The Association for Popular Music Education is pleased to announce our 2025 conference will be held at the University of Memphis in Memphis, TN, USA, from June 4–7, 2025. The conference will be held in person and virtually in a hybrid setting.
Popular music plays a crucial role in our modern lives, serving as a powerful form of artistic expression that encompasses all aspects of the human experience. It merges art with contemporary culture and tradition, making it relevant in our constantly evolving world.
Incorporating popular music into the learning environment offers an opportunity to explore and integrate its rich variety of genres, stories, cultures, and creative expressions into these spaces. By understanding the roots that connect our lives and cultures, we stand to gain valuable insights into ourselves and our shared histories. As Davis and Blair (2011, citing Bowman, 1998) suggest:
Popular music is best understood within a social and cultural context to understand and appreciate its value. Therefore, music is culturally bound and is never pure but constantly transforms to society’s volatile characteristics. (p. 126)
Our 2025 North American conference will be held in Memphis, TN— the birthplace of rock and roll, the home of the blues, and a pivotal location in the civil rights movement. What better place to explore popular music’s influence on culture, history, and current events?
The APME conference provides a space for our diverse community to reflect on the connections between popular music and culture. We serve as a vibrant ecosystem that promotes and advances popular music at all educational levels, both in and beyond the classroom. We invite you to connect with, learn from, and contribute to our community as we explore our shared heritage through popular music.
Submissions closed on December 15, 2024
Invited Presenters were notified on January 15, 2025
Conference Registration
Registration for the 2025 conference is open and accessible through our Sched conference app. To access Memphis conference registration, please click on the Sched logo below.
The APME Memphis 2025 schedule will be posted soon. In the meantime,
click here to explore our APME 2024 Los Angeles schedule.
Conference registration fees
Individual – $245
K–12 Teacher — $125
Student — $50
Conference Presenter Information
Invited conference presenters will be notified on January 15, 2025. Below are the steps presenters must take in order to participate in the conference:
- The primary presenter must fill out the Presenter Agreement by February 1, 2025. If the primary presenter is presenting more than once, please only fill out one form. Co-presenters do not need to fill out the agreement.
- All primary and co-presenters must register for the conference no later than April 1. We are also offering a 20% offer presenter registration if completed by March 1. The primary presenter will recieve this information after they have completed the Presenter Agreement. Please register by visiting our Sched portal and selecting the appropriate ticket.
- All presenters and co-presenters much be active members of APME no later than April 1. Click here to renew or activate your membership.
Supporting Mid-South K–12 Teachers
In our continued efforts to support local music education communities in our conference locations, APME offers FREE conference registration to the first 50 Mid-South K–12 teachers who register for the conference. The Mid-South region is generally considered the geographic area within 100 miles of Memphis. Please contact us at conference@popularmusiceducation.org if you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity and joining us in Memphis. We hope to see you there!
Supporting BIPOC and First-time Attendees
In our continued efforts to promote access and equitable experiences, APME is offering a limited number of registration fee waivers and discounts for participants to attend the conference in person or virtually.
We seek applications from participants who meet the following criteria:
- Are a first-time conference participant; and/or
- Are a part of an underrepresented group in popular music education (including, but not limited to, a member of the BIPOC, AAPI, LGBTQIA+ communities); and/or
- Demonstrate financial need
If you are interested in applying for this support, please fill out this form. The deadline to apply will be March 1, 2025. We will notify invited applicants by March 20, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact us at conference@popularmusiceducation.org Please note there is a separate application for registration fee support for graduate students.
Supporting Graduate Students
Graduate students are an essential part of the popular music education community. As they continue their studies in higher education, it is essential that APME support graduate students as they create a network of like-minded educators who share their passions for both education and popular music. With this in mind, APME is offering a limited amount of financial support on registration fees for graduate students to attend the conference in person or virtually.
Additionally, we are also looking for a limited number of graduate students interested in supporting the conference by serving as a valued member of our onsite conference support team. In return for your commitment and service, APME will offer financial support on registration fees and onsite housing. If either of these supports interest you, please fill out this form. Please note this opportunity is for graduate students only.
The deadline to apply will be March 15, 2025, and recipients will be contacted by March 20, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact us at conference@popularmusiceducation.org
Hotel Information
Holiday Inn – The University of Memphis
3700 Central Ave Memphis, TN 38111
Located directly across from the conference venue
(901) 538-8004
$130 plus tax
Available June 4–8
Book by May 5 Code: APM
Click here to book the Holiday Inn
Hampton Inn & Suites Memphis-Beale Street
175 Peabody Pl, Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 260-4000
$154 plus tax
Limited availability June 4–8
Book by May 1
Click here to book the Hampton Inn
Hilton Garden Inn Memphis Downtown Beale Street
201 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 528-1540
$149 plus tax
Limited availability June 4–8
Book by May 1
Click here to book the Hilton Garden Inn
Local Information
STAX Museum of American Soul Music – From rare archival photos to interactive exhibits, the Stax Museum tells the story of soul. Step into soul music history at the Stax Museum – Memphis MUST visit music attraction.
The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel – The National Civil Rights Museum, located in Memphis, TN, explores the history of the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on our culture today.
Royal Studios – Constructed as a theater in 1915 and converted into Royal Studios in 1957, Royal Studios, home of Hi Records and the Hi Rhythm Section, grew from a minor rockabilly studio into one of the most successful producers of soul music worldwide.
Sun Studios – Sun Studio is known worldwide as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’roll”. It is the discovery location of musical legends and genres of the 50’s from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis; from Blues and Gospel to Country and Rock’n’roll. Today our goal is to spread the story of Memphis’ history and culture through the music that put Memphis on the map.
Beale St. Entertainment District – Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the most iconic streets in America. Home of the Blues and the true birthplace of Rock n Roll, this is your destination for year-round live music. With cold beer and hot music, Beale Street is one of the coolest places in Memphis.
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum – The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum’s exhibition about the birth of rock and soul music, based on one created by the Smithsonian Institution in 2000, tells the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the entire world.
How to Get the Most Out of Memphis’ Music Culture – A February 2025 Rolling Stone article recommending cultural sites to visit in Memphis.
APME LIVE Student Festival
The Association for Popular Music Education welcomes applications from student ensembles and soloists to participate in the APME LIVE Student Festival to be held at the University of Memphis on June 5–7, 2025.
This non-competitive festival will provide an encouraging educational atmosphere for all to perform for peers and the local community and also take part in sessions to learn from a team of outstanding popular music clinicians and professional musicians. All middle school, high school, and collegiate popular music ensembles, producers, and soloists from ALL GENRES are encouraged to participate.
The 2025 APME LIVE Student Festival application will be available on September 1, 2025.