Düsseldorf: A Music City for Heritage and Global Icons

The music industry in Düsseldorf has made a strategic move to amplify its influence by founding Music Düsseldorf e.V., a new initiative dedicated to amplifying the city's role in the international music landscape. Following the Düsseldorf Music Tourism Forum held in 2022, interest in the development of the city's music ecosystem has continued to grow. In an interview with Daniela Stork and Thorsten Schaar, who are leading the Think Tank ‘Music Cities & Music Tourism’ by Music Düsseldorf, they talk about developing strategies to enhance Düsseldorf’s reputation as a global music city. An interview by Liliana Ramírez What inspired the formation of Music Düsseldorf e.V.?

Daniela: Düsseldorf has a rich and diverse music scene and music economy, but it is often hidden in the “beautiful backyards” of the city and not widely visible. Other cities make more noise about their music scene, and over time, there has been the impression that not much was happening in Düsseldorf anymore. Together with some key players, we decided last year that we needed an association to unite all the wonderful people working and living in the music field in Düsseldorf and its surroundings to speak with one strong voice and bang our drum! That’s when Music Düsseldorf was born! In the short time since we’ve been operating, we’ve already tackled important topics in the city. For example, a milestone for us was securing two major pop music award ceremonies, which previously took place in Berlin and Cologne, and bringing them to Düsseldorf. This underlines the city’s growing influence as a music hub. The association connects all of these efforts—heritage, contemporary music, large-scale events, and grassroots culture—into a unified strategy. How did the idea of forming Music Düsseldorf e.V. evolve from previous initiatives, and what role does the city’s musical heritage play in shaping its future? Thorsten: The idea grew, as far as Visit Düsseldorf is concerned, organically from the success of several initiatives that highlighted Düsseldorf’s incredible musical legacy. The Sound of Düsseldorf Tour (TSOD), for instance, has shown just how much interest there is in our city’s influence on global music. From electronic pioneers like Kraftwerk and NEU! to the German punk movement centered around Ratinger Hof, the tour takes visitors through venues that shaped music history. Düsseldorf’s inclusion in the Google Arts & Culture exhibition “Music, Makers & Machines” reinforced its status as a world-renowned music city. Complementary tours that took place in cooperation with Visit Düsseldorf, like the Düsseldorf Hip-Hop Tour and From Disco to Disco Tour prove that the local scene is thriving and diverse. Today, artists from Hauschka to Antilopen Gang continue to shape Düsseldorf’s musical identity across genres. Music Düsseldorf e.V. was created to build on this momentum, not just to promote music tourism but to strengthen the city’s entire music ecosystem.

Daniela: Exactly. The tours were an important first step, but we saw the potential to do much more. With D.LIVE, we bring major concerts to Düsseldorf, attracting fans from all over Europe. In 2025, for example, we will host AC/DC, Ed Sheeran, and Guns N’ Roses in our venues, drawing thousands of visitors. But it’s not just about the big acts. We’re equally committed to supporting small venues, underground clubs, and emerging artists.

Who are the members of Music Düsseldorf e.V., and what was key to forming this network?

Daniela: Our members reflect the full spectrum of Düsseldorf’s music economy—concert promoters, labels, artists, studios, clubs, and agencies. The key was bringing together major venues like the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA and underground spaces, ensuring that all voices in the local music scene are heard. By fostering collaboration, we aim to create new opportunities, increase visibility, and develop initiatives that benefit both the music industry and tourism.

Daniela Stork, Hamed Shahi, Felix Wursthorn, Melanie Schrader, founders of Music Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf is known as the birthplace of electronic music, inspiring artists from David Bowie to Sonic Youth. Was Music Düsseldorf e.V. created to attract international music fans? Thorsten: Absolutely. Düsseldorf’s influence on electronic music is undeniable—bands like Kraftwerk, NEU!, and DAF revolutionized sound and continue to inspire musicians worldwide. International visitors already come here to experience this legacy, and Visit Düsseldorf wants to expand these experiences through tailored music tourism offers. But our vision isn’t just about history. We’ve observed that music tourists often have overlapping interests—those who visit music venues are also interested in art, design, and fashion. For instance, visitors using our Art:walk48 museum pass frequently attend music events as well. By recognizing these synergies, we can create even richer cultural experiences. Düsseldorf also has a strong punk rock legacy—two of Germany’s biggest punk rock bands, Die Toten Hosen and the Broilers, originated here and still call the city home. In 2026, the Broilers will perform at MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA, drawing more than 45,000 fans from across Germany. These are exactly the kinds of events that drive tourism and benefit the city’s hotels, restaurants, and local businesses. How can the tourism association help preserve Düsseldorf’s iconic music sites? Thorsten: That’s one of our key missions. Places like Ratinger Hof, Salon des Amateurs, and Kling Klang Studio are essential to Düsseldorf’s identity. By featuring them in tours and digital projects like Google Arts & Culture, we ensure their stories are passed on to future generations. A great example is the reopening of the Ratinger Hof by D.LIVE. Once the epicenter of Düsseldorf’s punk scene, it’s now being transformed into a creative hub that bridges past and present. This is exactly what we mean by combining heritage with innovation. What role does music tourism play in Düsseldorf’s overall tourism strategy? Thorsten: Music tourism falls into two categories:

