Live music and the New Urban Agenda: Social, economic, environmental and spatial sustainability in live music ecologies

This conceptual study explores the relationship between live popular music and the sustainability goals of the New Urban Agenda, which is the United Nation's vision on a sustainable future in the context of growing urbanisation. In connection to the Sustainable Development Goals, the agenda reflects a broad approach to sustainability. It addresses environmental, social, economic and spatial issues. We consider the opportunities and complexities of implementing these four forms of sustainability in live music ecologies. Therefore, this article discusses the impacts of musical performance on social relationships in cities, urban economies and the environment. Furthermore, we examine the spatial conditions needed to support these sustainability goals. To achieve the proposed goals, various stakeholders (e.g. music organisations, urban planners and policy-makers) will need to work together to, among other things, enhance inclusivity, mitigate the negative effects of live music on the environment, and address issues of gentrification.