Dr Karlyn King is a popular music academic, published researcher, broadcaster, and media commentator working at the intersection of music, media, and culture. Her work bridges higher education, music industry scholarship, and creative practice, with a focus on gender, physical music formats, and fan engagement in the digital age.
She lectures across UK institutions, specialising in music business and cultural studies and her academic practice has expanded to the U.S. through regular collaborations in Los Angeles and Nashville.
Karlyn holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, where her research examined the cultural and emotional significance of vinyl records. Her work explores how physical formats influence fandom, identity, and authenticity, particularly through gendered experiences. A chapter from her research appears in The Routledge Handbook of Women’s Work in Music (2021).
She also hosts The Songs Are Spells Podcast, described by Sony Music as “the magickal version of Song Exploder,” exploring the symbolic and emotional power of music. A regular voice on BBC Radio and contributor to documentaries, Karlyn engages international audiences in conversations on music and culture. She has spoken at international conferences including the USC Pop Conference, Music Biz, and Making Vinyl, and continues to contribute to global discourse on music and media.