Liveability and creativity: The case for Melbourne music precincts

Popular music has always been important to the realization of the creative or cultural city concept, evident in the self-branding of 'music cities' as diverse as Berlin, Austin, Vienna and Liverpool. Melbourne is examined in this article as a self-proclaimed Australian 'capital of culture' and music city in three ways: the forms in which popular music has been positioned as a central driver of economic and social 'liveability'; the role of music (sub)cultures and geographies in broader cultural scenes; and recent arguments for music 'precincts' to be formally recognized within city and state cultural planning.