Goals and Guidelines

• Regularity instead of one-off actions: recurring series with reliable dates.
• Curated profile: diversity, support for emerging talent, and low-barrier access as standard.
• City-wide visibility: coordinated communication via central channels and shop windows.
• Legal clarity: simple processes for licenses, safety, youth protection, and neighborhood relations.

Program Calendar: What's Coming Up in Hof

Monthly Series

• Club-Link – a curated showcase with 2–3 acts, changing genres (singer-songwriter, punk, rap, ambient) and a short artist talk round afterwards.
• Open Jam & Feedback – open stage with moderated feedback for newcomers, backline on site, recording for demos.
• Fashion x Music After-Work – 20-minute runway presentation of local labels with live set, coordinated light & sound.

Quarterly Formats

• Hof Listens Up – curated listening session (vinyl/files), thematically linked to exhibitions, literature or film programs.
• Pop & Practice – workshop day on booking, fee calculation, social media, stage practice, and accessibility.
• City Soundwalk – guided audio walk with QR stations that make places, original sounds, and tracks audible.

Annual Focus

• Pop Week Hof – seven days, seven themes: DIY & Tech, Women/FLINTA* in Music, Fashion x Stage, Club Culture, Rap & Beats, Ambient & Avant, Local Heroes. Workshops during the day, showcases in the evening; retail curates playlists, cinemas show music films, schools/universities are partners.

Retail and Fashion: Soundscape of the City Center

Shops and labels help shape the city's soundscape – legally compliant, subtle, and brand-appropriate.

• Playlist Plan: three moods per day (morning calm, afternoon dynamic, evening warm), weekly updates.
• Volume Standard: clear dB limits, quiet zones without music.
• Transparency: visible notices "Today in Store: Local Bands" with QR link to artist pages.
• Mini-Events: 20–30 minute live set during peak times; coordination with neighbors and compliance with regulations.
• Rights and Licenses: use of appropriate tariffs, obtaining consent for social clips.

Infrastructure: Rehearsal Rooms, Tech, Platform

• Shared Rehearsal Rooms: flexible slots, shared backline, soundproofing concept, simple online booking.
• Mobile Tech Kit: compact PA, microphones, recorder for pop-ups and open-air micro-formats.
• Mediation Platform: rooms, dates, tech, ride shares, volunteer board – central, streamlined, GDPR-compliant.
• Curatorial Standards: open calls, diversity goals, fair fees, low-barrier information (easy language, contrasts, directions).

Digital: Map, Audio Walks, Media Formats

• Interactive Map: clubs, rehearsal rooms, street art, temporary venues; submission and review process for new entries.
• QR Steles: at permitted locations with short text, original sounds, and tracks; regular content rotation.
• Mini-Podcast: 10–15 minutes, backstage conversations, tips on funding and releases.
• Social Toolkit: templates for reels/stories, photo briefing, legal notes on music use.

Accessibility and Inclusion

• Low-step access, designated quiet zones, seating, wayfinding systems.
• Communication in easy language, clear contrasts, alternative texts.
• Companion and discount regulations, accessible ticketing.
• Program parts with sign language interpretation or live subtitles where appropriate.

Get Involved: Roles and Next Steps

• Bands/Artists: apply for showcases, offer open rehearsals, initiate joint productions.
• Clubs: reserve monthly slots, publish tech lists, provide safety and awareness concepts.
• Retail/Fashion: introduce playlist policy, schedule mini-events, use shop windows as info points.
• Media/Content: produce short formats, build editorial calendar, provide accessible content.
• City/Initiatives: announce micro-funding, bundle approval processes, publish guidelines.

Practical Checklists

Event Compact

• Define format and target group, set duration and dB limits.
• Clarify licenses/insurance (background music, events, photo/video rights).
• Awareness and safety: contact persons, emergency exits, first aid.
• Communication: one-page info, social package, accessible notices.
• Evaluation: short visitor survey, budget review, lessons learned.

Store Sound

• Genre/tempo mix per time of day, measure volume, define neighborhood windows.
• Document track lists, check rights, provide notices for customers.
• Monthly theme focus "Local Bands", QR to artist profiles.

Sources and Further Information

1. GEMA: Information for Music Users — Tariffs and information on background music/events (retrieved 2026-02-08)
2. Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media — Programs and guidelines for cultural projects (retrieved 2026-02-08)
3. Milliman (1982): Background Music & Shopping Behavior — Basic research on store atmosphere (retrieved 2026-02-08)
4. Milliman (1986): Music & Behavior in Restaurants — Additional evidence on length of stay (retrieved 2026-02-08)