Music

Listen Closely
Sound of X

How can we reconnect with the spaces we live in, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic? The artists of Sound of X propose answers as they explored their sonic environment. The resulting video soundscapes offer a unique experience of our cities.

Female DJs
More Women Working the Turntables

female:pressure – a network helping to boost the number of female DJs.

The music industry
The business of live music

Music festivals are not just an important part of the German cultural scene; they are also a major economic factor. The industry was booming until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Working conditions in the arts
Fair-trade music downloads

Many artists live in precarious conditions, and few can make a living off their art. Initiatives like fair music providers and fair-trade certificates for music labels show how a more equitable value chain could be created. 

Music festivals
“There’s no substitute for collective ecstasy”

The culture of live acts and festivals has become increasingly important for the music industry, when income from record sales and streaming is barely sufficient for artists to survive. But how does open-air performance work – and what level of damage has it sustained as a result of COVID-19? An interview with music expert Frehn Hawel.
 

Conscious listening
Savouring music

There is often too much of everything in today's consumerist world. And that includes music. It is possible for us to consume music anywhere at any time. But that is not the same as listening to it. Now, there are initiatives aimed at helping us learn the art of conscious listening. 

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