Global Music Cities
Melbourne, Austin and Berlin sit at “far corners of the world with different cultures, climates and distinct sounds”, but each has one major thing in common – they are branded as three of the most supportive cities for live music in the world.
In the late 1990s, Austin became known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” and Berlin, while “Poor but Sexy”, united and revitalised itself as the “Music and Technology Paradise” of Europe. In March 2013 Melbourne confirmed its place as the “Live Music Capital of Australia. However, high density living, residential development, local planning, regulation and licensing laws continue to impact on these cities, which are noted as some of the globe’s busiest live music corridors. In this scenario, Melbourne, Austin and Berlin’s pro-growth live music industries have needed a united community voice, and perhaps, a seat at the government table to help maintain their global music city status.
Presenters
Andrea Dr Baker
Music Historian/Sr Lecturer in Journalism
Monash University/ St Kilda Live Music Community
An internationally award winning radio journalist of over 20 years, Dr Andrea Jean Baker is also a music historian and journalism academic. Her 2012 book (and PhD), Virtual Radio Ga Ga: Youths and Net-radio (Hampton Press, New York), considered the first transnational study of net-radio, explores its relationship between radio, internet and music (with case studies of Melbourne with New York City). In 2013 Andrea held research residences at the University of Texas (Austin) (and attended SXSW) and at the Freie Universität’s Institute for Arts and Media Management in Berlin (Germany) where she interviewed over 50 key music personnel (local council, annual music week organizers, music industry and music journalists) about ‘What Makes A Global Music City’ for her (2nd) forthcoming book, Global Music Cities (Melbourne, Austin, Berlin). Since 2010 Andrea has been a project leader for the annual Melbourne Music Week, and is a founding member of the St Kilda Live Music Community which deals with issues surrounding live music in the local area. In July 2013, she was appointed the academic representative on the City of Melbourne’s Music Strategy Committee (2013-2017), who’s key aim is to promote Melbourne as a dynamic, global music city.
Nick O'Byrne
Exec Programmer
Bigsound/Air
Nick O'Byrne is the General Manager of AIR, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association.
He is also the Executive Programmer of BIGSOUND - Australia's largest music industry conference and festival for emerging artists. As well as this, he manages Australian musicians Courtney Barnett and Sterling Silver
AIR - www.air.org.au
BIGSOUND - www.bigsound.com.au
Don Pitts
Music Program Mgr
City of Austin
Don Pitts has more than 25 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry, community outreach, event planning, marketing and management. His career has been devoted to music, and he’s held numerous positions in various aspects of the industry.
Don’s career includes sixteen years in the Entertainment Relations Division with Gibson Guitar. During his tenure, he helped organize many live music performances and recording sessions, secured product placements for TV, video and motion picture advertisements, and initiated many special events and marketing opportunities on a national level. He developed relationships with premiere talent spanning countless music and entertainment genres.
In 2009, Don was named the Manager of the Austin Music Division, housed within the Economic Development Office at the City of Austin.
Don is a member of the National Association for Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), he’s served on the board of Governors for The Recording Academy, Texas Chapter and has devoted much of his time to a number of organizations that work to enhance the quality of the Austin music/musician experience including: Austin Music Commission, SIMS Foundation, Austin Music Foundation, ME Television, and more.
Christian Morin
Agent/Promoter
Headquarter Entertainment
Christian Morin is based in Berlin. He began to run underground music venues in the early nineties in post-wall East-Berlin. In 1997 Christian started his agency Headquarter Entertainment and organized hundreds of tours through Europe and promoted a large amount of local & national events. Since 2009 he is curating the music program in Berlin’s most famous theatre “Volksbuehne”. Apart from that Christian has always been involved with cultural politic; and was one of the founding members of the ‘Berlin Music Commission’ (BMC), an interest group of the Berlin music business; and runs BMC’s board of trustees. Christian has also been working as adviser for the Berlin government in the process leading to the start of the “MusicBoard Berlin” in January 2013, a new funding organization, working in-between the cultural administration and the music professionals of Berlin.
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