Rethinking Music: Changing Roles of Music in Media and Civil Society

12:25 pm PDT / 1:25 pm MDT / 2:25 pm CDT / 3:25 pm EDT

We have asked extensively in the past year: what is the role of live music and music communities in our healthy cities and society? Music has found its way into all of our digital pores and spaces, and we’ve fought for its funding in the offices of government. Have we changed or made more visible the role of music in media and civil society? Do we want to change this in our moves ahead? What social roles and awareness do we need and want to change in music’s futures?

This session explored the changing roles of music in media and civil society, with a focus on the need to rethink how music is supported and integrated into communities. The panelists, including Kevin Erickson from the Future of Music Coalition, Diana Raiselis from Vibe Lab, and Laura Clark from Music Forward Foundation, discussed the challenges of capturing comprehensive data on musicians’ livelihoods, the importance of building equitable and inclusive music ecosystems, and the opportunity to redefine the “public interest” in policy to better serve music creators and communities.

The conversation highlighted the interconnected nature of music, nightlife, education, and policy, and the need for a more holistic, networked approach to supporting the music industry.

Key Takeaways:

✅ The music industry lacks comprehensive data on the diverse population of music practitioners, making it difficult to design effective policies and support systems.

✅ Achieving equity and inclusion in the music industry requires intentional efforts to break down barriers, build partnerships, and empower underrepresented communities.

✅ Redefining the “public interest” in policy to prioritize community needs, cultural participation, and the well-being of music creators can lead to more effective and equitable support for the music ecosystem.

✅ The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the precarity of many music-related livelihoods, highlighting the need for a stronger social safety net and more sustainable models of support.

✅Fostering a “super community” approach that connects music to other sectors, such as education, nightlife, and urban planning, can create more holistic and resilient support systems for the music industry.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/VPo7UWbrr0M

Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/amplify-music/episodes/66ef9ddbf3953ecef1785717