Russ Hepworth

Russ Hepworth is an Associate Professor at York St John University, teaching across the School of the Arts and York Business School. His roles include instructing modules on recording, production, mastering, music business, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Beyond academia, he operates a professional mastering service, consults in the music industry, and co-chairs the Audio Engineering Society's UK Mastering Group. He has held leadership positions such as Finance Director for the Music Producers Guild and co-founder of the Innovation in Music international conference series.

He holds an LCM Diploma in Music Technology, MA in ICT in Education, and a PG Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Further and Higher Education. His research focuses on music production education, audio mastering techniques, and entrepreneurship within the music industry. He has contributed over 100 articles to outlets like Pro Sound News Europe and Sound On Sound, and authored/co-authored numerous books with Routledge, including Mastering in Music (2020) and Innovation in Music: Future Opportunities (2021).

Russ has mastered over 1,000 albums since 2003, collaborating with artists such as Billy Ray Cyrus and Steve Earle. His work bridges professional practice and academic research, emphasizing knowledge transfer and industry engagement. He also serves on international conference committees, furthering innovation and educational discourse in music.