MUSIC CITIES CONVENTION is the world's first conference focusing on the relationship between city planning, strategy, development and the music industry.

From venue and community space development to education, employment, event provision, licensing, regulation and demographics, city tourism, soft power and brand development, music industries impact a number of issues prevalent in city planning, strategy, regulatory and legislative aspects. Music Cities Convention will bring together the top minds from municipalities, regions, academics, consultancies and the music industry to discuss, debate and  introduce new thinking, action and structure to develop more vibrant, global cities.

Held alongside The Great Escape – Europe’s Leading Festival for New Music, Music Cities Convention is initiated by The Great Escape co-founder Martin Elbourne and global music market development agency, Sound Diplomacy.

FORMAT

Music Cities Convention will bring together cities from around the world and showcase solutions and tactics taken in cities to use the music industry – and all its variants – to improve city life. We will present a number of short ‘TED’ style  presentations, along with two collaborative panels and intensive networking. All talks will be held in the same room with no overlap and topics will be introduced from each continent, from both music industry and city perspectives.

STEERING COMMITTEE

Music Cities Convention is supporting by an executive steering committee to guide the event. We will have members from all continents and sectors in this debate. The members are: 

• Martin Elbourne – Glastonbury Booker, Co-Founder of The Great Escape (Chair)

• Dr. Shain Shapiro – Managing Director, Sound Diplomacy (Conference Curator)

• Emmanuelle Hebert – Culture and Creative Industries Officer, City of Montreal

• Dr. Tom Fleming – CEO, TF Consultancy 

• Donna Close – CEO, AMP Culture

• Matthew Newby – Planning Officer, Planning & Development, Newham Borough London

• Julie Herve – Policy Advisor, Euro Cities

• Benji Rogers – President and Founder, Pledge Music

• Dr. Charles Kriel – Founder, 12 Stories Tall

• Amy Terrill – VP Public Affairs, Music Canada

• Nikki Rowling – CEO, Titan Music Group

• Fer Isella – Managing Director and Founder, Limbo Digital South America