Submissions

Author Guidelines

Author Guidelines

Authors are required to carefully read and follow these guidelines before submitting a manuscript to Global Studies in Music (GSM). Manuscripts that do not conform to the journal’s Aims and Scope, formatting requirements, citation style, ethical standards, or submission requirements may be returned to the authors for revision before editorial consideration.

1. General Requirements

Manuscripts submitted to GSM must:

• Be original and not previously published.
• Not be under consideration by another journal at the time of submission.
• Be relevant to the Aims and Scope of Global Studies in Music (GSM).
• Demonstrate scholarly rigor, originality, and a clear contribution to music studies.
• Be written in clear and academically appropriate language.
• Follow the APA 7th edition for citations and references.
• Comply with the journal’s policies on research ethics, publication ethics, authorship, conflicts of interest, copyright, and the use of artificial intelligence.
• Be prepared for double-blind peer review. Authors must therefore remove identifying information from the manuscript file where required by the submission system.

2. Manuscript Language

Manuscripts should be written in clear, accurate, and scholarly English.

Authors whose first language is not English are strongly encouraged to have their manuscripts reviewed for academic English before submission.

Authors are responsible for the accuracy of grammar, terminology, names, quotations, references, transliterations, musical terminology, and other specialized content.

3. Manuscript Formatting

Manuscripts should be prepared according to the following specifications:

Font: Times New Roman
Font Size: 12 point
Paper Size: A4
File Format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
Text Alignment: Left aligned or justified consistently throughout the manuscript
Page Numbers: Pages should be numbered consecutively
Citation and Reference Style: APA 7th edition

Headings and subheadings should be clearly differentiated and used consistently throughout the manuscript.

Authors should use formatting consistently and avoid unnecessary decorative formatting, excessive capitalization, or non-standard fonts.

4. Structure of the Manuscript

Original Research Articles should normally be organized in the following order:

4.1 Title

The title should be concise, informative, and accurately reflect the principal content of the study.

The title should avoid unnecessary abbreviations, overly broad wording, and excessively long constructions.

4.2 Author Information

The following information must be provided for each author:

• Full name and surname
• Institutional affiliation
• Department, faculty, college, university, or organization, as applicable
• Country
• Email address
• ORCID iD, where available

The corresponding author must be clearly identified.

Because GSM uses double-blind peer review, author-identifying information should be provided through the journal’s submission system and/or separate title page where required. The manuscript file submitted for peer review should not contain information that directly identifies the author(s).

4.3 Abstract

The abstract should provide a concise and accurate summary of the article.

For research articles, the abstract should normally include:

• Background or research problem
• Purpose or objectives
• Research methodology
• Principal findings
• Main conclusion or scholarly contribution

The abstract should be understandable independently of the main text and should avoid unnecessary citations, undefined abbreviations, tables, figures, or extensive methodological detail.

4.4 Keywords

Authors should provide appropriate keywords that accurately represent the principal concepts, topics, methods, geographical contexts, musical traditions, or areas of the study.

Keywords should facilitate indexing and discoverability in scholarly databases and search systems.

4.5 Introduction

The Introduction should establish the context and significance of the study. It should clearly present the research problem, background, rationale, scholarly relevance, and research gap.

The Introduction should explain why the study is necessary and how it contributes to existing knowledge in music studies.

4.6 Research Objectives

The objectives of the study should be stated clearly and specifically.

Where appropriate, research questions or hypotheses may also be included. The objectives should be consistent with the research problem, methodology, results, and conclusions of the study.

4.7 Literature Review

The Literature Review should critically engage with relevant national and international scholarship.

Authors should:

• Review significant and relevant literature.
• Include appropriate recent scholarship as well as foundational sources where necessary.
• Critically analyze previous studies rather than merely summarize them.
• Identify theoretical, empirical, methodological, or contextual gaps.
• Explain how the present study extends, challenges, applies, or contributes to existing scholarship.

The literature review should demonstrate the scholarly context and international relevance of the research.

4.8 Conceptual or Theoretical Framework

Where applicable, authors should clearly present the conceptual or theoretical framework used to guide the study.

The framework should identify relevant concepts, theories, models, variables, relationships, or analytical perspectives and explain how they are applied to the research.

A conceptual framework may be presented as a figure or diagram when this improves clarity.

4.9 Research Methodology

The Research Methodology section should provide sufficient information to allow readers to understand and evaluate the research design and procedures.

