William Roy

William Roy is a Research Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. His research focuses on the sociological dimensions of music, including how musical genres function as social categories, and the historical interplay between music, technology, and social institutions. His work also explores corporate history, class formation, and social movements. He teaches courses such as Sociology 1: Introduction to Sociology and Sociology 183: Comparative-Historical Sociology.

Key research areas include the historical construction of genre systems in popular music, the institutional origins of racial categories in the recording industry, and the rise of industrial corporations in America. His notable publications include Reds, Whites, and Blues: Social Movements, Folk Music, and Race in the United States (2010) and Socializing Capital: The Rise of the Large Industrial Corporation in America (1997), which earned the Choice Outstanding Academic Book award. He has held a research fellowship at Stanford University’s Center for Advanced Studies (2011–12).

• Awards: UCLA Distinguished Teaching Award (1989), ASA Distinguished Contribution to Teaching (1999), Charles Tilly Award (2011).
• Grants: Stanford CASBS Fellowship (2011–12).

His articles analyze topics ranging from protest music to corporate class dynamics, reflecting a deep engagement with historical sociology and cultural studies. No student advisees are listed, but his teaching and research mentorship are central to his academic profile.