Düsseldorf has a vibrant music scene that has much more to offer than electronic beats and legendary names. With festivals and events, music is also an important economic and tourism factor for the city. The association Music Düsseldorf was founded in 2024 to strengthen the positioning of the industry and brings together the key players in Düsseldorf's music industry. Board member Melanie Schrader talks about the diversity of the scene, the challenges and opportunities for musicians, and how the association plans to work with the city to strengthen its vibrant music culture.

How would you describe the current dynamics of Düsseldorf's music scene? Which genres and artists shape the scene?
Düsseldorf's music scene is extremely diverse and reflects the city's cultural openness. From electronic music, which is strongly associated with the city through icons such as Kraftwerk, to indie, pop, hip hop and rock, to jazz and classical music, Düsseldorf offers a wide range of genres. Influences from the art and fashion scenes add to this dynamic, often resulting in exciting genre crossovers. A large number of current musicians and bands from various genres such as the Joseph Boys, Kira Hummen, Conny, Moritz Kochs, Sorayah, Jule Blumt, Pablo Brooks and the Rogers are just some of the names that characterise Düsseldorf's current music scene. Alongside established artists such as Die Toten Hosen, Broilers and Hauschka.

What are the organisation's goals for strengthening the city as a music location?
The long-term goal of Music Düsseldorf is to establish the city as one of the leading music locations in Germany. This includes the creation of sustainable structures that ensure a vibrant music scene, both economically and culturally. An important milestone is the expansion of infrastructure, such as more rehearsal rooms, studios and performance facilities. We are also committed to strengthening international networking and visibility in order to establish Düsseldorf as a creative metropolis on a global scale. The development of long-term support programmes and the creation of a stable ecosystem for musicians are essential to this. The music scene is an integral part of Düsseldorf's cultural identity. It contributes to the city's creative and international appeal.

MUSIC DÜSSELDORF
Music Düsseldorf is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion and networking of the music industry in Düsseldorf and the surrounding area.

Foundation: May 2024

Board of Directors:
• Daniela Stork, Director Booking & Ticketing D.LIVE
• Hamed Shahi, organiser of the New Fall Festival
• Felix Wursthorn, organiser & musician of Love Machine
• Melanie Schrader, Public Tune Agency

What economic conditions characterise the work of musicians in Düsseldorf?
The economic conditions for musicians are challenging. Although there are funding opportunities and government support, many musicians rely on additional sources of income to make ends meet. To improve conditions, more financial support is needed in the form of grants and support programmes. On the other hand, the city needs to create creative spaces where musicians can work and perform under fair conditions. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of affordable rehearsal spaces and venues. We are working closely with the city and initiatives to find solutions, for example by providing funding, expanding networks and creating new performance opportunities.

What current projects are there to make the location more attractive to the music industry?
We are currently working on various projects to increase the attractiveness of the location. For example, Music Düsseldorf recently brought the popNRW prize from Cologne to Düsseldorf. The popNRW prize, which has honoured the best musicians in the state for many years, will move to Düsseldorf for the next five years. From 2025, the prize will be awarded alongside the renowned New Fall Festival, which will significantly strengthen Düsseldorf's musical landscape. The last award ceremony at the Gloria in Cologne was attended by numerous pop culture figures from all over North Rhine- Westphalia. To celebrate the forthcoming move in style, a delegation of 35 from Music Düsseldorf travelled to Cologne in a double-decker bus from Visit Düsseldorf and served the guests with Altbier while parked in front of Cologne's Gloria. In addition, Music Düsseldorf is working together with the City of Düsseldorf, the Department of Culture and D.LIVE on an operator concept to secure the Ratinger Hof as a music venue and put the venue back on the map of Düsseldorf's clubs for good.

The Music Düsseldorf Conference 2024 at Pong promoted the expansion of networks and solutions for the music scene.

„the city needs to create creative spaces where musicians can work and perform under fair conditions“

Melanie Schrader is managing director of Public Tunes, an agency specialising in communications and PR for the music industry.

How does Düsseldorf position itself as a music location compared to other German cities?
Düsseldorf is internationally recognised for its historic role in electronic music, but the city also plays an important role in the German music landscape today. Compared to other cities such as Berlin or Hamburg, Düsseldorf may be smaller, but it has an extremely lively and experimental music scene. In order to increase international awareness, we are working on further expanding festivals and conferences and inviting international artists to use the city as a platform for their work. Promoting international cooperation is also a key concern. Since this summer, Düsseldorf has been a member of the renowned Music Cities Network. The network is a transnational non-profit organisation that brings together music cities and policymakers from around the world. The aim of the network is to improve cooperation in the areas of communication, business, the arts and politics for all music city stakeholders. By joining the circle of music cities such as Berlin, Manchester, Valencia and Sydney, Düsseldorf underlines its cultural diversity and economic importance. •

Words: Karolina Landowski
Pictures: Kai Kuczera, Music Düsseldorf, Luisa Sole

Shaping Soundscapes