1.Heritage-driven music tourism, where visitors come to explore the city’s musical history, like Kraftwerk’s roots, the punk scene, or legendary venues.

2.Music-event tourism, where fans travel to Düsseldorf specifically for concerts or festivals.

Both are important for the city’s tourism economy. Gig trippers—fans who travel for concerts represent a growing market, and we want to provide them with tailored offers, from hotel packages to curated city experiences. A fantastic example is the 25hours Hotel, where Timo Schmitz, the hotel director, has embraced Düsseldorf’s musical heritage. The reception design is inspired by Kraftwerk’s stage visuals, and every room has a record player and vinyl collection. It’s these kinds of immersive experiences that set Düsseldorf apart as a true music city.

Daniela: D.LIVE joined the Music Cities Network in 2024 on behalf of the City of Düsseldorf. Music tourism, often resulting from Music City Strategies, is one of the big topics in all the meetings and exchanges with our international colleagues. Cities like Valencia, who just launched their Music City Strategy 2025-2030, with a budget of 32.5 million euros for music-related initiatives, are a wonderful example of what we need in the long run. Thorsten and I therefore started the Think Tank “Music Cities & Music Tourism for Music Düsseldorf, where we will be working towards this big goal together with our colleagues from different music, business, and tourism perspectives within the city. Will there be new themed tours, like one specifically for Kraftwerk or other legends?

Thorsten: Definitely. Sites like Kling Klang Studio, Creamcheese, and Ratinger Hof are ideal for a dedicated music heritage route. We’re also developing genre-specific tours, much like the Düsseldorf Hip-Hop Tour, to showcase the city’s diverse music scenes. Our work is also shaped by international exchange. In 2022, we hosted the Music Tourism Convention in Düsseldorf, where we welcomed representatives from the ABBA Museum in Stockholm and the Ramones Museum in Berlin. I’ve personally been inspired by my own music tourism experiences—like taking a The Smiths tour in Manchester or exploring Liverpool with the guitarist from Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Insights like these help us shape Düsseldorf’s future as a global music destination. And speaking of Kraftwerk, it’s exciting to note that Kraftwerk will play two concerts in their hometown this December as part of their “Multimedia Tour 2025” at the Mitsubishi Electric HALLE. This is a special moment not only for Düsseldorf but for fans of electronic music worldwide, as they’ll get to experience the pioneers of electronic music in the very city where their journey began.

Will contemporary artists also benefit from Music Düsseldorf e.V.?

Daniela: Absolutely. This isn’t just about history—it’s about keeping Düsseldorf’s music scene dynamic and innovative. The reopening of Ratinger Hof and investments in venues like Mitsubishi Electric HALLE and OPEN AIR PARK are key steps toward providing platforms for emerging and famous artists, because

one can’t exist without the other. We want Düsseldorf to be a city where legendary music history and cutting-edge new sounds thrive side by side.

Music Düsseldorf e.V. is more than just a tourism initiative—it’s a movement to strengthen the city’s music culture at all levels. From punk to pop, hip-hop to electronica, Düsseldorf is a music city for the world, and the work of this association ensures that its past, present, and future remain vibrant for generations to come.

---

About the Interviewees: Daniela Stork

Daniela is a board member of Music Düsseldorf e.V., the music business association founded in 2024. She plays a key role in shaping Düsseldorf’s music and events landscape through her work at D.LIVE, the operator of major venues like the MERKUR SPIEL-ARENA, PSD BANK DOME, Mitsubishi Electric HALLE, OPEN AIR PARK, Rheinterrasse, and Ratinger Hof.

Thorsten Schaar

Thorsten is Head of Content & Communications at Visit Düsseldorf, the city’s official tourism organization, and a supporting member of Music Düsseldorf e.V. He focuses on promoting Düsseldorf’s music tourism—both through its rich musical heritage and its thriving contemporary scene—while also ensuring that the city’s hospitality and tourism industry benefit from music-driven travel.