The International Music Business Research Days (IMBRD) is an established annual conference dedicated to advancing scholarly inquiry into the dynamics of the global music business. The 17th edition will be hosted by the Institute of Cultural Management and Media at the University of Music and Theatre Munich, Germany, and will take place from 9th to 11th September 2026.

 

The conference features the following 3 days. This Call for Papers (CFP) is for the academic conference day:

 

9 September 2026 - Young Scholars’ Workshop

10 September 2026 - Academic Conference Day

11 September 2026 - Industry Day

 

Music business research is a multidisciplinary field that puts several different analytical approaches into mutual dialogue. It is located at the intersection of economic, artistic, musical, cultural, social, legal, and technological understandings of this cultural industry. Contributors to the field generate new knowledge concerning the creation, distribution and consumption of music and of how key stakeholders are, can, or should be remunerated. It is a field characterised by methodological diversity and by links between academic research and music business practices. This interdisciplinarity invites a broad spectrum of conceptual and methodological approaches and provides a platform for dialogue between scholars from diverse academic traditions. This call for papers welcomes proposals that feature groundbreaking research into this dynamic and exciting field. 

 

The overarching theme of the 2026 conference is ‘Music and Entrepreneurship’. This theme may be explored from multiple angles. On the one hand, it encompasses the processes of founding and managing new enterprises within the music sector. On the other, it critically engages with the increasing entrepreneurial demands placed on musicians themselves, who must navigate career self-management, branding, and diversified revenue models in an evolving industry landscape.

 

To frame these debates, two keynote speakers will be invited to present on entrepreneurial perspectives in music — including both the development of new music companies and the lived experiences of entrepreneurial musicians.

 

For students at the MA and PhD levels, the conference will include the Young Scholars’ Workshop (YSW) on Wednesday, 9th September 2026. This colloquium offers emerging scholars an opportunity to present and discuss their research projects with senior academics and peers in a supportive and collaborative environment.

 

The conference organisers invite scholarly contributions from researchers at the postdoctoral level and above with a focus on music business and industry-related topics to submit paper proposals for the academic conference day on Thursday, 10th September 2026. Submissions addressing this year’s theme of Music and Entrepreneurship are particularly encouraged, but proposals on other aspects of music business research are also welcome.

 

Indicative themes include, but are not limited to:

 

• Entrepreneurship in music: from start-ups to scale-ups in recorded, live, publishing, and tech sectors

• Musicians as entrepreneurs: career self-management, personal branding, and diversified revenue streams

• Innovation in music business models: subscriptions, direct-to-fan, NFTs, blockchain, and beyond

• Music and venture capital: investment trends, funding models, and financial risk in music enterprises

• Education and training for music entrepreneurship

• Do-It-Yourself (DIY) culture and digital empowerment: platforms, tools, and communities enabling independent artists

• Music and technology start-ups: apps, streaming innovations, AI-driven services, and immersive media

• Intellectual property as entrepreneurial capital: music rights, catalogue sales, and brand extensions

• Music tourism, festivals, and live events as entrepreneurial ventures

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion in entrepreneurial practices in music

• Cross-sector entrepreneurship: music and gaming, film, fashion, or wellness

• Global perspectives on music entrepreneurship: emerging markets in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and beyond

• Case studies of entrepreneurial musicians, labels, and collectives

• Sustainable and ethical entrepreneurship in the music industry

 

In addition, the conference will host an Industry Day on Friday, 11th September 2026, which will feature keynote presentations and panels with leading practitioners from Germany and abroad. Special attention will be given to the German start-up community, including initiatives such as Wavelab, Munich Innovation Ecosystem, and the Hochsprung Entrepreneurship Network, offering insights into how innovation and entrepreneurship are transforming the music industry. This high-level event will provide a unique forum for exchange between academic researchers and industry practitioners.

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SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Please submit your abstract by June 17th, 2026, to president@imbra.info

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Abstracts should be between 300-500 words (any references are included in the word count) and should include:

• Objectives of the research and research question

• Brief description of the disciplinary/theoretical context/background

• Research questions and/or hypotheses

• Data and methods

• Main or expected conclusions/contribution

• Main references

 

Abstracts will be subject to a peer review process by an international jury, and authors will be notified of acceptance by July 15th, 2026.

 

 

REGISTRATION FEE

Registration will be open from July 15th until August 26th, 2026. The fee includes conference attendance, welcome reception (June 9th), coffee and lunch breaks.

The Registration/Conference fee is 200€ for attendees and 150€ for IMBRA & GMM members. The student rate is 75€.

 

IJMBR SPECIAL ISSUE

The best papers from the conference will be considered for publication in a special issue of the International Journal of Music Business Research (IJMBR). Complete eligible submissions for this special issue should be sent to the IJMBR Editor on or before September 30th, 2026.

 

Final submissions should not exceed 7,000 words (including abstracts, figures, tables, references and appendices) and should follow the author guidelines of the International Journal of Music Business Research (IJMBR).

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An initial selection of papers will be chosen by the editors after the conference, followed by a double-blind peer review process.

 

IMBRA CONFERENCE ORGANISATION

The conference is organised by the Institute of Cultural Management and Media, University of Music and Theatre Munich and the Conference Organiser is Nicolas Ruth, Professor for Digital Communication in the Music and Entertainment Industry, Institute of Cultural Management and Media, University of Music and Theatre Munich.

 

IMBRA IMPORTANT DATES & CONTACT

 

· June 17th Abstract submission deadline

· July 15th Notification of acceptance

· September 9th until September 11th Conference

· September 30th Delivery of full paper for consideration for publication

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If you have any questions, please contact: president@imbra.info

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Further information will be provided soon as regards travel, hotels and local accommodation.

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International Music Business Research Association

www.imbra.info