As America prepares for the 54^th Grammy Awards, a pair of Texas Tech University music experts can discuss how pop music has changed in recent decades and how the drive for hyper-crossover, the influence of globalization and talent shows such as “American Idol” give us the gospel-influenced, patchwork sound floating across today’s airwaves, and how high-volume sales dictate today’s compositions sold for mass appeal.

Expert

Christopher Smith, chairman of musicology/ethnomusicology, director of the Vernacular Music Center, Texas Tech University, (806) 438-5067 or Christopher.smith@ttu.edu;

Elissa Stroman, doctoral candidate in musicology,  (806) 742-3749 ext. 234, or elissa.stroman@ttu.edu.

Talking Points

• “American Idol” is partly responsible for the over-the-top pyrotechnics of vibrato in today’s music, featuring octave leaps, wide range and extensive ornamentation.
• Pop music is becoming less about actual composition and more about bites of sound with words composed around it.
• The lucrative goal of pop music has always been about grabbing the largest audience. That’s why many songs feature guest rappers and borrow or sample reworked melodies from previously popular songs to get the largest audience possible.
• Globalization continues to diversify pop music into many divergent styles.

Quotes

• “‘American Idol’ began during the end of a surge of bubblegum pop music popularity such as Britney Spears and boy bands. In 10 seasons, there has been much debate about ‘Idol’ being out of touch with the music industry because music genres and tastes have become so much more diversified. Beginning in about season six and seven, you start to see contestants making the songs ‘their own,’ whereby their ‘cover’ songs are more geared to their own musical aesthetic style, be it rock, country or whatever. So I think more than anything, ‘Idol’ has changed to the popular trends of the time, not the opposite.” – Elissa Stroman

• “Especially pronounced in the wake of the hip-hop revolution, DJs and rappers are able to remake or even ‘reinvent’ classic tracks – either whole songs, as Sean Combs did, or just short snippets of drum breaks or speech. Moreover, the presence of a guest, especially a rapper, means a single song can take on appeal to diverse audiences: fans of both pyrotechnic vocalizing and of rap/hip-hop can find something to like in a single track.” – Christopher Smith
• “I do see pop music continuing to be more and more structured, but not really composed, around bits and bites of symbolic sound: The ‘sound’ of gospel vocals, the ‘sound’ of ’80s drum machines or loops, the ‘sound’ of twangy country guitars, etc. Recordings are not really about compositions or songs anymore: they’re about stringing together bits and bites of sounds that remind consumers of other sounds they’ve previously liked and consumed.” – Christopher Smith
• “I think in an era of ubiquitous music consumption, record companies have to find some way for their music to reach the widest possible audience. The Internet has allowed music fans to become more niche-based, meaning today you don’t have to listen solely to the top 40 chart hits. But those top 40 charts are still important markers for record companies to ensure they make money. Thus, crossover songs are utilized to win over not only a Katy Perry fanbase but also Snoop Dogg fans with their mega hit ‘California Gurls,’” – Elissa Stroman
• “Look at the Grammy nominations for best pop vocal album. Three of the five (Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars and Rihanna) utilize elements of hip-hop, R&B and various other styles of music to create their signature sound. I believe we’ll see more sampling, more incorporation of past styles and genres, and more melding of genres, such as Taylor Swift’s country/pop style.” – Elissa Stroman
• “‘Pop music’ is essentially now an advertising jingle. There is little or no distinction between the compositions, sounds or intentions between a Madonna half-time show or a Chevy truck commercial. It’s about selling a lifestyle. But then, so were the Beach Boys.” – Christopher Smith
• “The advent of the Internet and of digital downloads has essentially killed the record company as a mediator between artists and consumers. Artists simply do not require the budgets, technology or distribution networks that record companies formerly monopolized. Almost anybody can make a good-sounding record in her or his spare room. This is the ‘Long Tail’ approach to marketing music, and ironically it takes pop music back to the DIY ethos of early hip-hop, of punk rock before that, of folk music before that, and back and back to the days when music was a process to be shared, not an object to be manufactured and sold.” – Christopher Smith
• “We began the 2000s with boy bands, who quickly fell out of favor for rock stars such as U2, Blink 182 and Green Day. Later in the decade, we saw hip-hop and rap artists reach wider audiences, but in the end Katy Perry and Lady Gaga ended the 2000s with some of the biggest pop hits. Popular music goes in waves, pendulum swings of styles. It always goes somewhere.” – Elisa Stroman

