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What is the Music Cities Network?The Music Cities Network (MCN) is a transnational non-profit association uniting music cities and policy makers around the globe. The network is dedicated to improving communication collaboration, business, arts & policies for all music city stakeholders. The MCN was initiated by the cities of Aarhus, Hamburg, and Sydney in 2016 & spun off as an independent non-profit association in 2021 after five years under the umbrella and with the support of Hamburg Music. Founding members are Aarhus, Bergen, Berlin, Hamburg, Gothenburg, Groningen, Manchester, Nantes, Reykjavik & Sydney. The MCN pursues a holistic approach in its work and includes all stakeholders of the music city ecosystem, including policy makers, music entrepreneurs and artists.
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What is a Music City?Being a Music City is a concept For example, it can be… : A community of any size with a vibrant music economy Beginning with artists and musicians A home to a broad range of professionals who support artist-, and music entrepreneurs in their career development Offering spaces for education, rehearsal, recording and performance Fostering a live scene with an engaged and passionate audience that provides artists with a fertile ground for developing their craft.
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Why is MCN needed?We as Music Cities Network agree that a future-proofed music industry needs to become more diverse, fairer and healthier. That is why we aim to contribute to this mission by intensifying borderless cultural exchange and business opportunities between music cities through enabling platforms empowering innovation. In the light of the ongoing worldwide crises, the existing and emerging challenges of the global music industry have become more vital than ever. We consider city networks to play an even more important role in the future, which is why we already invest into those supportive structures. Last but not least: a worldwide network of music cities, exchanging on a policy level wasn’t existing before - so someone had to do it. :)
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Why is a holistic approach necessary?In order to facilitate sustainable change in the music industry all stakeholders from artists, music entrepreneurs to policy makers need to be equally empowered and connected. Thus, to bring the greatest benefit, music must be assessed, managed and evaluated like all other forms of infrastructure, for example schools, hospitals and roads. Measurement, upkeep and reflection is the foundation of a successful music policy.
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What is our vision?We are a member-based network that actively designs hands-on solutions to bridge the gaps between all music city stakeholders: music policy makers, music entrepreneurs, artists and city marketing strategists. Our actions are aiming towards our vision to get decision makers and politicians to sustainably acknowledge music as an integrated part of city development.
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What are our key missions?1. Connect We connect with music cities, policy makers, music entrepreneurs and music artists around the globe. We jointly explore and live common transnational values, similarities and differences. 2. Learn We learn from a diverse and experienced team of music cities experts gathered within the network. We get and give advice and insights on good practices and possibilities for music cities policies. 3. Share We share and exchange knowledge on a professional music policy level. We understand ourselves as advocates for a more fair and diverse future in our cities and within the global music industry. 4. Shape We actively shape hands-on solutions to bridge the gaps between music scenes, city marketing and music policy makers. Our joint transnational activities are paving the way for Music Cities prioritizing music and culture policy actively.
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What are Key Strategies of a Music City?.. that both larger and smaller music cities can use to grow and strengthen their music economy: Music and musician-friendly policies; Music Offices; Music Advisory Boards; Engaging the broader community; Providing access to spaces and places; Diverse audience development; and, Music Tourism.
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How much does it cost to join the network?The cost to join the network is 6.500€ net per year for a full member city, which is contributing to the general financing of the Music Cities Network association (such as staff, events, projects, visibility). If you are interested in joining our network, please contact Lena or one of our board members for more information.
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How can you join the network?For more information on how to join please look at ‘Membership' section.
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What does member-based mean?Member-based means that the aims and agenda are actively shaped by the members and their respective music scenes and stakeholders. Every contact person we work with serves as a doorway into and out of the music scene in every city.
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Where can I learn more about the concept of Music Cities?There are a lot of options but for example you can ready more here: The Mastering of a Music City, by Music Canada 2015, here The Music Cities Manual by Sound Diplomacy, 2019, here
Music
Cities
Network e.V. membership benefits at one glance
Membership Benefits
One vote in the yearly general assembly.​​
Possibility of becoming a board member.
Knowledge Transfer and Research
Knowledge exchange platform & commissioned research.​
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Access to solution-oriented policy templates for your daily work and for the shaping of a better future together.​
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Part of a sustainable knowledge transfer as a result of our joint work, projects, and the development of manuals that you can integrate in your policy work.
Additional Perks
Access to funding and open calls (applied via the MCN as lead and its collaborative projects).​
Free/reduced conference tickets to e.g. RBF, ESNS or Iceland Airwaves.​
MCN is a unique worldwide network with inspiring colleagues that will elevate your way of working and thinking on multiple levels.
Advisory support
We offer advisory support tailored to your music city’s unique cultural landscape and development goals. We bring insights from cities across Europe and beyond, helping you identify opportunities, avoid common pitfalls, and align your music ecosystem with broader urban planning and cultural policies.
Active Policy Influence and Development
Active influence and further development of goals & agenda of the association.​
Part of a thought-leading project and collaboration development center.
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Joint shaping of global music policy change, influence & campaigning.
Networking and Collaboration
Extensive international contact database & direct access to international music city decision-makers.
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Joint global Music City Marketing (e.g. public website; global music city map incl. city presentations; joint events at conferences/festivals).​
Support and growth of business networks worldwide.​
Improvement of your city’s marketing and music tourism strategies through best practices and policy/stakeholder exchange.​
Acknowledgement of your city as one of the leading Music Cities prioritizing music and culture policy actively through our joint transnational activities as a network
