'The 'Big Society' initiative by UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, to empower local people and communities to create an effective engagement with youth, music and the creative industries is an indication of the important role played by popular music in enriching the lives of marginalised and vulnerable young people. Bloustien and Peters' interlocking three-layered research framework thus offers a timely, thoughtful and thought-provoking model, which allows for a rigorous investigation into the support structures (people, organisations and educational, art and youth policies) necessary if such a vision is to succeed. Not least, their plea to monitor the effectiveness of government and council decisions regarding venues, environments and services to ensure that agendas are not simply crude governance mechanisms for youth containment or a fantasised pathway to employment is significant, and their international perspective provides the necessary layers of insight to make this both a topical and highly-readable text.' - Sheila Whiteley, Professor Emeritus, University of Salford, UK

'...should be required reading for anyone working in youth policy, students of youth culture transitions and popular music, and for educators at all levels.' - Youth Studies Australia

GERALDINE BLOUSTIEN is a Key Researcher at the Hawke Research Institute, University of South Australia, and has researched extensively and internationally on cultural identity, youth cultures and participatory video ethnography. Recent publications include Musical Visions: Music as Sound Image and Movement (2000); Girl Making (2003); Sonic Synergies: Music, Technology, Community Identity (edited with Margaret Peters, 2008); and 'Music and the Creative Knowledge Economy' in D. Scott (ed) The Ashgate Research Companion to Popular Musicology (2009).

MARGARET PETERS Researches gender, work and organisation issues, as well as youth cultures. She has published in international journals such as The Women's Studies International Forum; The International Journal of Work, Organisation and Emotion; McGill Journal of Education; Leisure et Societe; and is co-editor of Sonic Synergies: Music, Technology, Community, Identity (with Gerry Bloustien).