The theatrical re-release of the first in the prequel trilogy of Star Wars films is set for Feb. 10.

Expert

Rob Weiner, associate librarian and pop culture expert, Texas Tech University Library, (806) 742-2238 ext. 282 office, (806) 780-8775 mobile, or rob.weiner@ttu.edu.

Talking Points

• Is Star Wars still relevant?
• Will this Star Wars run be as successful as previous runs?
• Original trilogy versus prequel trilogy

Quotes

• “In Episode 1, many fans won’t be looking forward to Jar-Jar Binks in 3D, but it will be cool to use the enhanced effects to watch Darth Maul, a great villain with too little screen time.”
• “Another added bonus will be to spot the E.T. cameo from Steven Spielberg’s movie of the same name.”
• “I think many true Star Wars fans are looking forward to the original trilogy (Episodes 4-6), more so than Episodes 1-3.”
• “I personally am looking forward to seeing all six films again on the big screen. As bad as the prequels are, they are still a part of the Star Wars film franchise, and for that reason I hope they still do well.”

Will the aging retailer’s new retail approach, which rolled out Feb. 1, help polish the tarnish from its brand?

Expert

Debra Laverie; senior associate dean, Jerry S. Rawls professor and Minnie Stevens Piper professor; Rawls College of Business, (806) 834-3953, debbie.laverie@ttu.edu.

Talking Points 

• J.C. Penney’s new head, Ron Johnson, who came up with the idea for the Genius Bar at Apple Stores, envisions a total face lift for the long-standing retailer.
• The company hopes the new tactic will build brand equity in one of the oldest family-founded retail businesses in the US.

Quotes 

• “J.C. Penney had become a place that had big sales up to three times a week. All of these sales had eroded the brand image and conditioned the consumers to only buy when there is a sale.”
• “Hopefully, this fresh approach can polish the tarnish off the J.C. Penney brand.”
• “GAP tried this after they messed up their core strategy and have never been able to regain original form.”

The team of third-year law students Brandon Beck of Austin, Allie Hallmark of Midland and Elizabeth Hill of Lubbock prevailed over the University of California-Berkeley School of Law in the final round. With the repeat win, Texas Tech becomes just the second school to ever successfully defend its championship. To complete the night, the team’s brief was named top in the nation, and Hallmark was named the nation’s second-best advocate.

The team is coached by Rob Sherwin, director of advocacy programs.

“Needless to say, I’m so pleased with our amazing students, who continue to make Texas Tech proud. Perhaps the fact I’m most proud of is that we’ve had top finishes in not just one, but three different disciplines of advocacy competitions already this year,” Sherwin said. “When added to our second-place finish at the Liberty National Negotiation Competition last week and our national championship at the ABA Arbitration Competition two weeks ago, this win signals success across a wide range of lawyering skills.”

Dean Darby Dickerson, who attended part of the NYC competition, said that the team was probably the strongest she’s seen in 17 years of moot court competitions. “The students were prepared, poised and professional. They represent a bright future for the legal profession and were outstanding ambassadors for Tech Law and our advocacy programs.”

The contest is sponsored by the New York City Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and co-sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL).

Nearly 190 teams competed in 15 regionals in November, and the top 30 teams met in Manhattan for the national finals. The championship round panel included two federal circuit court judges, two federal district court judges, one New York state court of appeals judge, and the presidents of the ACTL and NYC Bar.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu.

