After finishing her one-year term, we thank Fae Janssen for her outstanding work as Student Member on the IASPM Benelux board, and we are happy to welcome our new Student Board member: Pierre Bentz!
As the new member to the board, Pierre will act as a representative for all higher education students in the Benelux region devoted to popular music. He will participate as a full member of the board with all respective rights and responsibilities, including voting rights, tasks like assisting with the organization of (live or digital) events and (social media) communication, as well as, specifically, the organization of the student conference.
Pierre introduces himself:
“Hello! I'm Pierre Bentz, and I'm excited to be the 2026 Benelux student representative of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music (or IASPM)!
After completing my BA in Arts, Culture and Media, I am currently finishing my Master's in Popular Music and Sonic Cultures at the University of Groningen.
Alongside my studies, I've always had an active role in the city's cultural developments by organising a multitude of events and festivals, or by volunteering for various projects and venues. Since January, I have been involved in an EU-funded initiative aimed at developing the music policies of Groningen, as well as a project focused on creating a community and cultural hub for musicians and talent development.
Above all, I enjoy organising events, and being on the board of the IASPM is a way for me to merge this passion with my academic background. I am a strong advocate for knowledge sharing and am looking forward to working with scholars from the Benelux in order to learn more about their research methods and the current challenges in the field! I am particularly eager to develop the student conference and cannot wait to see what amazing talks can come out of it!
Keep an eye out for updates, as I am hoping to see you then ;)”