Shain continues to be the most informed and capable voice on the subject of how music and culture is a critical and powerful component of any thriving community. I turn to him time and time again for insight and guidance, and I find his balance of research and applied learning really is remarkable. Shapiro's book is one I have been waiting for... Shapiro shows how music and music scenes give life to our communities and provides a playbook for city leaders, musicians, artists, activists, and citizens to use music to make their neighborhoods stronger, more vibrant and inclusive. This book is a go to resource for anyone who wants to understand the positive impact that music has on our society, how we are under-utilising it, and how we can more effectively integrate it into all areas of our community life. It breathes a passion for music as a force for positivity which everyone can, and should, embrace. Through compelling stories, Shapiro reveals how music transforms our physical space. Whether you are a professional musician or simply a passionate listener, this must-read book will deepen your appreciation for the profound impact of music on our daily lives and its ability to shape where we live. Engaging, insightful, and full of practical examples and advice, This Must Be the Place is an essential read for anyone interested in the power of music to shape our cities and our lives. In a masterful take on the complex relationship between the music we love and the cities we live in, Shapiro shows us that music can be a powerful urban planning tool for the places we call home. With successful case studies and a focus on systems and policy, Shain Shapiro's book brings the power of music and community back to the place it matters: your city. A lovely, thought-provoking book, full of practical ideas and examples for those who share the goal of encouraging music to flourish in their city. I look forward to using this book in my classroom to spark debate and discussion, and recommend it to music students, researchers and policymakers alike. Shain's book exposes the contradictions and prejudices that music must navigate, and argues convincingly that our leaders have a responsibility (and an opportunity) to understand and engineer the material conditions to safeguard its future - and, by extension, all our futures. Shain changed our community's outlook towards music and inspired Huntsville to take an intentional approach towards growing our music ecosystem to enhance our economy and quality of life for our residents and visitors. Shain Shapiro convinces us that music is a foundational part of the ideal city and an indispensable civic right - and shows us, step by step, how we can claim it. In This Must Be the Place, Shapiro reimagines digitalism's artificial constructs and devises new and transformative means for bringing people together in our constantly evolving cityscapes. In Shapiro's brave new world, it's the music that ineluctably matters.