Contact: Leslie Cranford, Office of Communications and Marketing, (806) 742-2136, or leslie.cranford@ttu.edu.

The college had to raise the match of the funds it was seeking before the proposal was submitted. Dean Scott Ridley, Elizabeth Haley and Karen Jacobsen, development officers, raised the needed $450,000, which was contributed by six public/private entities, including The Meadows Foundation.

The College of Education, Lubbock Independent School District (LISD), Teachscape, Texas Instruments and the Haberman Educational Foundation will pilot a university-based teacher preparation program that integrates technology and in-depth observation/feedback to improve teacher impact on student achievement in mathematics. This gift from The Meadows Foundation will help support this program.

“This project is just the type of grant making in which The Meadows Foundation engages,” Ridley said. “While it has supported education, as well as other areas, since its inception in 1949, its current initiatives in support of public education are particularly in the areas of early child development, enhanced reading and math instruction, teacher and administrator preparation.”

According to Ridley, this contribution by The Meadows Foundation enables the college to establish the type of reforms, which “Our Future, Our Teachers,” released by the Obama administration calls for, and which will lead it to become a national model of how schools of education should be preparing educators to influence the students and schools of the future.

The Meadows Foundation is among the most recognized private philanthropies in the country, both for its grant-making practices and for its active engagement in advancing the field of private philanthropy. Please see The Meadows Foundation at http://www.mfi.org.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Judy Simpson, assistant dean, Operations, Outreach, and Public Relations, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-1998 ext. 456, or judy.a.simpson@ttu.edu.

As Valentine’s Day nears, Texas Tech experts can discuss love, flowers and candy.

Experts

Patrick Hughes, associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies and associate vice provost, (806) 742- 2984, or patrick.hughes@ttu.edu.

• Everyday, mundane acts of kindness toward a loved one matter more than a blitzkrieg of candy and cards on Valentine’s Day
• Lots of conflict in a relationship doesn’t mean the end – it’s how conflict is handled that matters

Ignacio Luis Ramirez, assistant professor of sociology, (806) 742-2400, or l.ramirez@ttu.edu.

• Lesser-known forms of intimate partner violence, such as psychological or mental abuse directed toward males
• Dating violence and psychological aggression toward both genders

Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter, associate professor of communications studies, (806) 742- 3273, or n.punyanunt@ttu.edu.

• How affectionate communication can lead to a healthy relationship
• Why romance and affection are not just meant for Valentine’s Day

Cynthia McKenney, associate chair and professor of ornamental horticulture, (806) 742- 2832 ext. 234, or cynthia.mckenney@ttu.edu.

• Cut flowers and why they may not be the best environmentally friendly choice
• Using pot crop flowers that are longer lasting or just green foliage plants that help clean the air
• Green pots made out of recycled plastic or recycled wood pulp

• Changes and Tips for 2011
• Student Filing
• Tax Disasters

 
John Salter, assistant professor and director, Personal Financial Planning Division, (806) 742-5050, or john.salter@ttu.edu.

• Retirement Planning
• Wealth Management

Bill Gustafson, associate professor Personal Financial Planning Division, (806) 742-5050, or bill.gustafson@ttu.edu.

• Retirement Planning
• Family Economics

Mitzi Lauderdale, associate professor, Personal Financial Planning Division, (806) 742-5050, or mitzi.lauderdale@ttu.edu.

• Estate Planning
• Special Needs Planning

 
Bob Barnhill, instructor, Personal Financial Planning Division (806) 794-1282, or robert.barnhill@ttu.edu.

• Fiduciary Income Taxation
• Estate and Gift Taxation

The researchers from Texas Tech’s International Center for Food Industry Excellence, in collaboration with scientists from USDA’s Agricultural Research Services, will explore important factors that contribute to Salmonella being carried by cattle. With this knowledge, the team will then engage the beef industry to develop and implement practical solutions to reduce the likelihood that Salmonella finds its way into the beef.

