Music City status for Sunderland
Decision sees the city join the likes of Sydney and Berlin in the global Music Cities Network

Turn the tunes up and locate some celebratory dancing shoes - Sunderland’s bid to become an official Music City has been given a big green light.
Recognising the past, present and future of the city’s music scene, the accreditation makes Sunderland a fully fledged member of the international collective, which includes Berlin, Sydney, Valencia and (the only other UK city on the list) Manchester.
The Music Cities Network, established in 2016, connects cities worldwide to promote the music industry's growth, economic development, and cultural exchange.
Inclusion in the network gives members access to collaborative opportunities, resources, and advocacy that can help the city build on its music ecosystem and support cultural, social, and economic development.

Michelle Daurat, chief executive of the Sunderland MAC Trust and lead on Sunderland Music City, said: “Becoming an official Music City is a fantastic recognition of both our heritage and the work we’ve done since we began this campaign.
“We started the Sunderland Music City project knowing we wanted to do something big to highlight what an incredible music scene we have here in Sunderland, and to help the city build on that foundation in the future.
“That’s exactly what the team has done. We established our Music Office and built a team of people who are passionate about local music and who understand how important having access to music is, whether you’re a budding musician, a working professional, or a fan.”
The successful bid for Music City status has arrived alongside the unveiling of the Sunderland Music Strategy, which has been developed over many months by the Sunderland Music City team and is based on feedback from local music professionals and fans.

Now, the five-year plan for music in the city, which has been designed to ‘guide, inspire, and support the growth of the regional music economy and the next generation of music talent on Wearside and beyond’ will be delivered in collaboration with new international peers and partners.
Michele continued: “That strategy is a living document, and over the next five years, we’ll continue to monitor its social, economic, and cultural impact, adapting and improving it wherever we need to.
“There are a lot of challenges and opportunities ahead of us, and we’re already looking forward to celebrating our next milestone as we work together to support the musical community in our city.
“This is just the beginning of the journey to create a lasting legacy for Sunderland.”
Paul Callaghan, chair of the Sunderland MAC Trust, added: “Being accepted into the Music Cities Network is a remarkable achievement for our city, reinforcing our identity as a vibrant cultural community where music thrives.
“We are delighted to be recognised internationally as a Music City. It’s a title that Sunderland will wear with great pride.”
Lena Ingwersen, managing director of the Music Cities Network, said: “Sunderland is an amazing addition to the Music Cities Network – it has a proud and storied heritage of music, and an exciting future ahead.
“For us, the mindset of people is paramount, and the Sunderland Music City team’s energy, insight, and enthusiasm are outstanding.
“We look forward to collaborating and learning from their ecosystem as we welcome Sunderland as our next city member.”