STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame invites fans, scholars, critics, musicians, and students to submit individual papers to its first “The Billy Joel Symposium,” to be held on June 6 and 7 starting at 12 p.m. at the Hall of Fame location at 97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY.
The deadline for submissions is Jan. 26th, 2026. There is no entry fee and no entry limit. Entries are accepted both nationwide and internationally from fans, scholars (professors/students), music experts, and anyone who wants to submit.
“Billy Joel’s body of work functions as a mirror of contemporary America, reflecting social change, personal experience, and collective memory, said Tom Needham, LIMEHOF vice chairman and Billy Joel Symposium executive director. “We welcome research that considers his recordings, performances, and lyrics as vital cultural texts, ripe for rigorous analysis and critical engagement.”
The two-day conference will be devoted to the music, lyrics, themes, and cultural impact of music legend and LIMEHOF inductee Billy Joel. As one of America’s most influential songwriters and performers (as well as being one of Long Island’s own), Joel’s body of work offers a unique lens through which to explore popular music, regional identity, and American culture. This symposium will gather a wide range of experts and scholars who will engage in a critical analysis of Joel’s artistry, life, and legacy.
Papers that are written by or use AI are not acceptable. People can use media in their presentations, but a paper is necessary for submissions. LIMEHOF is hoping to have a musical performance and is open to artists’ reaching out who may want to play music at this event. It is expecting some well-known participants to be announced closer to the event date.
LIMEHOF welcomes submissions on topics including (but not limited to):
Lyrics & Narratives: Storytelling, character studies, social commentary
Music & Style: Harmonic language, piano-centered composition, genre fusion (e.g., rock, pop, jazz, classical)
Place & Identity: Suburban Long Island and New York as cultural landscapes
History & Memory: Nostalgia, generational commentary (e.g., “Allentown,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire”)
Performance & Persona: Joel’s stage presence, Madison Square Garden residency, audience relationships
Comparative Perspectives: Joel alongside Elton John, Dylan, Springsteen, McCartney
Reception & Criticism: Popular acclaim vs. scholarly neglect, canonization in American song
Cultural Impact: Joel in film, television, and cultural memory
Biographical & Historical Contexts: intersections of Joel’s personal story with larger cultural and political shifts
Submission Guidelines
Abstract: Between 250 and 300 words
Short Bio: 100 words (include name, affiliation, contact information)
Format: Single PDF or Word document with abstract and bio together
Final Presentations: A Q&A session to last 20 minutes and 10 minutes
The Symposium Committee will review all proposals. Accepted papers may be grouped by theme into 90-minute panels. Presenters will be notified of their panel assignment when acceptances are sent. There are no planned awards, but selected papers may be considered for inclusion in an edited collection or digital proceedings published by LIMEHOF.
Musicians, critics, authors, music industry professionals, and archivists are also invited to submit a brief bio with a proposal by the deadline.
For updates and full event details, please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/billy-joel-symposium/
Send all bios and proposals to: Tom Needham, Executive Director, The Billy Joel Symposium: info@limusichalloffame.org