Postdoc in Music and Platformization

Applications are invited for one fully funded, 2.5-year post-doc position (1.0 FTE) within the research project “The Platformization of Music: Towards a Global Theory” (PlatforMuse), financed by an ERC Starting Grant and coordinated by the Principal Investigator (PI), dr. Robert Prey at the University of Groningen (NL).

How are music streaming and social media platforms changing the working conditions and creative practices of music artists around the world? How can we better understand the transformative impact of “platformization” through the lens of music? With case studies in the Netherlands, South Korea, and Nigeria, this position is for a qualitative researcher with expertise in Nigerian music or cultural industries and creative labour.

The postdoc will work in Nigeria, the Netherlands (Groningen), and the UK.

This post-doc project offers a unique opportunity to work in an international environment and to acquire valuable research experience for someone who has recently completed a PhD in media/communication/cultural studies, anthropology, sociology, or related disciplines. Preference will be given to candidates who have knowledge, networks and expertise in Nigerian or West African music scenes and music industries.

The Post-Doctoral Project
In collaboration with the other team members, you will conduct research to understand the working lives of music artists in relation to the specific historical, structural, and cultural characteristics of music platformization in Nigeria.
The project’s aims are to examine 1) how ‘platformization’ affects musicians, and 2) what musicians can teach us about ‘platformization’.

PlatforMuse is an interdisciplinary project - combining media studies, popular music studies, platform studies, cultural industries research, and ethnomusicology. You will utilize skills in qualitative research methods such as walk-through and focus group interviews, ethnographic observation, online diary analysis and content tracking.

You will be expected to

- Collect empirical data on musicians and platforms in Nigeria.
- Complete publications on popular music, creative labour, and platformization in Nigeria, together with the P.I.
- Co-organize and contribute to reading and discussion groups with the other members of this project.
- Co-organize and contribute to the project’s planned workshops and conference.
- Contribute to the project’s public outreach and social media activities.