Depending on the nature of the study, this section may include:

• Research design or approach
• Research setting or context
• Population and sample
• Participants or informants
• Sampling procedures
• Research instruments
• Data sources
• Data collection procedures
• Data analysis methods
• Validity, reliability, credibility, or trustworthiness procedures
• Ethical approval and informed consent, where applicable

For historical, musicological, ethnomusicological, analytical, artistic, practice-based, or qualitative studies, authors should clearly describe the sources, analytical frameworks, fieldwork procedures, documentation methods, creative processes, or interpretive approaches appropriate to the research.

Research involving human participants must comply with applicable ethical requirements. Where ethical approval is required, authors should provide the name of the approving institution or ethics committee and relevant approval information.

4.10 Results

The Results section should present the principal findings of the study clearly, systematically, and objectively.

Results should correspond directly to the research objectives or questions.

Tables, figures, musical examples, scores, photographs, diagrams, or other materials may be used where they improve the presentation and interpretation of the findings.

Authors should avoid unnecessary repetition of the same information in both text and tables or figures.

4.11 Discussion

The Discussion should interpret the findings in relation to the research objectives, theoretical or conceptual framework, and relevant previous scholarship.

Authors should:

• Explain the meaning and significance of the findings.
• Compare findings with relevant previous studies.
• Identify agreements, differences, or new perspectives.
• Discuss theoretical, methodological, educational, cultural, artistic, technological, or practical implications, where relevant.
• Explain the broader scholarly significance of the findings.

The Discussion should move beyond merely repeating the Results section and should demonstrate the contribution of the study to the field of music scholarship.

4.12 Recommendations

Authors may provide recommendations arising directly from the findings and discussion.

Recommendations may address:

• Future research
• Music education and pedagogy
• Musical practice or performance
• Cultural preservation
• Technology and innovation
• Policy and institutional practice
• Creative industries
• Community or professional practice

Recommendations should be specific, evidence-based, and consistent with the scope and limitations of the study.

4.13 Acknowledgments

An Acknowledgments section may be included where appropriate.

Authors may acknowledge individuals, institutions, communities, research participants, archives, funding organizations, or other contributors who supported the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship.

Funding sources, grant numbers, or institutional support should be clearly identified where applicable.

4.14 References

All sources cited in the manuscript must appear in the reference list, and all works included in the reference list must be cited in the manuscript.

References must follow the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (APA 7th edition).

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of all references, including:

• Author names
• Publication year
• Article or chapter title
• Journal or book title
• Volume and issue number
• Page range
• DOI
• URL, where appropriate

Authors are strongly encouraged to include DOI information whenever available.

5. In-Text Citations: APA 7th Edition

GSM follows the author-date citation system of APA 7th edition.

One Author

Parenthetical citation:

(Smith, 2024)

Narrative citation:

Smith (2024)

Two Authors

Parenthetical citation:

(Smith & Jones, 2024)

Narrative citation:

Smith and Jones (2024)

Three or More Authors

Use the first author’s surname followed by et al. from the first citation:

(Smith et al., 2024)

or

Smith et al. (2024)

Direct Quotations

For a direct quotation, include the author, year, and page number:

(Smith, 2024, p. 25)

For quotations extending across multiple pages:

(Smith, 2024, pp. 25–27)

Authors should use direct quotations selectively and appropriately.

6. Reference Examples: APA 7th Edition

Journal Article

Smith, J. A., & Brown, T. R. (2024). Music education and intercultural learning in higher education. Journal of Music Education Research, 18(2), 120–138. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxxxx

Journal Article with DOI

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (2025). Title of the article. Journal Title, 20(3), 100–115. https://doi.org/xx.xxxx/xxxxx

Book

Author, A. A. (2023). Title of the book. Publisher.

Edited Book

Editor, A. A., & Editor, B. B. (Eds.). (2024). Title of the edited book. Publisher.

Chapter in an Edited Book

Author, A. A. (2024). Title of the chapter. In B. B. Editor & C. C. Editor (Eds.), Title of the book (pp. 25–45). Publisher.

Webpage

Author, A. A. (2025, March 15). Title of the webpage. Website Name. URL

Thesis or Dissertation

Author, A. A. (2024). Title of thesis or dissertation [Doctoral dissertation, University Name]. Database or Repository Name. URL

Conference Paper

Author, A. A. (2024, July 10–12). Title of paper [Paper presentation]. Name of Conference, City, Country.

