Koos Zwaan is Professor (in Dutch: Lector) of Innovation in the Music Industry and director of the International Music Industry Lab. His research focuses on how to create a healthier and more sustainable music industry. He obtained his PhD with a dissertation on the career development of Dutch pop musicians. His research interest include popular music and popular culture, the music industry and new media.
The professorship collaborates with students, teacher-researchers, organizations, and institutions on various projects. The research focuses on how stakeholders (end-users such as residents or customers or clients of the field partners) can be involved. This includes various forms of evaluation research and 'participant design' research: a method in which the end-users of the design are involved in the design process.
Research interests include Innovation, production and reception of culture and media, in particular the popular music industry and the impact of new media.
Koos has published on several topics related to the music industry and the creative industries in general. He is also an active member of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (IASPM). He served as a board member of the regional Benelux Branche and was also the editor-in-chief of the association’s journal, IASPM@Journal, for which he still is a reviewer and member of the advisory board. Among his publications are books on the international television format Idols, music fandom and fan culture.
He has been a researcher in European research projects dedicated to the creative industries in the Haarlem region (funded by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund), Local Welcome Policies for EU Mobile Citizens (produced with financial support from the European Union’s Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme). Additionally, he was one of the researchers in a study focusing on the practices of visual artists and was the project leader for a study on the value Dutch music in the online domain.
Next to his role as associate professor, Koos has been involved in several study programmes at Inholland, Such as international Communication Management, and International Music Management, and most notably he was one of the core developers and staff members of the Business Innovation programme.
"Applied research is never finished, which is why I want to remain curious and work on innovative solutions in collaboration with the professional field."
