City bids for 'music city' title

The city of Liverpool, which is already a UNESCO World Heritage City, is bidding to become England's first UNESCO City of Music.

If successful it will become one of only four other cities with the title - including Glasgow.

A four-month long mapping exercise showing where music is made and played in Liverpool will be put together before the bid is handed in next year.

"Music is in Liverpool's blood," a city council spokesman said.

'Phenomenal pool of talent'

Councillor Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool city council and a member of the steering group, said: ''Music is in Liverpool's blood and its influence has been truly global from the days of sea shanties and Merseybeat to classical and dance - it was a fundamental reason why we were European Capital of Culture.

''The city today has a phenomenal pool of talent and it's exciting that now, more than ever, it has the venues, the studios, the promoters and the festivals to nurture new ideas and diverse artists who will carry on Liverpool's best musical traditions.

''To be a UNESCO city of music would be a massive boost to the city's international cultural profile and give the city a focus, like in 2008, to develop our music at all levels for the benefit of musicians and music lovers alike.''

Liverpool could join other UNESCO music cities, Bologna in Italy, Seville in Spain and Glasgow in Scotland.

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and its Creative Cities Network promotes social, economic and cultural development through various fields including music, literature and film.