MEMBERSHIP
Join a global network of cities shaping the future of music
Music Cities Network brings together cities that recognise music as more than culture alone. It is part of how cities build identity, strengthen communities, support creative economies and create better places to live.
By becoming an MCN member, your city joins an international community of people working on music policy, strategy and city development - sharing knowledge, testing ideas and learning from what works elsewhere.
Bring your city into the network.
WHY JOIN MUSIC CITIES NETWORK?
Every music city is different. But many of the questions we face are shared.
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How do we protect spaces for music?
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How do we strengthen local music ecosystems?
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How can music contribute to tourism without losing authenticity?
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How do we build stronger connections between policy, industry, culture and communities?
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And how do we turn ambitious strategies into lasting change?
MCN creates a space where cities do not have to answer these questions alone. Our members exchange experience openly, learn directly from one another and build relationships with peers facing similar challenges in different local contexts.
Less reinventing the wheel. More learning from each other.
WHAT MEMBERSHIP GIVES YOU
Exchange, knowledge and connection built for cities working on music.
A trusted international peer network
Connect directly with people shaping music policy, culture and city development across MCN member cities.
The network brings together municipalities, music offices, cultural organisations, development agencies and other organisations working at the intersection of music and cities.
It is a network built around exchange rather than competition.
International Summits
MCN members come together regularly in different member cities. Rather than traditional conferences, MCN Summits are designed as working spaces where members can explore real challenges together.
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City visits and local ecosystem exploration
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Member case studies
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Workshops and facilitated discussions
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Working group sessions
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Peer-to-peer exchange and networking across cities
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Collaborative development of new ideas and initiatives
Knowledge Hub
MCN's Knowledge Hub brings together useful resources, tools, city examples, research and insights from across our membership - designed to make the collective knowledge of the network easier to find, share and apply.
International visibility
Through MCN's communication channels, events, partnerships and collaborative initiatives, we highlight projects, people and ideas emerging from our member cities. Members can contribute:
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City stories and case studies
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Projects and good practices
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Research and resources
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Events and opportunities
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Local music initiatives
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Insights for the wider network
Practical knowledge from other cities
Learn from strategies, projects, successes and challenges already being tested elsewhere.
Through member exchanges, city presentations, case studies and shared resources, MCN helps members turn international knowledge into ideas that can be adapted to their own local context.
What worked? What didn't? What could your city do differently?
Working Groups
Go deeper into the topics that matter to your city. MCN Working Groups bring interested members together around shared priorities and allow conversations to continue beyond individual meetings or Summits.
Music Tourism
Exploring how music can strengthen destination development while supporting authentic local music ecosystems.
Impact & Measurement
Developing better ways to understand and communicate the social, cultural and economic value of music in cities.
And new priorities shaped by our members - the network evolves with the challenges its cities are facing.
City-to-city exchange
Sometimes the most useful conversation is with someone who has already faced the same problem. MCN makes those connections easier - whether around policy development, venues, tourism, ecosystem mapping, funding, night-time economy, internationalisation or another emerging challenge.
Opportunities for collaboration
The strongest networks do more than exchange information. MCN creates opportunities for members to identify shared interests and turn them into collaborations - from joint projects and knowledge exchange to international showcases, study visits and new initiatives developed through the network.
Ideas can start with one conversation and grow across several cities.
WHO CAN BECOME A MEMBER?
Designed for cities and organisations shaping their local music ecosystem.
City and municipal authorities
Public or publicly connected music offices
Cultural and creative development organisations
Music ecosystem organisations
Other organisations representing or coordinating music-city development locally
We are particularly interested in cities that see music as part of wider urban development and are willing to contribute actively to an international peer network.
You do not need to have everything figured out. In fact, some of the most valuable conversations begin with a challenge.
WHAT MAKES AN MCN MEMBER
Membership is participation, not just access.
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Be active
MCN works because members participate - joining conversations, attending network activities where possible and bringing questions, experiences and ideas into the room.
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Share openly
Your successes matter - but so do the things that did not work. We encourage honest exchange about both.
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Think beyond your city
MCN is built on the idea that knowledge becomes more valuable when it travels. Members contribute locally rooted perspectives while strengthening the wider network.
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Learn - and contribute
The more knowledge, curiosity and experience members bring into MCN, the stronger the network becomes for everyone.
A NETWORK TO WORK WITH
Your city. Your challenges. A network to work on them with.
Whether your city is developing a new music strategy, strengthening its ecosystem, protecting music spaces, exploring music tourism, measuring impact or looking for new international partners, there is a good chance another MCN city is working on something connected. That is where the network starts.
INTERESTED IN JOINING?
We would love to hear what is happening in your city.
Tell us a little about your organisation, your local music ecosystem and why you are interested in Music Cities Network.
From there, we can explore whether MCN membership is the right fit and introduce you to the network, its activities and membership process.