When Cities Align, Music Ecosystems Move Forward - MCN at Tallinn Music Week

Some moments feel like a natural next step – this was one of them.

For the first time at Tallinn Music Week, the Music Cities Network and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network – Cities of Music came together in a shared format.

What began as early conversations in 2023 has now taken a tangible step forward: creating a space to exchange, compare, and begin aligning towards a more connected future for music cities.

When networks begin to align

In a landscape where cities face similar pressures – from sustaining cultural infrastructure to embedding music into policy – connection is no longer optional, but structural.

The Music City Day in Tallinn, co-hosted by Tallinn UNESCO City of Music and MCN, brought cities from both networks together for exchange and shared learning.

The presence of Amalie Löwén from Aarhus, Søren Burholt Kristensen from Aalborg, Korneel Boon from Brussels, and Gabija Liaugminaitė from Vilnius added a strong MCN member dimension, strengthening internal connections while expanding outward. Contributors from both MCN and UNESCO Cities of Music highlighted the depth and diversity of the ecosystem – and the value of exchange as a form of infrastructure in itself.

A joint session mapped both networks side by side, clarifying roles and dynamics. MCN operates as an agile, action-oriented network closely linked to policy and practice, while UNESCO provides global recognition and institutional reach. What emerged is a complementary structure – combining visibility with implementation, and recognition with capacity.

Shared challenges, collective thinking

The conversation quickly moved to the future. Cities reflected on key challenges shaping music ecosystems over the next 3–5 years: sustainability, governance, infrastructure, and the role of music in rapidly evolving urban environments.

What became evident is how aligned these challenges are across contexts. Cities are navigating similar tensions – balancing growth with identity, supporting local scenes while engaging internationally, and embedding music more structurally into policy.

This alignment creates a strong foundation for continued collaboration, including joint advocacy at the European level and a more coordinated global voice.

From local ecosystems to European responsibility

These themes were explored further in the panel Resilient Music Ecosystems: How City Networks Connect Local Action with European Responsibility, linking Music Cities to the wider Music Moves Europe dialogue.

Moderated by Grettel Killing (Tallinn, UNESCO City of Music), the panel brought together Katie Duffy (Glasgow, UNESCO City of Music), Lena Ingwersen (MCN Managing Director)), Sandra Wall (Norrköping, UNESCO City of Music), Matthias Rauch (Mannheim, UNESCO City of Music), and Gabija Liaugminaitė (Vilnius Night Office, MCN Member).

The discussion reinforced a shared understanding: music ecosystems are built locally, but depend on structures that extend beyond city borders – and city networks play a key role in translating local experience into shared knowledge, policy alignment, and coordinated advocacy.

From discussion to experience

Tallinn also demonstrated how these ideas translate into practice.

A joint reception and showcase brought policymakers, industry professionals, and artists into one space – adding an informal but essential layer of exchange.

The showcase, selected from over 40 applications, featured seven artists from seven cities: Alonette, Inger, Heleenyum (Tallinn), Tanaka VII (Belfast), TYSK (Kharkiv), Rakel (Reykjavik), and Merry (Aalborg).

Looking ahead

Tallinn marked a step within an ongoing process.

The conversations initiated here are already opening up continued exchange between MCN and UNESCO Cities of Music – with a shared interest in moving from dialogue to more coordinated action.

This includes exploring joint advocacy towards the European Commission, as well as broader international collaboration.

At the same time, there is growing recognition that cities benefit from engaging with both frameworks – combining global visibility with hands-on implementation capacity.

To make this more tangible, we’ve developed a side-by-side comparison of MCN and UNESCO Cities of Music, now available in the Knowledge Hub.

If Tallinn showed one thing, it is this: The challenges are shared, the ambition is there – now it’s about connecting the dots more deliberately, and turning exchange into action.