Back in May of 2024, Oregon State University and the Mockingbird Foundation cohosted the Phish Studies Conference. The event brought together an international group of scholars of philosophy, economics, sociology, theatre, law, communications, and more, demonstrating the breadth of interdisciplinary approaches that have been conducted within Phish scholarship.
On Tuesday, the Mockingbird Foundation released the complete video archive of the 2024 Phish Studies Conference on its official YouTube channel. This groundbreaking collection of 19 videos, offering scholarly analyses of Phish’s music, fan culture, and social impact, features more than 50 speakers from the 2024 conference, representing more than a dozen disciplines.
“The Mockingbird Foundation is thrilled to present this free, one-of-a-kind resource to the Phish community and beyond,” said Stephanie Jenkins, Mockingbird board member and conference committee chair. “This collection, which celebrates all things Phish, is the culmination of years of hard work by the Phish Studies community and reflects Mockingbird’s core commitment to music education.”
The archive examines a wide range of topics appealing to scholars and fans alike. Presenters explored Phish fan identity and cultural practices, debated legal issues surrounding copyright and concertgoing, and analyzed song structures and setlist data. Highlights include author Benjy Eisen’s electrifying keynote speech, “Gamehendge State of the Union Address.”
The Mockingbird Foundation is an all-volunteer, fan-founded, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting access to educational opportunities for young people in music and the musical arts. Since its inception in 1996, the Mockingbird Foundation has awarded 762 grants in all 50 states, totaling more than $2.75 million. For more information, visit mbird.org.
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