The publication of my paper on the declining fortunes of the recording studio sector (Leyshon A, 2009, “The Software Slump?: digital music, the democratisation of technology, and the decline of the recording studio sector within the musical economy” Environment and Planning A 41(6) 1309 – 1331) led to another press release and a podcast.

This press release generated quite a bit of media interest, not least in that it gave me the opportunity to mention the high profile studio closures that have occurred since undertaking the research as a result of the problems facing studios identified in the paper. It included a feature in the Sunday Express and an article due to be published at some point in the Independent on Sunday.  But what was surprising was just how widely this story ran across a range of different media outlets as a result of one press release, which shows effectiveness of the UoN communications department, the power of the Internet, aggregator software and just how hungry media is for stories with perceived wider public interest (see list below).  Anything with a bit of doom and gloom I suppose … It has also made the Royal Geographical Society web page, which partly makes up for me missing the Annual Conference this year.

I was also called for another appearance on the Andy Whittaker Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Nottingham, although I didn’t feel the interview was a great success.  A previous item overran, which meant I only got a couple of questions before the 8.00 am news, and I was unable to respond with any authority to AW’s anecdote about a recent hit record which, apparently, had been part-recorded in a Nottingham toilet (er … no, not surprisingly,  I didn’t know about this).  I think next time I shall also avoid turning up in cycling garb on my way to work as I suspect being dressed in brightly coloured lyrca made it difficult for the host to take me all that seriously.

The interview with Andrew Burden went much better, and has been released as a University of Nottingham Podcast. It can be accessed by clicking here: http://communications.nottingham.ac.uk/podcasts.html.

Update: 25.9.09: An interview I did for BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours on the subject was broadcast today in a feature on the closure of recording studios and can be accessed via the Listen Again feature: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qps9

Media coverage

		How UK’s recording studio sector is seeing a downturn BRITAINnews.net – 16/08/09 11:34 1 other source (Irish Sun) Words matched: University of Nottingham …severe crisis in the music industry, revealed a new research from The University of Nottingham. Today, the country’s recording studio sector is…
		How UK’s recording studio sector is seeing a downturn The Gaea Times – 16/08/09 10:45 Words matched: University of Nottingham …crisis in the music industry, revealed a new research from The University of Nottingham. Today, the country s recording studio sector is becoming …
		UK’s famous studios ‘in crisis’ Hartlepool Mail – 16/08/09 09:43 48 other sources (Queensferry Gazette, Fife Today, …) Words matched: University of Nottingham …good quality tracks. Andrew Leyshon, professor of economic geography at the University of Nottingham, visited around 40 of the country ‘s 300 or…
		FLIP SIDE OF PROGRESS Daily Express – 16/08/09 01:08 4 other sources (UK Express, Sunday Express, …) Words matched: University of Nottingham …2 U). Andrew Leyshon, professor of economic geography at the University of Nottingham, said the writing had been on the wall since the Seventies …
		UK’s famous studios ‘in crisis’ – Brechin Today Brechin Advertiser – 15/08/09 18:32 Words matched: University of Nottingham …good quality tracks. Andrew Leyshon, professor of economic geography at the University of Nottingham, visited around 40 of the country ‘s 300 or…
		The day the music died First Science – 14/08/09 23:26 2 other sources (Alpha Galileo, Sourcews UK) Words matched: University of Nottingham …UK’s recording studio sector, according to new research from The University of Nottingham. Once synonymous with the creative talents of artists …
		Professor predicts doom for studios this is Nottingham.co.uk – 14/08/09 15:47 Words matched: University of Nottingham …UK’s recording studios, according to new research from the University of Nottingham. A number of iconic London recording studios, including Olympic…
		How UK’s recording studio sector is seeing a downturn NewKerala.com – 16/08/09 19:09 10 other sources (SmasHits.com, Big News Network, …) Words matched: University of Nottingham, research …due to a severe crisis in the music industry, revealed a new research from The University of Nottingham. Today, the country’s recording studio…
		How UKs recording studio sector is seeing a downturn AndhraNews.net – 16/08/09 15:02 Words matched: University of Nottingham, research …due to a severe crisis in the music industry, revealed a new research from The University of Nottingham. Washington, Aug 16 : Once synonymous …
		ANIHow UK’s recording studio sector is seeing a downturn Yahoo! India News – 16/08/09 10:56 Words matched: University of Nottingham, research …due to a severe crisis in the music industry, revealed a new research from The University of Nottingham. Today, the country’s recording studio…