The Research Center for Cities That Run on Music
A nonprofit research center that helps cities use music as a driver of economic growth, tourism, and workforce development. We turn data into strategy, and strategy into outcomes.
Music Cities Together partners with universities, industry leaders, and community stakeholders to help cities activate music as an economic, tourism, and workforce amplifier across the United States.
Anchored at the ETSU Research Corporation, MCT is building toward becoming the global research hub for music community development, representing the full scope of the creative economy.
The data advantage
MCT holds the largest comparative dataset on music ecosystems in the United States, built through the Sound Music Cities census cohort spanning more than 24 markets. This data infrastructure is unavailable anywhere else, and it is the foundation for every service we offer and every research initiative we pursue.
Consulting services
Two focused workflows, available together or as standalone engagements depending on need.
Census Sprint
- Comprehensive music ecosystem survey
- Identify key opportunities and challenges
- Benchmarked against 24+ MCT markets
- Deliverable: data report and strategic brief
Activation Sprint
- Strategic planning grounded in the census
- Tactical playbooks and consulting
- Roadmap and stakeholder alignment
- Deliverable: activation partner and IP toolkit
Community and digital hub
MCT is the music community for music communities. Our digital hub connects cities to shared resources, peer learning, research projects, and a growing library of practical tools, and it serves as the entry point for individual consulting services cities can access on demand.
Services include audience development tactics, music leadership program training, community trust-building strategies, sound policy frameworks, and more, each grounded in MCT research and designed to be actionable.
Funding and partnerships
MCT pursues grant funding for national research initiatives and builds partnerships across higher education and industry. ETSU serves as the founding academic home, with the goal of expanding to a multi-university, multi-sector network that can match the scale of the challenge.
Put music to work in your city
Start with a census, or bring us your activation challenge.