Kenya: Makueni County nominated for 2021 Music Cities Awards

The country’s government received the nomination for setting up a state-of-the-art music studio to support upcoming artists through free recording sessions. The studio was completed in April 2017 and has since recorded 467 singles and 73 full-length albums for individual musicians and groups, including choirs. 

Stephen Mutuku, the initiator of the studio project, also received a nomination in the Public Service Award for a Leading Music Cities Advocate category. Kronendal Music Academy in Cape Town, South Africa, was nominated for Best Initiative to Support Diversity and Inclusion in Music.

The awards are organised by Music Cities Events in London (UK), Turin (Italy) and Barcelona (Spain). They seek to acknowledge and reward the most outstanding music applications for economic, social, environmental and cultural development in cities and places worldwide. 

Below is the complete list of nominees:

Best Initiative to Directly Support Musicians

• Makueni Recording Studios, Government of Makueni County (Kenya)
• Musician's Benefit Concerts, Piqua Arts Council (US)
• Musicians Fair Payment Policy, City of Hamilton - Tourism and Culture Division (Canada)

Best Use of Music in Towns and Cities

• MUSiK – Year of Music 2023, Kirklees Council (UK)
• Pueblos Blancos Music Festival (Spain)
• Sidney Myer Free Concerts, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Australia)

Best Initiative to Support Diversity and Inclusion in Music

• Australian Women in Music Awards & Conference, Cicada International (Australia).
• Inclusive live music events, Handiclapped Barrierefrei e.V. (Germany)
• Kronendal Music Academy (South Africa)

Best Use of Music to Drive Tourism

• Bach by Bike (Germany)
• Great Southern Nights 2020, Destination NSW (Australia)
• Strawberry Field (UK)

Best Use of Music to Support Sustainability

• Climate Fridays, Green Music Australia (Australia)
• Kokowanda Bay, Ruth and Emilia (US)
• Trash Gamelan, Wayang Sampah (Wangsa) (Indonesia)

Best Night Time Economy Initiative

• Bristol Rules safety campaign by Bristol Nights, Bristol City Council (UK)
• Foundation of the YCK Laneways Precinct, YCK Laneways Association (Australia)
• Pilot Project Vienna Club Commission, MICA - Music Austria (Austria)

Best Use of Music in Real Estate

• International Busking Day, Wembley Park (UK)
• Live Venue Recovery Fund, Grubb Properties/Dayna Frank (US)
• The Studio Row District, The Church Studio (US)

Best Global Music Office

• Auckland UNESCO City of Music | Tāmaki Makaurau UNESCO Pā Puoro (New Zealand)
• Music Victoria (Australia)
• Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts, and Culture (US)

Public Service Award for a Leading Music Cities Advocate

• Mark Roach, Auckland UNESCO city of Music | Tāmaki Makaurau UNESCO Pā Puoro (New Zealand)
• Sarah Trahern, Country Music Association (US)
• Stephen Mutuku, Government of Makueni County (Kenya)

Best Innovation to Support Musicians or Music in Cities

• Curbside Culture Delivery Service, Curbside Concerts (Canada)
• Everything Is Music, Crack Magazine & Landmrk (UK)
• Low-Fi Concerts (Denmark/Sweden)