Adam Behr teaches and researches in the interdisciplinary field of Popular Music Studies, with an emphasis on the intersections between the creative industries, cultural policy, music and politics. He is also interested in the sociology and history of popular music and their relationship to the politics of popular culture.

Following a PhD on the social dynamics of rock bands at the University of Stirling, he has researched and published on the popular music of the mid-twentieth to twenty first centuries, cultural policy, music and politics, and the music industries. Prior to joining Newcastle University, he taught widely across Popular Music Studies and Media Studies at Stirling University, the University of Glasgow, the University of Edinburgh and City University (London).

In addition to academic writing, he has written extensively for the web, as an editor and contributor to the Live Music Exchange site, for The Conversation and elsewhere. Previous research projects include the UK Live Music Census, and work on the cultural value of live music (both in partnership with key industry bodies). Current projects include music mapping,, along with work on Brexit and the music industries as well as investigating the use of music in election campaigns.