About

The Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management is the world’s leading think-tank on the role of cities, regions and other sub-national factors in global economic prosperity. Led by Director Richard Florida, it takes an integrated view of prosperity, looking beyond economic measures to include the importance of quality of place and the development of people’s creative potential.

One of the Institute’s major research projects is an examination of music & the entertainment economy. While much attention is paid to high-tech industries, we believe the study of entertainment industries also provides insight into what makes the idea-driven creative economy tick. The project includes an effort to develop data and research on the organization and geography of the music business in the 20th and 21st centuries. The end result will be a scholarly examination of the economic, geographic, and social history of popular music.

This blog is a place for those involved in the research project to float ideas, post links, and share preliminary research findings. Regular contributors include Daniel Silver, Brian Hracs, Ian Swain, and Kwende Kefentse.