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Fête de la Musique

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(Redirected from World Music Day)

Fête de la Musique
The Fête de la Musique on 21 June 2010 in Paris
GenreWorld music
DatesJune, yearly
Locations
  • France (originally)
  • World (today)
Years active1982–present
Founders
Websitefetedelamusique.culture.gouv.fr

The Fête de la Musique (French pronunciation: [fɛt d(ə) la myzik]), also known in English as Music Day, Make Music Day, or World Music Day, is an annual music celebration which usually takes place in mid-June. On Music Day, citizens and residents are urged to play music outside, in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. Free concerts are also organized, where musicians play for fun; no fees are involved.

The idea for the first all-day musical celebration on the day of the summer solstice came from Jack Lang, then Minister of Culture of France, and Maurice Fleuret; it was celebrated in Paris in 1982. Music Day later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world.

History

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In October 1981, Maurice Fleuret became Director of Music and Dance at the French Ministry of Culture at Jack Ling Long's request. He applied his reflections to the musical practice and its evolution: "the music everywhere and the concert nowhere". When he discovered, in a 1982 study on the cultural habits of the French, that five million people, one young person out of two, played a musical instrument, he began to dream of a way to bring people out on the streets. It first took place in 1982 in Paris as the Fête de la Musique.[1][2]

Ever since, the festival has become an international phenomenon, celebrated on the same day in more than 700 cities in 120 countries, including India, Germany, Italy, Greece, Russia, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, the United States,[3] the UK, and Japan.[4][2]

In the Anglosphere, the day has become known as Music Day,[5] Make Music Day[6][7] and World Music Day.[8]

Purpose

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The main purpose of Fête de la Musique is to promote music. Amateur and professional musicians are encouraged to perform in the streets, under the slogan "Faites de la musique" ("Make music"), a homophone of Fête de la musique.[9] Thousands of free concerts are staged throughout the day, making all genres of music accessible to the public.[10]

France

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Despite the general public exhibiting great tolerance for musical performances in public areas in evening hours, noise restrictions do apply and entertainment establishments may only extend their working hours on the day and broadcast music in the evening hours with prior authorization. Prefectures in France reserve the right to prohibit individuals, groups, or establishments to install audio hardware in the streets.[11]

On 23 June 2025, the Paris event was marred by a violent attack, organized and perpetrated by at least twelve individuals who randomly pricked eventgoers with syringes.[12][13][14]

Reach and impact

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As of 2019, a total of 120 countries participating in Fête de la Musique,[15] and over 1,000 cities across the world participate in the event.[16] In 2023, events were held on most continents.[17]

Italy's Festa della Musica began in 1985, and became national in 1994.[17]

The UK Event began as National Music Day in 1992.[18] Make Music Day UK became an independent organization in 2022.[17]

Ukraine has been holding its event in Lviv since 2013. Despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine the event continues to be held each year.[17]

In the United States, the Make Music Alliance was formed in 2014 to help coordinate efforts across the country. In 2023, a total of 4,791 free concerts were held across 117 cities. Cincinnati, Madison, New York City, Philadelphia, and Salem each organized over a hundred different concerts on the day[19]

In Australia, Make Music Day Australia was initiated in 2018 by the Australian Music Association (AMA),[20] and as of 2022, was co-hosted by the AMA and National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).[21] In 2023, a huge international project called "Make Music, Make Friends" partnered 10 Australian schools with schools around the world to share music and greet one another on Make Music Day.[22]

In Cyprus, the festival has been held every year since 2019. While Make Music Cyprus is usually limited to Nicosia, the 2025 edition expanded to Larnaca as well, but it was held at an earlier date.[23]

Turkey and Ghana held their first Make Music Days in 2022, and South Africa in 2023.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Historique de la Fête de la Musique". Fete de la Musique. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b "La Fête de la musique : une fête nationale devenue un grand événement musical mondial". Le Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication: Fête de la Musique (in French). Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Make Music Day". Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Around The World". Make Music – 21 June. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Music Day". Music Day UK. Archived from the original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  6. ^ "Free 'Make Music Day' festival coming in June". Associated Press. 23 April 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Make Music Day". Make Music – 21 June. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  8. ^ "The World Music Day: How it came into being". India Today. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Historique de la Fête de la Musique". Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Fête de la Musique 2019: How to make the most of France's biggest street music party". www.thelocal.fr. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Marais: les gays privés de Fête de la Musique?". 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  12. ^ "145 people pricked with syringes at France street music festival". CNN. 23 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  13. ^ Chrisafis, Angelique (23 June 2025). "Arrests in France after scores report being attacked with syringes at street music festival". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Wave of syringe attacks mar France's music street festival". La Monde. 22 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  15. ^ Jenkins, Pete (21 June 2019). "What countries celebrate World Music Day?". Vox. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Make Music Day – The Worldwide Celebration of Music". Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Make Music Around the World". Make Music Day. 17 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  18. ^ "The List: 19 Jun 1992". The List Archive. 19 June 1992. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  19. ^ "About Make Music". Make Music Day. 26 July 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  20. ^ Carlsbad, CA (8 May 2018). "Grantee Spotlight: Australian Music Association". NAMM Foundation. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Make Music Day Australia". APATA – The Australian Performing Arts Teachers Association. 31 August 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  22. ^ Briggs, Maddy (21 June 2023). "Make noise for Make Music Day in 2023!". Limelight. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Make Music Cyprus 2025 spreads across two cities". cyprus-mail.com. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
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