The Northern Network for Empirical Music Research (NEMuR)
The NEMuR group is an informal network of scholars across the North of England engaging in empirical research that is on, with, or for music and musicians.
The group was initially formed on the social media platform X, with an expanding network of scholars working in areas of music psychology (or music and science, music perception), music education, audience studies, performance studies, or media studies across higher education institutions across the North of England (RNCM, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, University of York, Durham University, University of Hull, University of Liverpool, Keele University, University of Manchester, University of Salford). The group meets twice a year, and the hybrid day-long meetings rotate around the partner institutions.
The aims of the group are:
- to increase communication and exchange between close music psychology/empirical music research hubs in the North of England;
- to encourage research collaboration between varied disciplines and expertises across these institutions;
- to share teaching experience.

The three organisers of NEMuR 11 at RNCM (Dr Michelle Phillips, RNCM, Professor Jane Ginsborg, RNCM, and Dr Alinka Greasley, University of Leeds)
The RNCM recently hosted the 11th group meeting in November 2024. The day involved 30 scholars from most of the institutions in the network, and a wide range of staff, post-doctoral and PhD researchers working in multiple different fields that incorporate empirical music research. The programme featured 11 papers and 2 panel discussion, the first on publishing (top tips) in this field, and the second on knowledge exchange and strategies for maximising impact of this work: helping make research undertaken across the network most relevant to those outside partner institutions and those who read published journal articles. The day also featured a live VR demo of a research project on singing and wellbeing, and talks on topics ranging from synaesthesia to aural diversity, memory, music performance assessment, and music and health.
The NEMuR group is a very special one. This is a group of colleagues who share a spirit of curiosity, openness, generosity, and a desire to make new knowledge that has relevance and impact in the world. This group of scholars is passionate about supporting researchers in the early stages of their careers, and in sharing knowledge around research and teaching. Each NEMuR meeting includes panels on themes which embody these ideals – in the past these discussions have focussed on EDI, open access, AI, and others topics.
The day was also a nice opportunity to welcome our NEMuR colleagues into our wonderful RNCM environment; our visitors for the day were welcomed to the lunchtime concert, to sit in on an opera rehearsal and to sample our food and drink in the café and bar, before we retired across the road to continue the discussions during an evening over dinner!
A productive and stimulating day amongst friends and colleagues all round!
— Professor Jane Ginsborg and Dr Michelle Phillips
23 January 2025