“Our team is focused on improving food safety and public health,” said lead researcher Guy Loneragan, a professor of food safety and public health. “In this project, we will conduct a variety of targeted basic and applied research which then helps to inform our stakeholder engagement. This engagement in turn helps us narrow in on those solutions that are the most practical, implementable, and therefore, likely to have a beneficial impact.”

Texas Tech’s team includes Loneragan, Mindy Brashears, Todd Brashears, Mike Ballou, Chance Brooks and Mark Miller.

“This is a complex task and requires constructive and coordinated interaction of research, education and outreach efforts,” Loneragan said. “Our great team includes microbiologists, epidemiologists, meat scientists, immunologists and educational specialists.”

 Loneragan said they have initiated parts of the project by hiring a graduate student, engaging the industry, preparing the collaborators and looking to receive samples in the next 60 days.

The research includes a series of basic and applied experiments at Texas Tech and with the two collaborators.

“Some of these basic experiments will help us better understand how Salmonella gets to the lymph nodes and then how and where it survives in the nodes,” Loneragan said. “On a more applied approach, we will implement a surveillance program with industry to describe the seasonal, regional, and animal-type risk factors for having Salmonella in lymph nodes. We will also conduct some studies pre-harvest to determine if there are steps we can take to reduce the likelihood that animals will be positive for Salmonella in their lymph nodes.”

Loneragan said they will then develop best practices and distribute information about those practices within the industry.

Most of the basic and applied studies will be conducted over the next 18 months. The study runs through September 2014.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Guy Loneragan, professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2805 ext. 268, or guy.loneragan@ttu.edu.

The countdown to Sunday’s Super Bowl has started and Texas Tech University experts can speak to a variety of subjects involving the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year.

Experts

Business

Lin Humphrey, marketing doctoral student, (972) 415-6786, william.humphrey@ttu.edu

• While the economy continues to suffer, spending for the annual Super Bowl advertising appears strong. This year’s spending is keeping pace with past years, and ads averaged at $3 million a spot this year sold out months ago. The Super Bowl should continue to be an advertising event despite economic issues, but the mix of firms spending will reflect the relative health of their industry sectors.

Food/nutrition

Jamie Cooper, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition, Hospitality and Retailing, (806) 742-3068 or jamie.a.cooper@ttu.edu

• The Super Bowl also usually means Super Bowl parties and a wide variety of mostly unhealthy food options. Cooper can speak about easy alternatives when making those food choices.

Dewey McMurrey, executive chef, Hospitality Services, (806) 742-1360, dewey.mcmurrey@ttu.edu.

• Looking for a new appetizer to unveil at your Super Bowl party, try McMurrey’s recipe for Twice Baked Potato Bacon Skins.

Predictions

Alan Reifman, professor, Human Development and Family Studies, (806) 742-3000, ext. 274 or alan.reifman@ttu.edu.

• The New England Patriots have won 10 games in a row, and the New York Giants five. The Giants also are the first team with a four-game losing streak in the regular season to make the Super Bowl since the 2002 Oakland Raiders. So whose luck will continue Super Bowl Sunday? Reifman, who studies sports streakiness and is the author of “Hot Hand: The Statistics Behind Sports’ Greatest Streaks,” can offer his scientific view. You can read his blog at http://thehothand.blogspot.com/.

To advance his energy strategy, President Obama on Thursday embraced natural gas as a transportation fuel, saying it is cleaner and cheaper than oil, and abundant in the United States.

The president also dedicated a substantial portion of his State of the Union address to the topic of energy, particularly renewable energy and the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of natural gas.

Expert

Mohamed Soliman, chair of the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering and George Livermore Chair Professor, (806) 742-1801 ext. 232, or mohamed.soliman@ttu.edu.

Talking Points

• Fracturing operations and analysis (fracking)
• Reservoir engineering techniques

Quotes

• “This is the first intelligent thing I heard coming from the various branches of the government regarding fracturing in a long time.”

• “Based on current technology, shale formations cannot be economically produced without creating those multiple fractures.”