Why Music Matters With Jeff Miers

Building Better Cities With Music, With Shain Shapiro

Today on Why Music Matters, I’ll be speaking with Shain Shapiro, founder and chairman of the economic consultancy Sound Diplomacy, director of the global nonprofit Center for Music Ecosystems, and author of the forthcoming book This Must Be the Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better.Shain is a serious music-lover, who turned his passion for music into pioneering work on how music can radically transform not just the people who live in a city, but that city itself.Over the past decade, Shain has reimagined the way in which all of us should view the convergence of music, culture and urban policy. He’s an expert on music’s ability to speak to our better selves, and has keen insight to share on how those better selves might build better cities.Thanks for joining us on Why Music Matters.

Goo Goo Dolls Bassist and Music Is Art Festival Founder Robby Takac on the Power of Music to Build Community

On this episode of Why Music Matters with Jeff Miers, I catch up with Goo Goo Dolls bassist and Music Is Art founder Robby Takac. As one of the most successful musicals to have emerged from Buffalo over the past 30 years, Robby has a unique perspective on the ever-changing landscape of the music industry. And as founder of the annual Music is Art Festival, which celebrates its 21st anniversary on September 9, he has relentlessly pursued a vision of music as an agent of community building here in his hometown. He’s also just a really cool, passionate, humble, and funny guy.

Jennifer Brazill, Founder of the Borderland Festival, on Music’s Ability to Effect Meaningful Change

On this episode of Why Music Matters, I spend some time with Jennifer Brazill, founder of the Borderland Festival, which celebrates its fifth year at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, New York, September 15 through 17.This year’s Borderland marks a serious breakthrough for Brazill and her team, as she presents three full days’ worth of roots music, Americana, and jam-band sounds across multiple stages, with headliners Goose, Trey Anastasio Band and Moe lending significant star power to the lineup.Jen’s journey has taken her across the country over the last 20 years, as she worked at independent record labels, in concert production and promotion, and in artist management, including a stint with the Dave Matthews Band’s management team. Jen brought all of this experience back to her native Western New York when she founded the Borderland Festival in 2018.Through it all, Jen has been guided by a deep and abiding love for music and an enduring belief in its ability to transform and elevate.

A Chat With Musician, Songwriter, Performer & Activist Michael Franti

On this episode of Why Music Matters with Jeff Miers, I'm speaking with musician, singer-songwriter, poet, activist and social justice advocate Michael Franti. Franti recently performed an emotional, jubilant show with his band Spearhead at Artpark in Lewiston, NY, and he took some time prior to that gig to talk about music as an agent of transformation, in his own life, and in the lives of his listeners.
Tune in! And don’t forget to subscribe!
Watch the video version here! 
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Produced by 678Main.

A Conversation With Maestro JoAnn Falletta

On this episode of Why Music Matters with Jeff Miers, I’m speaking with JoAnn Falletta, Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.Called "one of the finest conductors of her her generation” by The New York Times, Maestro Falletta is the first woman to be appointed Music Director of a major American ensemble. Throughout the course of her career, she has been a tireless champion of music’s ability to transcend cultural and physical boundaries, and to speak to our shared humanity.Tune in! And don’t forget to subscribe!
Watch the video version here! 
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Visit my website
Visit my Substack 
Produced by 678Main. 

Welcome to Why Music Matters

Welcome to the Why Music Matters podcast. I’m your host, music journalist and musician Jeff Miers. Throughout my life in and around music, I’ve often asked myself the question - Why does music matter? This podcast attempts to answer that question, with the help of musicians, members of the music industry, and music-lovers like you. Join us!
https://jeffmiersmusic.com/
https://jeffmiersmusic.substack.com/
Produced by 678Main.