The Beatles, Heritage and Culture MA (Online)

University of Liverpool

The Beatles are the world’s most successful pop group, whose popularity has endured for over 60 years. But their legacy extends far beyond music, and the Liverpool City Region has built an industry from its most famous sons. This part-time, online programme examines the lasting cultural and economic impact of the Fab Four.

Introduction

The Beatles are a central musical, cultural and industrial force in Liverpool, the UK and the world, and Beatles tourism is worth approximately £82 million annually to the local economy. But the concept of ‘Beatles heritage’ is far more complex than tourist attractions, and is bound up with issues such as institutionalisation, conservation and history. The city’s ongoing efforts to promote its connection to the world’s most famous pop group continues to influence civic infrastructure and even its wider cultural offerings.

This programme draws on Liverpool’s Beatles industry and heritage sectors to challenge the traditional frameworks within which the band, their music, and their story have so often been presented. You’ll be encouraged to critically evaluate the ongoing impact of their legacy on areas such as urban planning and regeneration, civic design, heritage, and the tourism and leisure industries, as well as the music and creative industries. Liverpool is a global hub for Beatles research, and your lecturers will include members of the city’s Beatles Legacy Group, who will be supported by employees from the sector.

An optional Special Project module will offer you the chance to spend two weeks in Liverpool, attending daily lectures and site visits linked to the Fab Four’s history, culture and heritage. You’ll have the opportunity to personally interact with lecturers, peers, industry practitioners, government officials, historians and scholars.