Authenticity & "Audio Identity"
I've been reading The Rise of the Creative Class for a community book discussion sponsored by ArtNext and the Frederick Arts Council. So far, it's been pretty interesting, and our first discussion yielded some good ideas.
Chapter 12, "The Power of Place," was one of the best so far. When I got to the section about "Authenticity," my highlighter almost ran out of ink. I'm already a complete fanatic when it comes to supporting local music, and this section just added fuel to the fire.
Basically, it provides an economist's spin to what's already pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about the music business. Independent musicians, especially those with active touring schedules, can live and work (and pay taxes) anywhere they want. There's no reason to live in an unsupportive environment that offers few opportunities for inspiration and collaboration. If a city wants to reap the benefits of a vibrant music scene, all the stakeholder groups (musicians, non-profits, government, businesses) must do everything in their power to create an environment that provides opportunities for local musicians.
Some of the best passages:
"Music is a key part of what makes a place authentic, in effect providing a sound or "audio identity." Audio identity refers to the identifiable musical genre or sound associated with local bands, clubs and so on that make up a city's music scene: blues in Chicago, Motown in Detroit, grunge in Seattle, Austin's Sixth Street. This is what many people know about these cities ... it is also the way these cities promote themselves.
"... it's hard to think of a major high-tech region that doesn't have a distinct audio identity. In addition to Seattle and Austin, consider the San Francisco Bay Area. It was home to perhaps the most creative music scene of the 1960s with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas, Haight-Ashbury and the seminal Monterey Pop Festival. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the heart of the Research Triangle, was recently named as having one of the best local music scenes in the country. Technology and the music scene go together because together they reflect a place that is open to new ideas, new people and creativity. And it is for this reason that frequently I like to tell city leaders that finding ways to help support a local music scene can be just as important as investing in high-tech business and far more effective than building a downtown mall."
Please, somebody, send my local elected officials a copy of this book. Lord knows they need to read it.
Of course, this book is not just about music. In fact, it's mostly about other things. If you have any interest in economic & community development, creativity & creative industries (including graphic design, industrial design, research & development, information technology, biotechnology, and many others), this book is a must-read.
Chapter 12, "The Power of Place," was one of the best so far. When I got to the section about "Authenticity," my highlighter almost ran out of ink. I'm already a complete fanatic when it comes to supporting local music, and this section just added fuel to the fire.
Basically, it provides an economist's spin to what's already pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about the music business. Independent musicians, especially those with active touring schedules, can live and work (and pay taxes) anywhere they want. There's no reason to live in an unsupportive environment that offers few opportunities for inspiration and collaboration. If a city wants to reap the benefits of a vibrant music scene, all the stakeholder groups (musicians, non-profits, government, businesses) must do everything in their power to create an environment that provides opportunities for local musicians.
Some of the best passages:
"Music is a key part of what makes a place authentic, in effect providing a sound or "audio identity." Audio identity refers to the identifiable musical genre or sound associated with local bands, clubs and so on that make up a city's music scene: blues in Chicago, Motown in Detroit, grunge in Seattle, Austin's Sixth Street. This is what many people know about these cities ... it is also the way these cities promote themselves.
"... it's hard to think of a major high-tech region that doesn't have a distinct audio identity. In addition to Seattle and Austin, consider the San Francisco Bay Area. It was home to perhaps the most creative music scene of the 1960s with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas, Haight-Ashbury and the seminal Monterey Pop Festival. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the heart of the Research Triangle, was recently named as having one of the best local music scenes in the country. Technology and the music scene go together because together they reflect a place that is open to new ideas, new people and creativity. And it is for this reason that frequently I like to tell city leaders that finding ways to help support a local music scene can be just as important as investing in high-tech business and far more effective than building a downtown mall."
Please, somebody, send my local elected officials a copy of this book. Lord knows they need to read it.
Of course, this book is not just about music. In fact, it's mostly about other things. If you have any interest in economic & community development, creativity & creative industries (including graphic design, industrial design, research & development, information technology, biotechnology, and many others), this book is a must-read.
Comments
From what I've read on your Vox, it seems like you live in an area with a cool, supportive scene. Am I wrong about that? Weren't you just on the front of the local newspaper? Maybe that guy who wanted you to go all American Idol wasn't very supportive, but it seems like you've got a lot going on out there. Some locals might object to my saying this, but Cincinnati has almost no scene at all. There used to be a couple creative people here, but they both moved to Chicago. Maybe I'm wrong in saying that.
Oh screw! I don't know what I'm talking about here. Maybe I misunderstood your post entirely. I didn't actually follow the links about your local officials. I really shouldn't comment while drinking beer. Please feel free to delete this.
Perhaps my post was unnecessarily negative. It's true, Frederick has a really vibrant arts scene, and that's part of the reason why I decided to move here.
Just like any other place, there's a vocal minority who have very negative feelings toward artists and the arts community ... Probably mostly because they don't understand the benefits that creative people & businesses bring to the larger community. Unfortunately, our County Commissioners have decided to consider the repeal of a tax credit for arts & entertainment businesses ... They'll be discussing it at a public hearing in the near future.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they decide to keep it in place, because I think repealing it would send a really negative message to creative people who might want to remain in (or relocate to) Frederick.