#BETTER MUSIC CITIES RESILIENCE HANDBOOK A RICH AND MUSIC CITIES VIBRANT MUSIC RESILIENCE HANDBOOK SCENE BRINGS A BUILDING BETTER MUSIC CITIES LOT OF HAPPINESS. A plan for how music can drive recovery, IT’S LIKE AIR – IT’S build resilience and create better cities and urban development for all of us IMPORTANT. YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT IN YOUR LIFE JUST TO REMIND YOU THAT LIFE’S WORTH LIVING. Dave Grohl, 20191 #BETTER Front Cover Image © Antonio Hugo/Adobe Stock Back Cover Image © svitlini/Adobe Stock Opposite Image © eskystudio/Adobe Stock 1 FOREWORD EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The economic and social shut-down imposed around the world in We want to rethink and reshape the role of response to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced all of us to re-examine our perspectives on the value attributed to many people music and culture in our cities, towns and and roles in society – whether it is the salaries of key workers such as places. This handbook begins this conversation. nurses or cleaners, or how we view the value of teachers and doctors. Enforced isolation has also This timely report by Sound Milan is reimagining its But the foundations that music Our objective is not to be thrown into sharp relief the value Diplomacy highlights the case relationship with cars.2 Singapore is built on – as an amenity and an definitive. It is to be inquisitive. of arts and culture to our mental for culture as a tangible and is rethinking the design of its economy – are broken. Musicians How can we create more equitable health, wellbeing and ability quantifiable force for good and I public spaces.3 Around the world, are losing livelihoods. Live music music cities in recovery? If we are to connect with other human sincerely hope that policy makers the pandemic is encouraging a is shuttered. The industry – like imagining future cities with more beings whether or not we occupy take note. rethink in our urban environment. others – has lost significant bikes and fewer cars, with cleaner the same physical space in that In our hour of need, music has Industries are being upended and revenue. air and fewer polluters, with more moment. delivered for so many – this should norms, from the value of oil to diverse voices making decisions, We need music. And if we need be carried forward as a case study our need to congregate in shared why can’t we also create better The opportunity to listen to music, something, we create systems, in the power of culture to create offices is changing. But one music cities as well? practice an instrument, take a dance structures and policies to We can. community and deliver ongoing class or participate in Zoom choirs constant throughout has been a value to our society that deserves facilitate it, protect it and pay This handbook outlines how has been an anchor to many of us in collective need – and enjoyment investment and requires attention for it. This is not the case here. music has been treated civically, this time of crisis. Music, like almost – of music. The World Economic as part of any strategic planning Instead, the content is what is the impact music and culture nothing else, has fostered and Forum argues Beethoven can agenda. valued, not the creator. Long have on urban development “get us through the crisis”.4 Live perpetuated a sense of community standing inequities have reduced and nine strategies to improve and connection in moments of our streaming, instrument purchases Paul Pacifico artist incomes, gutted music resiliency and create a better most profound isolation. and new music being uploaded CEO, Association of Independent education programs and music ecosystem in the future. At online are increasing. More of us For decades, sport has successfully Music, UK promoted policies that support the same time, we are convening are listening to music or using made the case that it delivers Visiting Professor in the ‘Artist as multinational consolidation rather experts via our music cities it to combat social isolation. unarguable returns on investment a Startup’, Berklee Valencia, Spain than local talent development. conversations and events platform Most of us have seen the videos in terms of public health and Trustee, English National Ballet This should change. to debate, rethink and create a wellbeing. But music has never of Italians and Spaniards singing Strategic Advisor, Creative new global brain trust around quite managed to make its case in on balconies, or virtual choirs This handbook offers a different Industries Federation, UK building #bettermusiccities. that arena. Now, in the most bleak bringing together dementia path. If we reimagine the role of moments of this current crisis, we patients. music and culture in recovery, We can create better music cities see clearly the need, the impact and we can create a new norm – one and creative economies. This the results of music and culture in where they are active, resilient, requires economies to commit delivering positive outcomes in both economic and social contributors to bold policies, leadership and physical and mental health. Music for all of us. To do that, we need partnership. This handbook is just has demonstrated the power and to think about music and culture the start. There’s more to come. benefits of social prescribing like differently. We need to be honest never before. about what we have done before, Have a read. Think. what has worked and what has Comment. Act. Join us. not and how – with no additional www.bettermusiccities.com resources – we can create a better www.sounddiplomacy.com music and cultural ecosystem that www.musiccitiesevents.com works for all of us. #bettermusiccities Image © Monkey Business/Adobe Stock 2 3 NOTE FOR READERS INTRODUCTION Our report is not aimed at predicting the future, nor criticizing any initiative for reacting to the plight of artists, musicians and creatives. Every penny that finds its way into a creative’s bank account or wallet is welcomed. The more support, the better. We also want to note the • This report is one-sided. It • All sectors of the music industry following: focuses on what cities – and are important and all deserve all of us who live in them – can to be treated intentionally and • This report is written in US do to better support music. It supportively. English, with USD as its main doesn’t outline what the music Please support all local talent. currency. It is not meant to sector can do to support cities. • Pay for live streams. Buy tickets prioritize one country over That’s for a future report. another; we felt that it was easier for future gigs. Go get those to write it this way to maintain • There is no intention to create guitar lessons you mentioned. consistency. But this handbook exceptionalism around music. Engage. Sing. Music is for all is globally relevant. All art is equal. All art is valuable. of us. Music is our thing. It is what we • We were also overwhelmed with know. That’s why we’ve written And thanks for reading. positive, critical feedback after about it. We believe the same Can’t wait to chat. sharing the initial draft. So treat can be said of dance, sculpture, Shain Shapiro, PhD this report as a fluid document. fine art or any other creative It is meant to ask questions, endeavour. Investing in them is create debate and discussion. investing in all of us. We expect this will be the first of many reports written on this • There are so many facets to topic as the world continues music that we infer in this to change every day. We have report, but do not explicitly go already begun the next one. into. For example, the cultural diversity in music is so vast that • We will be convening a brain some genres/disciplines will trust to continue expanding recover quicker than others. these ideas. If you are interested Music means so many things to in being involved, email so many people. We get that. [email protected]. Please read the report with the We will respond. word music meaning whatever you want it to mean. Image © rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock 4 5 SETTING THE STAGE The world we inhabit now is different than the one that we shared two months ago. The impact of COVID-19 has brought innumerable challenges to our way of life – how we work, how we congregate and how we socialize. This pandemic is considered the has dropped.15 But a number of music, arts and culture is in Germany has created a special most pressing global challenge of businesses and industries increasingly important for mental relief fund for clubs and venues, since World War II.5 The COVID-19 have responded with creativity, health. totalling €1.5m ($1.7m).24 As relief crisis is affecting the world’s ingenuity and innovation. is pouring into the arts, upwards Many of the people who create workforce of 3.3 billion.6 Half Factories that previously made of $100m globally as of May 2020, the music, arts and culture of the world’s workforce is at cars have redirected efforts it is time to start thinking about that we consume and rely on risk of losing their livelihoods.7 to making ventilators. Clothing what we can learn from this crisis are in economic freefall. Over In Europe and the Americas, over manufacturers are now producing so when the next one occurs the 500 large-scale outdoor music 40% employment work in at-risk personal protective equipment. music, arts and creative sectors festivals have been cancelled sectors.8 Almost half (40%) of Restaurants have launched or are better prepared, resourced worldwide.18 Surveys from across American adults do not have $400 expanded their takeout and and structured to withstand the the United States and Europe saved in their bank accounts for delivery services.