How is music culture in China and the UK changing (or not) in the era of streaming? In this talk, we discuss findings from MUSICSTREAM, a five-year research project that investigates music experiences in the streaming era. We discuss the impacts of the sociotechnological shifts on music culture by examining the platformization of independent music distribution in China, and how the means of distribution, cultural aspirations, and self-identities of Chinese “independent” musicians were reshaped and conditioned by the rise of digital platforms and their self-releasing schemes. We also explore the phenomenon of turning music copyrights into investment assets in the EU, UK, and US and debates their effect on musicians and argue that the ‘assetization’ of music copyrights introduces new legal frameworks to exploit musicians while maintaining existing inequalities and poor working conditions in the music industries.

The talk will be introduced and moderated by Rafal Zaborowski.

Speakers' Info:

Zhongwei (Mabu) Li (he/him) is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Leeds working on MUSICSTREAM (2022-2026). Prior to joining the MUSICSTREAM project, he worked as an LSE Fellow in Media and Communications, teaching and convening a variety of courses on media theories, audience research, and Chinese media cultures. Outside of academia, he has also been involved in music scenes both in China and in the UK, working with various projects and organizations to bring China’s emerging artists to a wider international stage.

D. Bondy Valdovinos Kaye (he/they) is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Leeds working on MUSICSTREAM (2022-2026). Kaye is the author of TikTok: Creativity and Culture in Short Video (2022, with Jing Zeng and Patrik Wikström) published by Polity Press. Kaye has published peer-reviewed journal articles on topics including short video platforms and patriotism in China, media censorship in India, and copyright enforcement on YouTube. Kaye is the drummer, bassist, and co-songwriter for the band Parallel Path.

MUSICSTREAM has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, in the form of an Advanced Research Grant awarded to Professor David Hesmondhalgh, at the University of Leeds (Grant agreement no.101020615)