Your City’s Soundtrack Could Be a Magnet for Growth
I spent much of my youth hovering over my tape player as I recorded TLC’s “Waterfalls” every time it came on the radio. Fast forward to high school, and for every sentimental occasion or relationship I entered, I made mix CD after mix CD to express myself. Music has a way of shaping our emotional lives, and putting words and chords to the feelings, swirling inside of us.
This summer, while driving through rural Ohio with my daughter in the backseat, windows down, a song from the Garden State soundtrack transported me straight back to 2003. That was the year I was burning endless mix CDs to tell a high school boyfriend how I felt, carefully balancing indie gems with classic clichés. When "New Slang" by The Shins came on, I was reminded how a song can instantly take you back in time and shape the way you feel about a place.
This all got me thinking about how what we listen to shapes the feelings we have towards places. Fancy restaurants play Lofi Japanese mixes to make everyone inside feel like they’re better than everyone outside. Walk-out music at baseball games gets us excited about who’s about to enter the field. Like Oscar Gonzalez who walks out to the SpongeBob song…I’m not totally sure what vibe he’s going for, but I suspect it makes people smile.
The Sounds of the Street
In San Francisco’s Mission District, a project called "Bop Spotter" is capturing the music that fills the streets. Created by software engineer Riley Walz, Bop Spotter is an old Android phone set to Shazam 24/7. His website says, “This is culture surveillance. No one notices, no one consents. But it's not about catching criminals. It's about catching vibes. A constant feed of what’s popping off in real-time.”
It captures an eclectic mix in dozens of languages, providing a real-time, living archive of the urban soundscape. Musicologist and podcast host Nate Sloan pointed out that Bop Spotter allows for the preservation of fleeting musical moments, creating a rich archive of a specific place.
Investing in a Community’s Music Scene
What about the music that your community is producing? Your symphony, local bands, community orchestras, concerts in the park? Huntsville, Alabama took this wondering to another level. As a community, they invested in a “music audit” that resulted in creating the country’s first official “Music Office” to intentionally support and build their local music scene.
By investing in infrastructure and offering incentives to musicians and creatives, Huntsville isn’t just luring talent—they're embracing music as a vital part of their identity. This strategy signals that Huntsville values creativity and culture. It not only benefits artists but offers a compelling story to share—one that highlights the city’s innovative spirit and creative leadership.
Curating Your Community Soundtrack
The music that surrounds you can give insight into a community’s personality. It’s the soul of a neighborhood—the energy, the diversity, the way people live. The soundtrack of a place—its live music, street musicians, and sounds spilling out of local cafes—can make you feel welcomed or curious, nostalgic or energized.
How are you investing in your community’s soundtrack? Just like a great playlist draws you in, your community’s musical vibe could be the thing that attracts others to visit…and then eventually move there.
