Current By-Laws
(approved by the membership on October 18, 2025)

By-Laws

Sound Studies Section

Society for Ethnomusicology

Article I. Name

The section shall be named the “Section for Sound Studies of the Society for Ethnomusicology,” and may be referred to as the “Sound Studies Section” or by the acronym “SSS.”

Article II. Mission

The mission of the Sound Studies Section is to provide a methodologically diverse forum for those engaged in research on sound and space, listening, audience studies, media and technology, and related issues. Much exciting work has been done in these areas in the past several years, and this group offers members a ready audience as well as an opportunity to workshop ideas and further our theoretical conversations. Finally, one of the group's foremost goals is to facilitate dialogue between ethnomusicologists and scholars in other fields (including acoustics, anthropology, urban studies, otology, neurotology, history, communication, and science and technology studies) who are concerned with topics of aurality.

In creating this forum for sound studies across ethnomusicology, the section works to organize paper sessions, exhibitions of sound installation art, soundwalks, and performances within the context of the conferences of Society for Ethnomusicology and maintains online forums for communication and networking in virtual and other spaces.

Article III. Membership

Membership of the Sound Studies Section is open to any current member of the Society for Ethnomusicology. All members may vote at annual business meetings, hold office within SSS, and vote by a viable electronic proxy. Voting confidentiality will either be maintained by the process or, in certain cases, will be made available upon request.

Alongside maintaining an active SEM membership, SSS membership may be attained through one or more of the following methods:

1. Selecting the “Sound Studies Section” section membership option on your Society for Ethnomusicology Member Profile page.

2. Subscription to the SSS listserv.

3. Paying optional dues.

Article IV. Dues

Membership dues are optional; however, they significantly aid the Section in curating and exhibiting the SoundingBoard and in funding additional initiatives, including student paper awards and guest lectures. Membership dues are payable at the time of membership renewal with the Society for Ethnomusicology,

Recommended Annual Amounts

• $10-15 for student and contingent faculty/professionals

• $20-25 for full-time faculty/professionals  

Article V. Business Meeting

The annual business meeting of the Sound Studies Section shall occur during the Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology. The Secretary shall notify SSS members of the meeting time, location, and agenda no later than two (2) days prior the start of the meeting via the SSS listserv, website, and social media accounts. The secretary shall similarly notify the SEM general membership via SEM-L.

Article VI. Elections

Officers shall be elected by a plurality of votes by section membership through an electronic ballot, completed no later than one (1) week prior to the annual business meeting.  Calls for nominations and anonymous ballots will be disseminated and collected by the outgoing Secretary. If the Secretary is seeking re-election, this responsibility shifts to the Co-Chair with the longer remaining term. In the case of a tie vote, a run-off election will occur no later than two (2) weeks after the annual business meeting. Election results will be announced by the outgoing co-chair no later than four (4) weeks after the annual business meeting via the SSS listserv, website, and social media accounts.

In the case of an election in which a candidate runs unopposed, a voice vote at the business meeting may also be utilized to confirm the election of the candidate.

Article VII. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is an elected committee that consists of two Co-Chairs, Secretary, and Member-at-Large, each serving a two (2)-year term in a staggered rotation. In odd years, one Co-Chair and the Member-at-Large are elected; the other Co-Chair and the Secretary are elected in even years. Officer terms run in conjunction with the annual business meeting. At the end of their term, the outgoing Co-Chair serves in an advisory capacity for one additional year unless reelected. Any Executive Committee member may run for re-election following the completion of their term.

When an Executive Committee member prematurely vacates their position, a special election will be conducted as soon as possible to appoint a successor for the remainder of the vacated position’s original two-year term. The Executive Committee, with consensus, may alternatively appoint the runner-up from the previous election to the vacated position. The officer elected via a special election may run for re-election for the same position.

