Resources
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Resources
This collection of resources is a non-exhaustive overview of studies and publications on the music sector in Europe and beyond. It will be continously updated aiming to offer a broad overview of existing research on different aspects and parts of the music sector.
By using the filter on the left you can search for specific researches, if no filter is used the publications are listed by date. If you observe that important studies/researches are missing, please contact the EMC at: info@emc-imc.org
Under Pressure but Still Standing Festival Economies: Balancing Costs, Creativity and Responsibility Across Europe
What makes a festival more than a series of concerts? Across Europe, popular music festivals often begin with a simple impulse: a group of friends, volunteers or local music enthusiasts deciding to bring people together around music. Over time, these gatherings may grow from small informal events into recognised cultural moments, attracting thousands of visitors and becoming part of the identity of a place. Drawing on interviews with festivals across Europe, this study explores how these temporary worlds are created, sustained and experienced. It looks at festivals not only as music events, but as spaces of community, belonging, local identity and shared values. From garden parties to established multi-day gatherings, the report highlights the human, social and organisational dimensions behind festival-making. At the same time, the study sheds light on the complex realities behind these moments of celebration: the months of preparation, the reliance on teams and volunteers, the infrastructure that needs to be built from scratch, and the growing pressures faced by organisers today. Ultimately, this study asks what it takes to keep festivals alive, not only as cultural events, but as places where music, people and communities come together.
Mobility Funding Guide to Italy
The 2026 edition of the Cultural Mobility Funding Guide to Italy is now available, offering an updated and expanded overview of regular funding opportunities for artists, cultural professionals and cultural organisations working across borders. The guide brings together national, local and international resources from both public and private funders, helping cultural workers identify support for touring, residencies, collaborations, training, research, professional development and other forms of international exchange. It includes both outgoing opportunities for nationals and residents of Italy wishing to travel and work abroad, and incoming opportunities for international artists and cultural professionals who want to develop projects, collaborations or professional activities in Italy. Updated by On the Move in collaboration with its member Liv.in.g. – Live Internationalisation Gateway, the guide is designed as a practical resource for navigating mobility funding, while also highlighting the need for more accessible, fair and sustainable support for cross-border cultural collaboration.
Cross-Border Collaborations in the Performing Arts
This policy paper seeks to provide policymakers and funders with a clearer understanding of the main trends, challenges and needs shaping cross-border collaboration in the performing arts. It identifies key gaps in existing funding systems and outlines the types of support that are most urgently needed to enable international artistic cooperation to continue, evolve and thrive. Looking at the realities of 2026, the paper offers recommendations for rethinking, strengthening and sustaining international collaboration in the performing arts.
Cultural Mobility Flows Report: Cities as Enablers of International Cultural Mobility
How can cities become stronger drivers of cultural mobility? This cross-disciplinary publication explores how municipalities are supporting the international mobility of artists and cultural professionals through travel grants, exchange programmes, residencies and other city-led initiatives. Building on a Cultural Mobility Webinar organised by On the Move in collaboration with HowlRound, the report looks at successful examples, including initiatives linked to the European Capitals of Culture programme, and highlights the growing role of local authorities in creating meaningful international opportunities. While these schemes can help artists expand their careers, build new relationships and strengthen their professional sustainability, they often remain under-recognised compared to their real impact. The publication offers concrete recommendations for cultural stakeholders, pointing towards policy changes, funding models and collaborative frameworks that can make international mobility more accessible, especially for those facing structural barriers.
Study on the discoverability of diverse European cultural content in the digital environment
Commissioned by the European Commission under the EU Work Plan for Culture 2023–2026, this study examines how European cultural content is discovered and accessed in today’s digital environment. It assesses the current state of online discoverability of diverse European cultural works, with particular attention to the role of platforms, curation, and recommender systems, and identifies emerging challenges and areas for policy action. The study focuses primarily on the music and book sectors. Other cultural sectors are addressed more selectively, while the audiovisual sector falls outside the scope of the study. The research combines desk research, sectoral analysis, and data mapping with extensive stakeholder engagement, including interviews, focus groups, and a workshop. A Europe-wide consumer survey of over 400 participants provided additional insights into user experiences. Quantitative analyses examined consumption patterns, curation practices, algorithmic recommendations, and metadata in the music and book sectors. Academic and methodological rigour was ensured through expert peer review by a Scientific Board.
Cultural Mobility Funding Guide - At-risk and Displaced Artists and Culture Professionals
This Cultural Mobility Funding Guide emerges as a direct outcome of On the Move’s international research-action project examining the situation of at-risk and displaced artists and culture professionals. Over the course of a year, this project has systematically identified policies and best practices across EU Member States, the United Kingdom, and the United States that foster the professional development of displaced artists. This guide specifically provides a comprehensive overview of funding bodies and programmes dedicated to supporting at-risk and displaced artists and cultural professionals, as well as the organisations designing initiatives tailored to this community.