7. Tables, Figures, and Musical Examples

Tables, figures, photographs, diagrams, musical notation, and musical examples should be directly relevant to the manuscript and of sufficient quality for publication.

Each item should:

• Be numbered consecutively.
• Have a clear and informative title or caption.
• Be referred to in the main text.
• Include an appropriate source or attribution where necessary.
• Comply with copyright and licensing requirements.

Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission for copyrighted photographs, figures, musical scores, notation, archival materials, or other third-party materials where permission is required.

Musical examples should be legible and prepared at a resolution and size suitable for scholarly publication.

8. Non-English Terms, Names, and Musical Materials

Terms, titles, names, quotations, or musical concepts presented in languages other than English should be transliterated or translated where necessary to ensure accessibility to an international readership.

Authors should use a recognized transliteration system consistently throughout the manuscript.

Where culturally specific terminology cannot be adequately translated, the original term may be retained with a concise explanation at first occurrence.

9. Research Ethics

Research involving human participants, interviews, surveys, observations, recordings, identifiable individuals, or other ethically sensitive data must comply with applicable institutional and national research ethics requirements.

Where required, authors must obtain:

• Ethical approval
• Informed consent
• Permission for recording or documentation
• Permission for the publication of identifiable materials

Research involving indigenous, traditional, community-owned, sacred, restricted, or culturally sensitive musical knowledge should be conducted and reported with appropriate ethical and cultural consideration.

10. Authorship and Contributions

All listed authors must have made a meaningful scholarly contribution to the manuscript and must accept responsibility for the published work.

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged rather than listed as authors.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have approved the submitted manuscript and agree to its submission to GSM.

11. Conflict of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial, professional, academic, institutional, or personal relationships that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation.

If no conflict of interest exists, authors should provide an appropriate statement indicating that there is no conflict of interest.

12. Funding Information

Authors must identify all sources of financial or institutional support related to the research.

Where applicable, authors should provide:

• Funding organization
• Grant or project number
• Funding recipient
• Relevant institutional support

If the research received no external funding, this may be stated accordingly.

13. Use of Artificial Intelligence and AI-Assisted Technologies

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, citations, and scholarly content of their manuscripts.

Artificial intelligence systems or AI-assisted tools cannot be listed as authors or co-authors.

Where generative AI or AI-assisted technologies have materially contributed to manuscript preparation, data analysis, musical analysis, research methods, or other substantive aspects of the study, authors must disclose the tool used and explain the purpose and manner of its use in accordance with the journal’s AI Policy.

AI-generated information, references, citations, data, and analytical outputs must be independently verified by the authors.

14. Copyright and Permissions

Authors retain copyright in their published work and grant GSM the right of first publication in accordance with the journal’s Copyright and Licensing Policy.

Articles are published under the license officially adopted by the journal.

Authors are responsible for securing permission to reproduce copyrighted third-party materials, including:

• Musical scores and notation
• Song lyrics
• Photographs
• Images and artworks
• Tables and figures
• Archival documents
• Audio and video materials
• Other copyrighted materials

Evidence of permission may be requested by the Editorial Team before publication.

15. Submission Preparation Checklist

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should confirm that:

• The manuscript is original and is not under consideration elsewhere.
• The manuscript is relevant to the Aims and Scope of GSM.
• The manuscript is prepared in Times New Roman, 12-point font.
• Citations and references follow APA 7th edition.
• The manuscript contains the required sections appropriate to the article type.
• Author information has been entered correctly in the submission system.
• Identifying information has been removed from the manuscript intended for double-blind peer review.
• All tables, figures, photographs, and musical examples are appropriately numbered and cited.
• Permission has been obtained for copyrighted third-party materials where required.
• All references cited in the text appear in the reference list and vice versa.
• DOI information has been included where available.
• Ethical approval and informed consent information has been provided where applicable.
• Funding and conflicts of interest have been disclosed.
• Any substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies has been appropriately disclosed.
• The manuscript has been carefully proofread before submission.

16. Submission and Editorial Consideration

Submission of a manuscript does not guarantee acceptance for publication.

All manuscripts are subject to initial editorial screening. Manuscripts that meet the journal’s requirements and fall within the Aims and Scope of GSM will normally proceed to double-blind peer review by at least three independent reviewers with relevant expertise.

The Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor makes the final decision regarding publication based on the manuscript’s scholarly merit, peer-review reports, revisions, research integrity, publication ethics, and relevance to the journal.

Authors are expected to respond carefully and systematically to editorial and reviewer comments when revisions are requested.