Music Cities Awards

Selected Outcomes:

• Received more than 1,700 applications from over 60 countries
• Achieved year-on-year application growth exceeding 20%
• Successfully launched as a digital global platform during COVID-19 before expanding into physical international editions in the United States and Saudi Arabia
• Achieved a media reach of up to 200 million people monthly
• Secured partnerships with organisations including the Saxony State Ministry for Culture and Tourism, Levitt Foundation, Music Business Association, Visit Macon and the American Cancer Society

Overview:

In 2020, I developed and launched the Music Cities Awards, the world’s first international awards platform dedicated to music cities and the relationship between music, culture and urban development.

During the six years I led the Awards, the platform was hosted internationally and received more than 1,700 applications from over 60 countries worldwide.

The jury for each edition brought together leading figures from government, culture and the music industry. Jurors have ranged from the President of The Recording Academy, the Secretary General of the International Music Council, the Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Sport for Bogotá, the bassist of Violent Femmes, and the Director of Creative Industries for the City of Adelaide.

From concept development through to the 2025 edition, I led all aspects of the platform’s growth and delivery, including host city partnerships, jury development, marketing and communications, international expansion, production leadership and operational oversight.