Matt Brennan

Professor Matt Brennan is a Professor of Popular Music at the University of Glasgow, leading the Interdisciplinary Music Industries Research Group (IMIRGe) and convening the MSc Music Industries program. His research focuses on music sustainability, popular music history, and live music ecosystems. He directed major projects like the UK Live Music Census and Glasgow Music City initiatives.

Research Interests:

• Music Sustainability: Examines environmental, economic, and social dimensions of music’s ecological impact.
• Drum Kit History: Explores the drum kit’s cultural significance through Kick It: A Social History of the Drum Kit.
• Live Music Economics: Analyzes venue ecology and the shift from record sales to live performance.

Key Publications:

• Cambridge Companion to the Drum Kit (2021)
• History of Live Music in Britain trilogy (2013–2021)

His work bridges academic and applied domains, influencing policy and industry practices.

Grants & Awards:

• Royal Society of Edinburgh grant (2023)
• NERC-funded climate survey (2022)
• AHRC support for music sustainability projects (2017–2023)

Advising & Teaching: Supervises PhD research on music accessibility for disabled artists and deaf children’s music education. Teaches at postgraduate level in music industries studies.

Labs/Teams: Directs Glasgow Music City mapping projects and the Doughnut Music Lab for sustainable music practices.