
Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture (open access) – free