The Music Business in Hamburg – Profiles, Trends and Development Opportunities

The motivation for this investigation, begun in 2005, was the increasingly sharp competition between the locations of the music business in Germany. This competition between localities is driven above all by a comprehensive structural change in the media and communications branches, which is also having a considerable impact on the structure of the music business. The dissolution of traditional demarcations from other branches is characteristic of this structural change, so that it seemed reasonable to bring related markets into the analysis as well. At the centre of the investigation stands the question as to which conditions could contribute to securing and extending Hamburg as a location for music, so that it remains one of the most important locations in Germany.

In the framework of this project is the attempt to develop a concept for strengthening Hamburg as a location for music on the basis of a survey of developments in the city and in cooperation with those active in the branch. Alongside researching data and administering a questionnaire among the music companies in Hamburg, three workshops were conducted with representatives of the branch. One result of the investigation is that the current structural changes must be viewed very differently for the various sub-sectors of the music business.

Hamburg remains one of the most important locations for the music business in Germany and can point to some strengths in that business and build on them, above all where its strength lies in creative potential. A key index of the music business in Hamburg as location are the networks present in various forms, which further reinforce the advantage of local proximity. The existing institutions and initiatives, which at present offer advice and support for the music business, ought, therefore, to be strengthed appropriately, in order to be able to meet the increased demands. The additional establishment of a “Coordinating Office for Music” could offer support here. Beyond that the programme of qualifications and further education should be optimised and the perception of Hamburg as a location for music with its programmes should be reinforced by developing an agreed communications concept.