Live music is good for you and good for cities, research says

 

Concerts SA will be launching their latest research report in Cape Town and Durban. It Starts with a Heartbeat builds on previous ConcertsSA work to set out practical options for supporting the growth of live music audiences, as well as motivate why such support is a good thing.

The Cape Town launch will take place on Tuesday 29th November at 10am at Artscape Resource Centre. The research will be presented by Andre Le Roux and Violet Maila of the SAMRO Foundation. They will be joined by Nomfundo Xaluva, Stephen Michael Gordon, Nicky Schrire and Mark Fransman as panelists.

The Durban launch will take place on Friday 2nd December at Durban Art Gallery. The research will be presented by Andre Le Roux and Ignacio Priego of the SAMRO Foundation. They will be joined by Salim Washington, Brian Xaba, and Marlyn Ntsele as panelists, and Russel Hlongwane as facilitator.

Amongst the benefits of live music for individuals, many international studies have shown how participating in live music contributes to health and wellbeing including physical fitness, improved immune response and more robust mental health.

But that’s just some of the benefits. A thriving live music environment helps to unite communities and generate social awareness. For the economy, live music is a major generator of revenue in its own right, while helping cities and provinces brand themselves and attract foreign direct investment. Businesses that locate themselves close to a vibrant live music scene can attract top employees, enhance productivity and innovation, and indirectly help to retain and grow their market share.

The next 5-10 years, the report explains, will be a crucial time for interventions to support live music in South Africa. Live music has already overtaken recorded product as a source of revenue, and this has opened multiple opportunities for local venues and music organisers. Many of these music entrepreneurs are SMMEs – precisely the sector local economists and policy-makers have singled out as one of the most fertile sources of future prosperity.

The report unveils new research conducted in collaboration with the Wits School of Arts in 2015. This provides up-to-date, detailed knowledge about what attracts audiences to live music, and what deters them. The research suggests local authorities have a key role to play in making live music more attractive and accessible. Policy options range from basics, such as improving public transport, to more innovative strategies such as giving the night-time economy (within which live music mostly occurs) a special status in planning processes. Cities elsewhere that have done this have seen both a growth in revenue from music activities and an improvement in safety and security, something South African cities sorely need.

It Starts with a Heartbeat can be accessed and downloaded for free on the Concerts SA website at www.concertssa.co.za.

Events Listings

Cape Town – Artscape Cape Town

Tuesday 29th November – 10am – Free access (no RSVP required)

Address: D. F. Malan St, Cape Town

Contact: 082 515 7051 / sajejazz@gmail.com

Durban – Durban Art Gallery

Friday 2nd December – 1pm – Free access(no RSVP required)

Address: 2nd Floor, City Hall Building, 212 Anton Lembede Street, Durban

Contact: 073 678 1901 / russel@onexusonline.com

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