Go backstage with The Music and receive FREE:

  • Exclusive members-only editorial, charts
  • Our subscriber-only newsletter
  • Members only competitions to win tickets, experiences and more
  • Access to our street press archives
  • First access to our exclusive limited edition vinyl variants

Thank you for being a part of our community! Enter your email address as verification and you'll be taken backstage right away.

Please ensure that you provide a valid email address.

Melbourne Stamps Itself As Australia's Music Capital By Hosting Major Global Event

What a win.

Melbourne has not only stamped itself as Australia's music capital, but also as a global music city after its winning bid to host a major global conference next year. 

The city has been selected to host the Music Cities Convention, an international discussion about the extensive role music plays in cities, socially, culturally and economically.  

The bid ensures that Melbourne is the first city outside of Europe and the US to host the event. 

The Music Cities Convention is the largest of its kind, bringing together government, academic and music industry leaders from around the world, as it showcases the best practices on the use of music to improve city life across education, employment, regulation and more.

"Being selected to host the 2018 Music Cities Convention reflects Melbourne's position as Australia's music capital, and a globally recognised music city – and is a win for our passionate music community," Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, said.

"We look forward to welcoming the international music community to Melbourne in 2018 to show them what makes our music city – and our creative state – tick."

This year's event will take place this October in Memphis — click here for more details.

Join 'Backstage Pass', our FREE members program for music fans