Call for Proposals
IASPM-US 2026
Music and the State
As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we are living in an opportune moment to contemplate relationships between music and the state.How, for example, has popular music reinforced or challenged state power? How has the state, a complex and multifaceted entity, interacted with popular music artists, audiences, and industries? How have government agencies and institutions promoted, preserved, or censored musical expression? How have communities and private citizens engaged with state structures, policies, and institutions through popular music?
With such questions in mind, the U.S. branch of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM-US) is pleased to announce that its next annual conference will be held in Washington, D.C., at George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design, February 26-March 1, 2026.
We invite abstracts for individual papers, organized panels, roundtable discussions, workshops, and alternative (non-paper) presentations on all aspects of popular music, broadly defined, from any discipline or profession. We especially welcome proposals that highlight the significance of Washington, D.C., as a political capital and cultural hub, and its institutions documenting, preserving, and promoting the musical heritage of the United States (e.g., the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, etc.).
Other possible topics include:
● Music and public policy
● Music and diplomacy
● Music and protest
● Music and civil rights
● Music and nationalism
● Music and public education
● Music and public institutions
● Music and propaganda
● Music and revolutions
● Music and law
● Music and the military
● Music and state borders
● Music and exile
● Music and state archives
● Music in political capitals other than Washington, D.C.
Proposals on other topics advancing the study of popular music outside the conference theme are also welcome.
In addition to a full schedule of paper presentations, the meeting will also feature keynote events, awards, special guests from Washington, D.C., and opportunities to visit national cultural institutions and museums.
About IASPM-US:
IASPM-US is a multidisciplinary organization that invites proposals from across all fields of scholarly inquiry. Conference proposals from intellectuals outside of academia, including K-12, museums and archive professionals, musicians and music professionals, and independent scholars, are encouraged. IASPM-US is also a friendly conference for students at all levels. We especially welcome proposals from members of underrepresented groups including, but not limited to women, Black/African American, Indigenous, and People of Color, disabled individuals, and people from LGBTQ+ communities, as well as people of different ages, socio/economic classes, nationalities, and religions.
Presentation Formats and Submission Instructions:
To facilitate networking among the membership, support local artists and venues, and take advantage of various activities and events programmed for the conference, IASPM-US 2026 is an in-person conference.
Please submit proposals via Google Forms using the link below no later than midnight (Eastern Standard Time) September 15, 2025. The form will collect information including the presenter(s) name, institutional affiliation (if any), current contact information, current membership status in IASPM, and a 100-word bio.
● Individual paper submissions should include a paper title, a 250-word abstract, and a list of 3-5 keywords. Abstracts should state the paper’s goals, argument, and context; identify the methodology used; and use language accessible to a multidisciplinary audience.
● Organized panels, consisting of 3-4 papers, should include in their submission a panel title, a 250-word description of the panel’s rationale and goals, a 250-word abstract for each individual participating in the panel, and a list of 3-5 keywords.
● Roundtables, consisting of a moderated conversation with 4-6 participants, require a single 250-word abstract, a list of 3-5 keywords, a list of roundtable members and should designate one person as the panel chair.
● Alternative presentations should include a 250-word description of the presentation, a list of 3-5 keywords, the delivery format, and special requirements beyond standard AV-equipment.
Individual presentations may last up to 20 minutes with a 10-minute question and answer period. Roundtables and organized panels can be allotted up to a two-hour time slot. Abstracts that exceed the 250-word limit will not be considered.
Link to proposal form: https://forms.gle/ByJ7wWtQZAaV9PuQ6
QR Code to proposal form:
Please note: All conference presenters must be IASPM members by the time they register for the conference. For membership and conference information visit:https://iaspm-us.wildapricot.org/
This year’s program committee consists of Andrés Amado (chair), Kevin Holt, Kim Kattari, Maureen Mahon, and David Suisman. You may direct questions to Andrés Amado at iaspmus.conference@gmail.com.
