Project Details
Description
The research project examines the transformative impact of audio amplification technology exploring its history and significance.
•Transformative Impact of Amplification: Audio amplification technology has significantly transformed the way we experience sound, bridging public and private life and contributing to the modern soundscape.
•Project Leader’s Previous Work: The project leader is Leverhulme International Professor in Popular Music Steve Waksman, who has written award-winning books on amplification, including the history of the electric guitar, heavy metal and punk, and live music in America.
•Gaps in Existing Literature: There are significant gaps in the literature on amplification, including the lack of comprehensive studies on guitar amplifiers, public address systems, microphones, and loudspeakers.
•Research Project Goals: The proposed project aims to explore the history of amplification, its emergence, economic structures, and its impact on musical instruments and public and private spaces.
•Collaborative Approach: The project will benefit from a cooperative approach, leveraging resources and expertise at the University of Huddersfield to assemble a research team. The core team includes Professor Waksman, two Senior Research Fellows, four Research Fellows, a Project Officer, and 12 fully funded PhD students.
•Importance of Popular Music Studies: The project emphasizes the importance of popular music studies and the role of amplification in enhancing musical experiences and community connections.
•Interdisciplinary Research: The project will be interdisciplinary, involving history, ethnography, music theory, and architectural acoustics, and will involve a team of researchers to efficiently handle the extensive work.
•Transformative Impact of Amplification: Audio amplification technology has significantly transformed the way we experience sound, bridging public and private life and contributing to the modern soundscape.
•Project Leader’s Previous Work: The project leader is Leverhulme International Professor in Popular Music Steve Waksman, who has written award-winning books on amplification, including the history of the electric guitar, heavy metal and punk, and live music in America.
•Gaps in Existing Literature: There are significant gaps in the literature on amplification, including the lack of comprehensive studies on guitar amplifiers, public address systems, microphones, and loudspeakers.
•Research Project Goals: The proposed project aims to explore the history of amplification, its emergence, economic structures, and its impact on musical instruments and public and private spaces.
•Collaborative Approach: The project will benefit from a cooperative approach, leveraging resources and expertise at the University of Huddersfield to assemble a research team. The core team includes Professor Waksman, two Senior Research Fellows, four Research Fellows, a Project Officer, and 12 fully funded PhD students.
•Importance of Popular Music Studies: The project emphasizes the importance of popular music studies and the role of amplification in enhancing musical experiences and community connections.
•Interdisciplinary Research: The project will be interdisciplinary, involving history, ethnography, music theory, and architectural acoustics, and will involve a team of researchers to efficiently handle the extensive work.
Layman's description
The Amplification Project is funded by the Leverhulme Trust International Professor Scheme, and discusses the significant impact of audio amplification technology on our experience of sound. It highlights how amplification has transformed sound into a more flexible and consistent part of daily life, bridging public and private spaces in ways previously unimaginable. Professor Steve Waksman has been appointed Leverhulme International Professor of Popular Music in order to lead the project. He has written award-winning books on the subject. There are still many gaps in the literature about amplification, such as the lack of comprehensive studies on guitar amplifiers, public address systems, microphones, and loudspeakers; this project will fill some of those gaps.
The research project aims to explore the history of amplification, its emergence, economic structures, and its impact on musical instruments and public and private spaces. The project will be a collaborative effort, leveraging resources and expertise at the University of Huddersfield to assemble a research team of seven researchers, a project officer and twelve PhD students. It is one of the largest research projects ever carried out in the field of popular music studies. The research project emphasizes the importance of popular music studies and the role of amplification in enhancing musical experiences and community connections. The project will be interdisciplinary, involving history, ethnography, music theory, and architectural acoustics, and will require a team of researchers to handle the extensive work.
The research project aims to explore the history of amplification, its emergence, economic structures, and its impact on musical instruments and public and private spaces. The project will be a collaborative effort, leveraging resources and expertise at the University of Huddersfield to assemble a research team of seven researchers, a project officer and twelve PhD students. It is one of the largest research projects ever carried out in the field of popular music studies. The research project emphasizes the importance of popular music studies and the role of amplification in enhancing musical experiences and community connections. The project will be interdisciplinary, involving history, ethnography, music theory, and architectural acoustics, and will require a team of researchers to handle the extensive work.
| Short title | Amplification Project |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Effective start/end date | 6/01/25 → 5/01/30 |