About MCN

Music Cities Network

What is it?

Music Cities Network is a public/private network dedicated to improving communication and cooperation, sharing research and knowledge, exploring policy and advocacy, and networking for policy makers, city leaders and all other music city stakeholders around the world. The network is focusing on research & policy; artist-, business- & city development & publicity and was initiated by Hamburg Music Business Association (IHM) & Sound Diplomacy in 2016. Current members are Aarhus, Hamburg, Groningen & Sydney.

Music cities increase revenue, link cultures around nations and continents, retain talent, drive tourism and brand development, and are the key to sustainable music economies. As melting pots of musical creativity and consumption, urban centres are where music is produced, performed, advertised and sold. There is exceptional potential in this, creating unique opportunities to position music cities as thriving and international important centres of music and media production.

The MCN is a membership-based network, focused on achieving four objectives:

Improving cities through music policies and collaborative projects;
Building greater networks and creating an actionable agenda for change;
Providing and sharing information and research surrounding global music cities activities & policies;
Facilitating exchange and collaboration for music business, artists, cultural institutions and education

Benefits

Project development & fundraising aimed at strengthening the music cultures and music economies of the member cities
Presenting the city as one of the worldwide leaders in the music cities discussion and building the city’s reputation
Regular exclusive networking/knowledge exchange meetings with other music cities organised by the network also remotely accessible via video conferences
Global presentation of each music city and their music culture/scene/business via forward thinking research, online platform, PR and collective events at festivals & conferences
Extensive international contact database & direct access to international music city decision makers
Access to the biggest database of music cities related research and best practices in English
Collaborative research in music city related fields
Shaping the music policies agenda in the EU and worldwide
Promotion of local talent and local businesses and exclusive exchange opportunities between the members
Direct access to a strong team of music cities experts with a responsive secretariat
Collaborations with other worldwide City networks like UCLG, GCDN
Assistance in rationalizing local music city infrastructure (associations, funding schemes, city development plans)
Enhancing global cultural, social and economical collaboration & exchange

Goals	Knowledge Exchange, Research & Policy	City, Artist & Business Development	City Marketing & Publicity
Short term	Knowledge exchange Contact exchange / Forum Member communication	Contact exchange / Forum Member communication Project development	Public website & presentation of each member music city Joint presentations at conferences/festival Media & PR
Mid term	Collaborative research & publications Implementing best practice charter Implementing extensive knowledge database	Implementing best practice charter (artists, business, education) Exchange opportunities (artists, business, education) Strengthen project development Further membership advantages	Project development (support & ideas) Extended Media & PR
Long term	Lobbying	Strengthen project development	Joint music city marketing & communication strategies Strengthen project development (own projects)

Founders

Hamburg Music Business Association (IHM)

The IHM is the network of the music business in Hamburg, representing enterprises in all branches of the music industry. Its main target is to support and help shaping the city of Hamburg as a location of music and music industry by means of networking, public relations and lobbying.

Contact: Timotheus Wiesmann
timotheus.wiesmann@musikwirtschaft.org
www.musikwirtschaft.org

Sound Diplomacy

Sound Diplomacy is the leading global advisor on music cities and market development. As strategists for cities, developers, large private sector organisations and governments, Sound Diplomacy provides cutting edge research and market expertise in increasing the value of the music and music business economy in state, city, urban and development plans. In addition, they are experts in music tech strategies, from trade missions to market development, research and consulting. Sound Diplomacy works in both the public and private sector, simultaneously in 20 countries for a number of governments (local, regional and national), music and music-tech conferences, economic development agencies, arts councils, chambers of commerce, universities, export offices, festivals, brands and record labels.

Contact: Katja Hermes
Katja@sounddiplomacy.com
www.sounddiplomacy.com