Co-Chairs

• Prepares, convenes, and runs the annual business meeting at the SEM conference

• Appoints members to standing committees

• Creates ad hoc committees as necessary

• Prepares annual reports for SEM Board in coordination with the Secretary

• Prepares agenda for annual meeting in coordination with the Secretary

• Have the obligation to step in and facilitate any section obligations that may risk going unfulfilled

Secretary

• Prepares annual reports for SEM Board in coordination with the Co-Chairs

• Prepares agenda for annual meeting in coordination with the Co-Chairs

• Prepares and submits minutes of proceedings for approval of all business meetings for subsequent distribution to membership

• Records attendance at the annual business meeting

• Coordinates online nominations and voting for section elections

• Serves as chair for the Communications Committee and Prize Committee

Member-at-Large

• Serves as chair for the Conference Panel Committee and Curatorial Committee

Former Chair

• Serves in an advisory role for one year after term

Article VIII. Exempt Positions

Non-elected, exempt officers serve indefinitely. These officers are not considered members of the Executive Committee. The recruitment and appointment of these officers is predicated on experience pertinent to the position description. Upon voluntary resignation, the officer is required to inform the Executive Committee in a timely manner to enable the identification of a successor and ensure a smooth transition of duties.

Tech Czar

• Builds and regularly maintains the SEM Sound Studies Section website.

• Coordinates media content with the Communications Chair and attends meetings with the Communications Committee.

• Attend to other public- and private-facing technological matters as they arise.

Article IX. Committees

The Secretary chairs the Communications Committee and the Prize Committee. The Member-at-Large chairs the Curatorial Committee and the Conference Panel Committee. Committee chair roles may be re-delegated following consensus within the executive committee.

To fill standing committees, one of the Co-Chairs shall issue a general call to section members no later than one (1) week prior to the annual business meeting. Committees will be assigned and commence their responsibilities no later than four (4) weeks after the annual business meeting. Each committee has no maximum capacity.

Communications Committee

• Maintains and monitors the Section listserv, Develops and maintains the Section website, assists Curatorial Committee with call for proposals and promotion for SoundingBoard

Prize Committee 

• Members of the Prize committee review submissions for the annual Student Paper Prize.

• The Secretary will be responsible for submitting CFPs to both the SSS listserv and SEM-L, and collecting responses to CFPs.

• The Secretary will be responsible for sending out proposals to the Program Committee, determining the prize winner, and informing the Executive Committee of the result.

• The Executive Committee will confirm the prize winner.

• The Secretary will privately inform the prize winner of the results as soon as possible. The Secretary will publicly announce the prize winner at the annual business meeting of the Sound Studies Section.

Curatorial Committee

• The Curatorial Committee will work with the SEM conference local arrangements committee to secure a venue for SoundingBoard

• The committee solicits proposals and chooses pieces for SoundingBoard

• The committee collaborates with Communications Committee to promote SoundingBoard

Conference Panel Committee

• The Conference Panel Committee will organize panels and sessions at each Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology that serve and promote the interests of both the SSS and the SEM general membership. 

• The Conference Panel Committee shall consist of the Member-at-Large and interested section members. 

• The Member-at-Large will be responsible for submitting CFPs to both the SSS listserv and SEM-L, collecting responses to CFPs, and removing identifying data. 

• The Member-at-Large will be responsible for sending out proposals to the Program Committee, collecting and aggregating scores, and making the scores available to the Executive Committee.

• The Executive Committee will vote on the final program.

Article X. Amendments

Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed to the Co-Chairs by any SSS member, no later than two (2) weeks prior to the start of the Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology. The secretary shall make the proposed amendments known to SSS members at least one (1) week before the annual business meeting. Proposed amendments shall be placed on the agenda of that meeting for discussion, possible revision, and an in-person vote. For an amendment to be approved, it must receive two-thirds of the votes cast by SSS members attending the annual business meeting.

In exceptional circumstances where by-law language is insufficient for an event, the Executive Committee may propose amendments, discuss revisions, and conduct an internal vote. These special amendments will be approved with consensus within the Executive Committee.