Let’s Not Talk About Archives: Open Research for Every Ethnomusicologist

Abstract This article makes a case for why ethnomusicologists—not just those with specialised interests in archives, information management, and intellectual property law—need a serious conversation about open research. Drawing on examples of ethical, regulatory, and infrastructure challenges encountered in the UK-based Access Folk project, I suggest the necessity of dialogue that crosses fault lines about data ownership and control. Articulating a coherent disciplinary-level stance about what open research means in ethnomusicology is an essential step toward a more ethical research praxis, positioning us to confront twenty-first-century technical and regulatory challenges.