In June 1981 he co-organised, together with Gerard Kempers and David Horn, the first international conference on popular music studies in Amsterdam, as a result of which IASPM (International Association for the Study of Popular Music) was formed.
Juunis 1981 korraldas ta koos Gerard Kempersi ja David Horniga Amsterdamis esimese rahvusvahelise popmuusikauuringute konverentsi, mille tulemusena moodustati Rahvusvaheline Popmuusikauuringute Assotsiatsioon (IASPM, International Association for the Study of Popular Music).