Registration Document: English and Swedish
1. Name and Seat
The name of the Association is ‘The International Association for the Study of Popular Music’ (IASPM). The association is legally registered in Sweden.
2. Aim
2.1 The aim of the Association is to provide an international, interdisciplinary and interprofessional organization for promoting the study of popular music. A guiding principle
should be that a fair and balanced representation of different continents, nations, cultures
and specializations be aimed at in the policy and activity of the Association.
2.2 The Association is a non-profit organization with no formal political ties.
2.3 The Association as a matter of policy condemns the violation of human rights, as defined
by the United Nations charter, of any individual, group or nation.political ties.
3. Functions
The functions of the Association include:
3.1 providing a forum where those involved in the study of popular music can meet and exchange information about their work;
3.2 organizing regular conferences;
3.3 disseminating information about popular music studies;
3.4 encouraging the development of research and systematic study in topics and in areas where such study is not well developed;
3.5 encouraging recognition of popular music as an area for scholarly research;
3.6 providing information on popular music sources and resources and encouraging their development.
4. Membership
Membership of the Association consists of individual members, institutional members, supporting members and honorary members.
4.1 Individual membership is open to any person interested in the study of popular music.
4.2 Institutional membership is open to all non-profit-making organizations, institutions and associations interested in any aspect of popular music. It is also open to international organizations whose purposes are connected with those of the Association, as well as to branch committees of such organizations.
4.3 Supporting membership is open to all commercial organizations concerned with popular music or popular music studies.
4.4. Upon joining the organisation, IASPM members agree to abide by the IASPM Code of
Conduct. If at the conclusion of an investigation a member is found to have breached the Code of Conduct, their membership may be terminated (see Rules of Procedure 1.7-1.9)
5. Branches
5.1 A branch of the Association may be formed when at least five of the Association’s members resident in the same nation or, where co-operation between nations is more feasible, when five or more members in such a group of countries, agree to do so.
5.2 The activities of branches shall be compatible with the aims, functions, interests and statutes of the Association.
5.3 Each branch appoints at least a secretary and a treasurer and follows national or regional procedure in the appointment of these and other officers.
5.4 Branches are responsible for collecting international dues from their members and transmitting them annually to the Executive Committee in accordance with the rules of procedure.
6. Membership Accession
6.1 Membership is acquired on payment of relevant dues and is valid on receipt of membership certification.
6.2 Membership regulations apply according to the rules of procedure.
7. Governing Bodies
The Association has the following governing bodies:
The General Meeting
The Executive Committee
The Ethics Committee (see Terms of Reference)
The Communications Committee (see Terms of Reference)
8. The General Meeting
8.1 All members are entitled to attend the General Meeting.
8.2 The General Meeting takes place every two years. The Executive Committee may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting on its own initiative. It must convene such a meeting on the request of at least one third of the Association’s members.
8.3 The General Meeting is presided by a nominee of the Executive Committee.
8.4 The General Meeting is empowered:
8.4.1 to decide on the Association’s statutes, rules of procedure and membership fees;
8.4.2 to decide on the Association’s general policy;
8.4.3 to approve the Treasurer’s/Membership Secretary’s financial statement and proposed budget and to appoint auditors;
8.4.4 to approve the Association General Secretary’s report and general plan of activities;
8.4.5 to elect the Executive Committee
8.4.6 to dissolve the Association.
9. The Executive Committee
9.1 The Executive Committee is elected by the General Meeting.
9.2 The Executive Committee consists at least of a Chairperson, a General Secretary, a Treasurer/Membership Secretary and a Publication Officer.
9.3 The Executive Committee is charged to realize the Association’s aims and policies.
This implies that:
9.3.1 the Executive Committee admits new members, accredits Branch Committees and, between General Meetings, controls the execution of programmes;
9.3.2 the Executive Committee is empowered to conclude agreements for co-operation with any person, international organization or national institution, provided such co-operation be in accordance with the aims and functions of the Association;
9.3.3 the Executive Committee prepares nominations for the election of its members at the General Meeting, accepting recommendations from the Members.
9.3.4 the Executive Committee decides on the membership fee scale for approval by the General Meeting.
9.4 Members of the Executive Committee may be re-elected. In case of decease or resignation of one of its members, the Executive Committee appoints a substitute pending the next General Meeting.
9.5. Regardless of advance nominations, the General Meeting has the right and responsibility to elect additional members, or to disqualify any of the proposed elected, to the Executive Committee.
9.6. At least two (2) verifiers of the General Meeting minutes should be nominated at the General Meeting. Verifiers should take no more than two (2) weeks to confirm verification of the General Meeting minutes to the IASPM Executive Committee.
9.7 The Executive Committee publishes notice on its activities at least once a year in the Association’s website or in another appropriate medium reaching out to the members. It submits a full report to all members two weeks before the General Meeting. The full report includes the Executive Committee’s nominations for its successors and proposals made by the Executive Committee for changes.
10. Office
10.1 In order to support the administration of the association, the Executive Committee can propose to the General Meeting:
a. to establish an office; or
b. to come to an agreement with another institution for IASPM’s administration.