Beat Goes On exhibition is a big hit at Liverpool’s World Museum

Aug 20 2009 Chester Chronicle

IT SEEMS only fitting that Liverpool would end up being one of the country’s foremost places to study popular music. And the academic pursuit of the subject has – like its musicians itself – resonated around the world.

The Institute of Popular Music, part of the University of Liverpool’s School of Music, is marking its 21st anniversary.

What began as a labour of love in a box room under a staircase has become one of the biggest research collections of its kind.

Radio stations and record collectors bequeathing a lifetime’s work have helped to bolster the archives, which are well on their way to containing 100,000 LPs.

More than 200 pieces have been lent to World Museum Liverpool as part of the extensive Beat Goes On exhibition.

Despite a comprehensive archive of local material – as could be expected in such an overtly musical city as Liverpool – regional music is just a small part of an internationally renowned archive at the Institute of Popular Music, which includes everything from post punk to jazz and world music.

It was opened in 1988, and was inspired by discussions between National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside and the University. The museums had staged a successful exhibition on Beatles-related art in 1984, and were interested in developing a popular music archive.

It was thought that a new centre, with an international focus in popular music teaching and research, would be particularly appropriate for a city rich in music talent and history.

Senior lecturer Dr Marion Leonard said: “Really, there are not that many places that actually collect popular music materials, and in the North West. This must be the largest collection of this sort.”

Colleague Professor Sara Cohen, director of the institute, added: “It was originally set up to cover resources and information for teaching and research, a more conventional university department.

“We found from the very beginning that people were interested in what we did.

“We always had an international remit, but we have also been very keen to play a role in the city where we are based.”

The centre has since developed undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, which are delivered to more than 200 students.

It has also recently welcomed musician Elvis Costello to the university as an honorary music graduate.

The institute has attracted research fellows from all over the world and marked its 21st anniversary by hosting a major conference, International Association for the Study of Popular Music, where it announced plans for a special anniversary scholarship.

One of its resounding successes over the past 21 years is that several former students have gone on to start up and head similar academic set-ups elsewhere.

Popular music studies courses in John Moores and Hope universities in Liverpool, and at schools in Glasgow, Brisbane and Quebec, are all run by institute alumni.

The Beat Goes On exhibition was the World Museum’s major attraction for Capital of Culture year, and proved so successful it will continue to run until November 1.