Inside the Edited Volume: From Concept to Contribution

This Doctoral Colloquium explores what it takes to publish an edited academic book, both from the perspective of serving as an editor and contributing as an author. Topics include developing a concept, inviting and supporting contributors, navigating publisher expectations, and understanding timelines and responsibilities. Doctoral students will gain insight into the collaborative process and how to position themselves successfully in edited collections.

Embracing the Enemy: The Benefits of A.I. in the Music Industry

Prof. Alan Salzenstein, DePaul University

The music industry has been fixated on the effects of Artificial Intelligence on the creation, consumption, and distribution of music. As of March 2024, over 200 internationally renowned music artists including superstars Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Stevie Wonder, and Jon Bon Jovi published an open letter calling upon A.I. developers, tech companies, and digital platforms to cease the use of A.I. which infringes upon and devalues the rights of artists. Responses to the topic of A.I. have run the gamut – feelings of concern, fear, apathy, anger, opportunity, and immorality. It has been considered the new evil of the industry with a dark side that can impact creativity, erode humanity, authenticity, and emotion. Those concerned feel that there will be compromised artistry and loss of artistic identity. There are ethical and transparency concerns, raising questions about intellectual property rights and copyright infringement. And since A.I. is trained on existing data, alarm bells are sounding about the potential reinforcement of existing biases, unintended prejudice, and cultural appropriation.