As an economic geographer, Brian’s research interests concern several facets of the creative economy: labour conditions, talent flows, market dynamics and digitization. His research at the MPI falls into two broad categories. The music and the entertainment economy project is a scholarly examination of the economic, geographic, and social dynamics of popular music in the 20th and 21st centuries. The strength in services project explores ways to upgrade low-paying, routine-oriented service jobs – the largest category of jobs in most developed economies – by improving monetary and non-monetary compensation, autonomy, training and opportunities for advancement.
Brian has published a number of articles about music, and on topics relating to economic development, cultural activities in rural areas, public space and gentrification. He is currently co-editing a special issue of City, Culture and Society with Richard Florida and Kevin Stolarick. In recent years Brian has co-organized a number of conferences, sessions and salons dealing with various aspects of the creative economy, including the annual Experience the Creativity Economy conference from 2008 to 2010. He holds a PhD in economic geography from the University of Toronto, and his doctoral research examined the working lives and spatial dynamics of independent musicians in Toronto. To stay balanced, Brian enjoys playing drums in Toronto-based indie bands.