Nate Sloan

Nate Sloan is an Assistant Professor of Musicology at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. He is a musicologist, performer, and host of the acclaimed podcast Switched on Pop, which analyzes popular music through academic frameworks in collaboration with songwriter Charlie Harding. His research focuses on jazz, Tin Pan Alley music, and the cultural intersections of popular music, including race, gender, and media representation.

• PhD in Musicology, Stanford University
• BA in Music, Brown University

Sloan's work bridges academic analysis with public engagement, appearing in The Economist, NPR, The Atlantic, and CBC Radio. He explores interdisciplinary themes in musicology through podcasting, consulting, and performance, including his vaudeville duo The Gideon and Hubcap Show. His publications examine topics like Harlem Jazz, Gershwin's influence, and Taylor Swift's songwriting.

His recent publications focus on jazz history, popular music analysis, and cultural commentary. These works investigate intersections of race, performance, and musical innovation in 20th-century American contexts. Key themes include the Cotton Club's legacy, Cab Calloway's cultural construction, and contemporary pop music's theoretical frameworks.

Sloan's professional activities span academic consulting in copyright litigation, theatrical composition (including the documentary score for Slomo), and performance with the Dave Harrington Group. He connects scholarly research with creative practice through podcasting, live performance, and media commentary, making musicological concepts accessible to broad audiences.