Thomas Hodgson is an ethnomusicologist who studies algorithms and AI in global contexts, with a particular focus on Pakistan and the Pakistani diaspora. He is currently finishing a book – Journeys of Love: Kashmiris, Music, and the Poetics of Migration – which explores questions of memory and exchange among musicians in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Outside academia, Thomas co-founded the music technology platform Tigmus (This is Good Music). The company, which came to represent over 900 venues and 4000 artists, made use of data from streaming and social media platforms such as Spotify, YouTube and Facebook to tell artists optimally where and when they should perform. He is also a practicing musician and composer, playing the trumpet, keys and various other instruments in Stornoway, an indie folk band with three UK top-20 albums. Thomas recently collaborated with composer Edward Nesbit to produce an album in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The album – Aenigmata – was shortlisted for the 2019 RMA Tippett Medal.
Thomas Hodgson
Assistant Professor - Musicology and Music Industry (Music and Data, Global Music Industry)
More Thomas Hodgson News
Stornoway Releases a New Single
When Musicology professor Thomas Hodgson isn’t founding new peer-reviewed journals devoted to exploring music and data (yes, that’s right), he’s recording with his band Stornoway. And they have just released…
Stornoway Drops New Album
Dig the Mountain is the new LP by British Indie band Stornoway. Musicologist Thomas Hodgson plays trumpet with the band, which has sold tens of thousands of albums worldwide. The…
How Spotify Knows What You Want Next
When the Wall Street Journal wants to understand how Spotify’s algorithm works, they turn to Thomas Hodgson, assistant professor of musicology and music industry at The UCLA Herb Alpert School…
Conducting
Graduate study and training in choral, orchestral, or wind conducting
Ethnomusicology
The study of global musical traditions through performance training, research, and field work
Global Jazz Studies
Jazz performance and musicianship courses are paired with African American Studies
Music Composition
Mentorship in the creation and realization of music for concerts, opera, and visual media
Music Education
Preparation for music educators leading to a BA and teaching credential in just four years
Music Industry
A leadership-focused professional degree which prepares students to transform the creative, entrepreneurial, and executive structures of the music industry
Musicology
The scholarly study of the histories, cultures, and critical interpretations of music and music-making
Music Performance
Study and training towards professional performance careers in Western classical music