Tony Rigg - Academic Staff

Tony is a Lecturer in Music Industry Management. He is a music industry professional and academic affiliated with the University of Central Lancashire. He collaborated with Peter Hook and Dr Les Gillon to set up the Master of Arts programme in Music Industry Management and Promotion at UCLan which is a leading course in its field.

Tony's roles at the University of Central Lancashire include leading on the MA Music Industry Management and Promotion programme. Tony has published across a range of music related studies including; Popular Music in the Post-digital Age: Politics, Economy, Culture and Technology (Bloomsbury 2018) with Prof Ewa Mazierska & Dr. Leslie Gillon The Future of Live Music (Bloomsbury 2020) with Prof Ewa Mazierska & Dr. Leslie Gillon The Evolution of Electronic Dance Music/ EDM (Bloomsbury 2021) with Prof Ewa Mazierska & Dr. Leslie Gillon Music Law: Present and Future (Bloomsbury 2021) with Ann Harrison

Tony has a substantial pedigree and track record of success in the music industry gained through senior management roles in market-leading organisations, including Operations Director for Ministry of Sound. He has overseen the management of more than one hundred music venues, thousands of music events and has a chart pedigree as a musician and producer. He also set up the Music Business and Event Management Courses at UCLan’s partner institution, the School of Electronic Music Manchester, who run a Foundation Degree Programme to prepare prospective students for UCLan’s undergraduate music related degree programmes. Tony’s pedagogic activities sit alongside a portfolio of music industry activities including his consultancy practice.

Areas of Interest / Expertise

Continuing practice-based and academic research in Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries
Music Industry Management
The Global Music Industries
Digital Music and Strategies for its Promotion
Tools for Resilience to Disruptive Technologies
The Social Consumption of Live and Recorded Music
Publishing and Synchronisation
Music Law and Practice
Electronic Music
Traditional and Contemporary Approaches to Music Making

External Affiliations / Memberships

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Research Group Memberships

Conferences & Events

Tony has co-directed a number of conferences including the Future Sound Music Conference, 2016
the Improvisation; Practices Approaches & Reception Conference, 2017
the Future of Live Music Conference, 2018
the Present & Future of Electronic Music Conference, 2019
the Present & Future of Music Law and Practice, 2019
the Artistry and Business of Queen Conference, 2020
He is also Director of the Preston Jazz and Improvisation Festival
The Preston Jazz and Improvisation Festival is a festival that runs in June, is supported by Arts Council England that grew out of the University of Central Lancashire. It brings numerous stakeholders together to deliver a world class music event to the city of Preston. The most recent festival saw more than 10,000 members of the public experience an exciting and diverse programme that included 20 events over 10 days and more than 100 musicians, celebrating world renowned and home-grown talent.