Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

The institutionalization process of innovation in creative industries: A case study of musical styles in contemporary Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Amirhossein Kariman 1
Masoud Shadnam 2

1 PhD Candidate in Management and Organization Studies, Department of Management, Graduate school of Management and Economics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor of Management and Organization Studies, Department of Management, Faculty of Management and Economics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

10.22035/isih.2026.5497.5128
Abstract
Entrepreneurship is among the most important outcomes of university development and requires novel management approaches such as "organizational ambidexterity," which refers to the simultaneous pursuit of exploiting existing capacities and exploring knowledge for the future. This paper aims to design and validate a balanced ambidextrous university model for entrepreneurship development. The research method is mixed-methods with a sequential exploratory design. The target population in the qualitative phase consisted of higher education management experts, with whom 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted purposefully. Art is one of the most dynamic domains of human life, yet artistic innovations do not share the same destiny: some attract temporary attention and disappear, while others become embedded in collective memory. Understanding the mechanisms behind this difference is particularly important in creative industries. Drawing upon institutional theory, this study investigates how innovative musical styles become institutionalized in contemporary Iran and why some innovations gain permanence while others are forgotten. The research adopts an interpretive qualitative approach using grounded theory within a multiple-case study design. Data were collected through archival sources and semi-structured interviews with members of eight innovative Iranian music groups, selected through purposive sampling with a snowball strategy, and analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding until theoretical saturation was achieved. Five major themes were identified: the organic emergence of innovation through artists' internal creative interactions; the formation of an initial niche audience through shared taste and informal channels; stylistic stabilization through authenticity and audience loyalty; negotiations for institutional support after audience consolidation; and the acceptance or rejection of that support. The findings demonstrate that audience formation precedes institutional endorsement and serves as a critical condition for the long-term survival of innovative musical styles. The study concludes that institutionalization in creative industries emerges through ongoing interactions among artists, audiences, and institutional actors rather than through formal legitimacy alone. The proposed model contributes to institutional theory by highlighting cultural identity, audience engagement, and adaptive institutional arrangements, with practical implications for artists, cultural entrepreneurs, and policymakers.

Keywords

creative industries
innovation
institutionalization
musical genres and styles
Iran
Subjects
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Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 23 September 2026

  • Receive Date 06 December 2025
  • Revise Date 04 April 2026
  • Accept Date 28 April 2026

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