Hello!
I'm Laura and I'm a PhD candidate in Media and Cultural Studies at BCU.
My research explores the political economy of world music, focussing on fair remuneration of musicians in Senegal and Ghana, particularly the role of copyright, and distribution in the World Music Industry. This area of study isn't really new to me, as my MA dissertation, Analogue Africa: Establishing a History of Music Industry and Copyright Law in Senegal, Benin and Ghana from the 1960s -2010s, evaluated copyright law and music industry in West African countries.
My PhD thesis will hopefully answer these three questions:
What role does copyright law play in the fair remuneration of artists in the post-colonial music industries of Senegal and Ghana?
How do musicians perceive the music industries of Senegal and Ghana?
In what way is the music industry organised in Senegal and Ghana?
And my research aims are to:
Analyse the copyright laws enforced in post-colonial Senegal and Ghana
Investigate the views of musicians in Senegal and Ghana, referringparticularly to royalties and copyright law
Map the state of the music industry in Senegal and Ghana in the post-colonial period
For more information about my research and general PhD life, head to my blog!