© 2024 WUTC
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
"Scenic Roots" offers conversations that matter in the heart of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley.From the mountains to the river, our conversations are rooted deep within every corner of our community - reflecting who we are, who we were and who we can become.We engage with the news that affects our community, behind and beyond the headlines. We build bridges that span from creators and innovators to storytellers and the outdoors. We focus on our challenges as many communities in one - as we celebrate what inspires us. We resonate with countless voices - in words and spaces, sounds and songs.We are "Scenic Roots."Ray Bassett hosts and produces "Scenic Roots" at WUTC.

Striking A Chord On How Music Can Make Cities Better

Blue music notes
all that improbable blue / Creative Commons

Cities shape the music that is made in them.

Think of the music that has emerged from Memphis, Nashville and Chattanooga across genres and generations.

How can - and should - music help drive what cities are and what they can be?

Shain Shapiro tackles that question in his book “This Must Be the Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better,” recently published by Repeater Books and Penguin Random House.

Shain Shapiro
Shain Shapiro
Shain Shapiro

From Canada and now based in London, Shain is the founder and chairman of Sound Diplomacy, a consultancy firm that works with cities on cultural policy - and he heads the Center for Music Ecosystems, a nonprofit which researches how music can help communities around the world to solve problems.

Last month, Shain visited Chattanooga during his book tour - appearing at Yellow Racket Records.

I spoke with him before his talk and a panel discussion that he moderated, presented by SoundCorps.

“This Must Be the Place” cover.
Shain Shapiro