Dr. Carissa Baker and the Academic Pursuit of Theme Park Music

Disney is such a complex, multifaceted company that there are all manner of topics and subtopics that fans can joyfully discuss and debate—music, the parks, movies, TV shows, the cruise line, books…you name it. And a lot of that discussion revolves around our own opinions, preferences, and passions. But, Disney is not just a provider of magical memories, it is a cornerstone of American culture and a highly profitable and innovative enterprise. As such, it shouldn’t be surprising that Disney has become a subject of numerous business and academic studies. And, in particular relevance to this show, there is a relatively new, but growing, focus on the study of Disney music as an academic discipline. Today we are joined by Dr. Carissa Baker, who is one of the organizers of the Theme Park Music and Sound Conference and a Professor at the University of Central Florida, to discuss her academic pursuits and her studies and work around theme parks and music. If there is any true theme park expert in the world, it is Carissa, and you’ll understand what I mean when you hear her story.You can register for the Conference for free at https://themeparkmusicandsound.org/, and learn more about Carissa and her work here