Carlos Chirinos-Espin

Dr. Carlos Chirinos is an Assistant Professor in the Music Business Program at NYU Steinhardt. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Universidad Central de Venezuela, a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology, and a Ph.D in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London in the United Kingdom. Professor Chirinos specializes in the intersection of the music industry, social change, and public health.

His research and practice have resulted in the creation of a USAID/CDC-funded public health campaign to prevent Ebola in West Africa. Furthermore, his research on Songs for Social Change contributed to the establishment of the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Song for Social Change by the Recording Academy in 2023. Professor Chirinos has published on the use of popular songs in health education and serves as the development editor for Grammy Award-winning artist Rubén Blades’ memoirs.

Professor Chirinos is also a curator of Latin Music at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. His academic and practice work has been reported in the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, BBC, and El País. Since 2015, he has been a Clinical Associate Professor in the Music Business Program at NYU Steinhardt, and associated faculty in the NYU School of Global Public Health.