World Music Day is a yearly celebration held on June 21 to support music and its worldwide language. On this day, individuals are encouraged to play music in outdoor settings like neighborhoods and parks.
The primary aim of this event is to promote music, with both amateur and professional musicians encouraged to perform in public spaces under the slogan ‘Faites de la musique’.
Theme 2024
The theme for World Music Day 2024 is ‘The collaboration of diverse musical forms’.
History
In October 1981, at the request of Jack Lang, Maurice Fleuret became the Director of Music and Dance at the French Ministry of Culture. He focused on the transformation of musical practice, highlighting “music everywhere and concerts nowhere.” His vision was sparked by a 1982 study revealing that five million people in France, with one in two being young, played musical instruments. This led him to envision a way to bring music to the streets, culminating in the inaugural Fête de la Musique in Paris in 1982.
Since then, this festival has evolved into an international phenomenon. Celebrated in over 700 cities across 120 countries, including India, Germany, Italy, Greece, Russia, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, the US, the UK, and Japan.
In the Anglosphere, this day is now recognized as Make Music Day and World Music Day.
Reach and Impact
In 2019, 120 countries took part in Fête de la Musique, with over 1,000 cities participating worldwide. By 2023, events were happening on most continents.
Italy’s Festa della Musica started in 1985 and became a national event in 1994.
The UK’s event originally began as National Music Day in 1992. Make Music Day UK transitioned into an independent organization in 2022.
Since 2013, Ukraine has hosted the event in Lviv, persisting even during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In the United States, the Make Music Alliance was established in 2014 to help organize activities nationally. In 2023, 4,791 free concerts took place across 117 U.S. cities, including over 100 in Cincinnati, Madison, New York City, Philadelphia, and Salem.
In 2018, the Australian Music Association (AMA) introduced Make Music Day Australia, which has been co-hosted by AMA and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) since 2022. In 2023, a global initiative named “Make Music, Make Friends” brought together 10 Australian schools with international schools to exchange music and greetings on Make Music Day. Make Music Days were first celebrated in Turkey and Ghana in 2022, followed by South Africa in 2023.
How to celebrate
Here are some ways we can celebrate World Music Day:
- Listen to music
Enjoy the music you love or explore new tunes. Attend free concerts in parks, outdoor venues, or public spaces. - Play music
Share your musical talents in public areas, parks, or your local community. You can even start learning to play a new instrument by using online guides and tutorials. - Get involved
Volunteer with a music organization to teach, fundraise, or help with event cleanup. - Create a playlist
Encourage each group to curate a playlist on a streaming platform, allowing participants to select a track and explain why they chose it.