Songwriting Under Pressure: Songwriting Camps as Manifestation of Technological and Social Acceleration

Carsten Wernicke; Michael Ahlers

doi:10.82391/sustain.v1i1.5

Songwriting Under Pressure: Songwriting Camps as Manifestation of Technological and Social Acceleration

Professorship of Music Education, in Particular Popular Music

Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines commercial songwriting camps as stress-laden environments shaped by technological and social acceleration. Using ethnographic fieldwork, interviews with 65 music industry professionals, and a controlled laboratory setting, the research identifies how organizational structures, infrastructure constraints, and time pressures generate stress at micro (individual), meso (social/organizational), and macro (societal) levels. The study concludes that songwriting camps exemplify neoliberal acceleration within music industries while simultaneously offering networking and financial opportunities.

Original language	English
Journal	Sustain : journal of sustainability and futures in music education
Volume	1
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	1-31
Number of pages	31
ISSN	3054-2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.82391/sustain.v1i1.5
Publication status	Published - 15.01.2026

Research areas and keywords

Music education
Cultural studies
Didactics/teaching methodology

Access to Document

10.82391/sustain.v1i1.5Licence: CC BY

SC21: Songwriting Camps in the 21st Century
Ahlers, M. (Project manager, academic), Barber, S. (Project manager, academic) & Herbst, J.-P. (Project manager, academic)
German Research Foundation
01.03.23 → 01.03.26
Project: Research

Cite this

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abstract = "This study examines commercial songwriting camps as stress-laden environments shaped by technological and social acceleration. Using ethnographic fieldwork, interviews with 65 music industry professionals, and a controlled laboratory setting, the research identifies how organizational structures, infrastructure constraints, and time pressures generate stress at micro (individual), meso (social/organizational), and macro (societal) levels. The study concludes that songwriting camps exemplify neoliberal acceleration within music industries while simultaneously offering networking and financial opportunities.",

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author = "Carsten Wernicke and Michael Ahlers",

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AB - This study examines commercial songwriting camps as stress-laden environments shaped by technological and social acceleration. Using ethnographic fieldwork, interviews with 65 music industry professionals, and a controlled laboratory setting, the research identifies how organizational structures, infrastructure constraints, and time pressures generate stress at micro (individual), meso (social/organizational), and macro (societal) levels. The study concludes that songwriting camps exemplify neoliberal acceleration within music industries while simultaneously offering networking and financial opportunities.

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KW - songwriting camps

KW - Social acceleration

KW - Music & Technology

KW - Organization

KW - Digital Audio

KW - Wokstation

KW - Cultural studies

KW - Didactics/teaching methodology

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DO - 10.82391/sustain.v1i1.5

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JO - Sustain : journal of sustainability and futures in music education

JF - Sustain : journal of sustainability and futures in music education

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ER -

Songwriting Under Pressure: Songwriting Camps as Manifestation of Technological and Social Acceleration

Abstract

Research areas and keywords

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Projects

SC21: Songwriting Camps in the 21st Century

Cite this