The Deutsche Volksliedarchiv, a research institute for Volkslied (folk song) in German, was founded in 1914 and was integrated into the University of Freiburg in 2014, now called Zentrum für Populäre Kultur und Musik (Centre of popular culture and music).

The institution was founded in 1914 by the Germanist and folklorist John Meier,[1] aiming to collect and document Volkslieder (folk songs) and to publish them in a scholarly complete edition.

Meier rejected the contemporary Unterhaltungsmusik [de] (entertainment music) (operetta, Schlager), but also collected "Kunstlied im Volksmund" (art song in people's mouth).

A renewed and comprehensive modernization was undertaken in the 2000s,[4] especially by including contemporary musical culture and by paying attention to media issues.

In 2011, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft awarded the institute the title of a "herausragende Forschungsbibliothek" (outstanding research library), and provided financial support for the establishment of the pop music archive.

[8] In March 2014, the Ministry of Science decided to integrate the Archive into the University of Freiburg, named Zentrum für Populäre Kultur und Musik, as a research centre for popular culture and music in past and presence.