MusicFutures PhD studentship

University of Liverpool Management School and MusicFutures are offering a four-year fully funded PhD studentship focused on the managerial challenges impacting the music sector. This opportunity is designed for applicants interested in business and management research at the intersection of music, innovation, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, creative industries, and the Liverpool City Region music economy.

The studentship is part of the MusicFutures research community and the University of Liverpool’s AHRC-funded creative industries cluster. Successful candidates will join the Management School and may gain teaching experience through a Graduate Teaching Fellowship, including teacher training and supervised classroom involvement. The project is especially interested in research that addresses the structures, dynamics, growth opportunities, and challenges of the Liverpool City Region music economy, while also producing insights relevant nationally and internationally.

Possible research areas include disruptive technologies in music businesses, changing business models, digital transformation in music organisations, innovation and entrepreneurship, platformisation and value creation, organisational responses to technological disruption, sustainable growth and resilience in music-related SMEs, data and automation in music decision-making, collaboration and monetisation models, and place-based innovation and ecosystem development.

Funding includes a £21,805 annual maintenance grant, full coverage of PhD programme fees at the UK/Home rate, and higher education teacher training and practice. The funding covers four years of UK tuition fees. International candidates may apply, but they must cover the difference between UK and international fees. The GTF may also be compatible with external bursaries and some additional support schemes.

Eligibility requires a UK master’s degree or international equivalent, preferably at distinction or merit, in a relevant field such as management, business and management, innovation, digital business, entrepreneurship, organisation studies, or cultural and creative industries. Applicants should submit an original, theoretically informed, and methodologically robust proposal aligned with management and organisation scholarship. English language certificates may be needed in some cases.

The studentship starts in August 2026. The application deadline is 5pm, Friday 5 June 2026. To apply, candidates must register online, choose the Management Studies PhD programme, select funding source “Sponsor,” and include the code ULMS-MUSICFUTURES-2026 in the finance section and personal statement. Supervisory contacts listed include Dr Jennifer Davies and Dr Eric Leung.