About

“Music, Identity and Migration”

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Fifty years ago, an emerging Swedish pop group clinched the Eurovision Song Contest title with "Waterloo," marking the start of a remarkable journey that propelled both ABBA and the Swedish music industry onto the global stage. This pivotal moment can be seen as an example of how music, as intangible heritage, can become a defining element for national cultural identity, while being at the same time a successful creative product for export.

In light of the recent challenges faced by Europe, including Sweden, related with the impact of demographic changes on conceptions of national identity and the need to cater for cultural diversity, the seventh EUROVISIONS conference aims to delve into the intricate relationship between music, identity, and migration. This year, Malmö serves as the ideal backdrop for these discussions, exemplifying the vibrant interplay of diverse cultures and musical traditions amidst contemporary migration and mobility trends.

The conference, a collaborative effort involving scholars from Germany, Portugal, the UK, the Netherlands, and Malmö University, builds on the rich legacy of previous meetings in cities like Lisbon, Tel Aviv, Rotterdam, Turin, and Liverpool. It seeks to continue fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas, blending academic rigor with broader cultural insights.

This year, EUROVISIONS is excited to expand our offerings with an array of engaging formats. Alongside our established Science Slam, aimed at nurturing early career researchers, and our dynamic round table discussions featuring an interdisciplinary range of scholars, industry practitioners, and enthusiasts, we are collaborating on a conference seminar organized by Malmö University. Additionally, we will present a special documentary screening on the Portuguese Festival da Canção in partnership with the public broadcaster RTP. For our global online audience, we will provide access to exclusive pre-recorded content.

Taking place on May 7th and 8th, the EUROVISIONS 2024 conference will once again embrace a hybrid format, welcoming participants both onsite at Malmö University and online through our YouTube and social media channels. This format ensures wide accessibility, inviting a global audience to partake in the exploration of music's role in shaping societal narratives and individual identities.