Music cities are special places. They don’t develop and grow through the analysis of market data and the implementation of local government ‘strategies’. No. Rather, they emerge through the connection people make to a place where they can engage with other likeminded people. There are many things that can make a place one of TheMusicCities, and at the end of the day, if you connect to a place through music, or to music through a place, that’s all you need.
Please tell us if you think your city is one of The Music Cities!
We’re not talking about stadium concerts, huge festivals out in a cornfield, or cover bands playing in a biker bar. We’re talking about real, authentic places where musical creativity drives entrepreneurship, quality of life and placemaking. Places that people want to be because of the music. Places that people think of because of music. Musicians that people think of because of a place. Places where music drives economic growth and quality of life. Places where music improves the public realm.
Don’t miss future The Music City episodes on the Flareheads Podcast!
This is about placemaking and driving entrepreneurship and cultural arts through the universal language of music. We talk a lot about art and culture, and how it is an important driver of economic growth. But not all genres of art are for everyone, and art is definitely seen through the eye of the beholder. That’s what makes music unique, and first among equals in the arts.
Not everyone is into museums. Not everyone is into the opera. Not everyone is into theater. Not everyone appreciates visual arts, nor sculpture. But EVERYONE has their favorite type of music. Each person’s musical preference may be different, and there may be genres that someone personally dislikes, but have you ever met anyone that dislikes all music? We certainly haven’t.
Music stirs emotions. It helps us relive important events in our lives. It triggers deja vu of people, and of places. And that musical connection to place is how people engage with one another. It is what helps make a place open and welcoming. It is how we discover things we like about other cultures we may not understand and meet people we would not otherwise get to know. It is how strangers find their tribe when they arrive to a new place. And it is a strong economic driver that often supports a hidden economy that needs to be exposed.
So what makes a place one of TheMusicCities? Here are our inaugural lists:
3. Musicians that branded cities.
5. Music’s hidden local economy.
We look forward to hearing your lists and learning why your city should be thought of as one of TheMusicCities.
Power Trip – A Three Day Music City
By Kevin Crowder Last week, I attended the 3-day Power Trip music festival in India, California, after also spending a few days on the Sunset
Music Branded Cities
There is only one city named “Music City”, but any city can be a music city with the right connection between music, people and place.
Places Made by Music
There are thousands of places around the country that have music, but there are a few special places that were actually made by music. Places
Musicians That Branded Cities
There are some cities that are defined by their musicians. That when you think of the city, that musician might come to mind, and when
Placemaking Music Events
There are thousands of music related events around the country every year, but very few even make the cut for consideration for TheMusicCities inaugural list.
The Hidden Music Economy
Our inaugural entry for this category is the City of North Miami, Florida. As we worked in the community to help assist with revitalization and
Musician Entrepreneurs
There are many types of musician entrepreneurs. They go into ventures that are as diverse as there are genres of music. They include investments in
Songs and Albums Connected to Places
Often, songs are the connection that people make to a place, either through an event that happened while the song was playing, and sometimes because
