Helping communities grow music, without growing conflict.
Sound Music Cities works with communities to address entertainment-related sound challenges. We also help them better understand and support local music ecosystems. Our work is grounded in lived experience, practical implementation, and a deep understanding of how cities actually function.
Sound Music Cities grew out of real city work.
Our founder led the City of Austin’s Music & Entertainment Division, the first city government office in the U.S. created solely to support a local music ecosystem. From the beginning, the mandate was clear: help music thrive and address the sound and noise conflicts that came with it.
By reframing sound as a shared community issue, Austin reduced entertainment-related noise complaints by more than 75 percent, without shutting venues down or silencing music.
That experience shaped everything we do.
Whether the challenge is entertainment-related sound or long-term music sustainability, our work begins with understanding lived experience.
Entertainment-Related Sound & Management
Listening-first solutions that reduce conflict without silencing music.
We help communities address entertainment-related sound issues by focusing on how sound is experienced, how policies are applied, and how people communicate across competing needs. Our approach supports nightlife, residents, venues, and local government in finding practical, balanced solutions that protect quality of life while sustaining cultural activity.
Music Census™
Understanding your music ecosystem starts with lived experience.
The Music Census helps communities understand the people, places, and activity shaping local music ecosystems. It provides a shared baseline for clearer priorities and better decisions by recognizing that music scenes are social, cultural, and economic and vary depending on perspective. Whether addressing entertainment-related sound or long-term music sustainability, meaningful support starts with data grounded in lived experience.
Join Our Growing List of Music-Friendly Cities
Anchorage, AK
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Austin, TX
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Baton Rouge, LA
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Baltimore, MD
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Brownsville, TX
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Cedar Rapids, IA
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Charlotte, NC
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Chattanooga, TN
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Chicago, IL
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Cleveland, OH
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Columbus, OH
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Dallas, TX
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Detroit, MI
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Greensboro, NC
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Lafayette, LA
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Lawrence, KS
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Minneapolis, MN
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Nashville, TN
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New Orleans, LA
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Northeast Tennessee
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NW Arkansas (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Siloam Springs)
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Owensboro, KY
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Pittsburgh, PA
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Sacramento, CA
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San Antonio, TX
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Seattle, WA
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Tulsa, OK
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Washington, D.C.
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Anchorage, AK • Austin, TX • Baton Rouge, LA • Baltimore, MD • Brownsville, TX • Cedar Rapids, IA • Charlotte, NC • Chattanooga, TN • Chicago, IL • Cleveland, OH • Columbus, OH • Dallas, TX • Detroit, MI • Greensboro, NC • Lafayette, LA • Lawrence, KS • Minneapolis, MN • Nashville, TN • New Orleans, LA • Northeast Tennessee • NW Arkansas (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Siloam Springs) • Owensboro, KY • Pittsburgh, PA • Sacramento, CA • San Antonio, TX • Seattle, WA • Tulsa, OK • Washington, D.C. •
Schedule a brief exploratory call to clarify your challenges and identify the best starting point.