The winner will be decided at the 11^th Music Cities Convention, held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.

The Music Cities Awards program is an international competition designed to acknowledge and reward the most outstanding applications of music for economic, social, environmental and cultural development in cities and places all around the world.

As well as Best Global Music City, the City of Adelaide’s Friday Night Live incentive scheme has also been nominated as the Best Late-Night Economy Initiative.

Adelaide has seen music scene bounce back in tandem with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions this year, with artists regaining hope for a more vibrant future in the city.

The awards will be presented in November 2022.

Joe Hay, general manager of UNESCO Adelaide City of Music, has been invited to speak at the convention.

Adelaide was recognised and designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2015.

“Adelaide has endured the devastating effects of COVID and is rebuilding due to the creativity and resilience of the its artists and music industry and through a diverse support infrastructure built over the past 10 years,” Hay said.

A spokesperson from Adelaide City of Music said the process involved self-nomination, with applications assessed and shortlisted by a panel.

The applications are judged on activity occurred over the previous 12 months and each city’s plans and vision for the future.

“The application focused on our work to rebuild from COVID, our diverse music ecology (contemporary, classical, educations, festivals) and the diverse infrastructure in place to support the development of artists, music professionals and music activity,” the spokesperson said.

“Looking to the future, we focused on rebuilding activity, export and international engagement strategies, music education, health and tech.”

CEO of the City of Adelaide, Clare Mockler said music has an important role in bringing the city to life.

“Our Friday Night Live initiative provided a platform to support artists and encourage people back to the city,” Mockler said.

Local musician Stuart Patterson, who heads up the raucous psychedelic rock group The Empty Threats, said Adelaide was a music city to be reckoned with.

“If you look at the history of Adelaide, there’s always been a really special build up of music,” Patterson said.

On a local level, Patterson attributes Adelaide’s successful music scene to a network of supportive venues suited to a range of artists at every level.

“Hopefully that continues with all the developments, but I think there are some really good places to start.

“I think Adelaide has a potential to be more of a worldwide stage – some of the music that’s happening here would do really well overseas.”