Concerts in media libraries and public libraries: how to get booked

Why do media libraries programme concerts?

Media libraries and municipal libraries have evolved profoundly: they are no longer simple lending institutions, but community cultural hubs funded by local authorities to bring neighbourhoods to life. Their programming budget comes from municipal or inter-municipal grants, which means a different process from that of a private venue, but also fees that generally respect union pay scales.

The most common formats are: all-ages concerts (acoustic preferred), children and family concerts, music introduction workshops, discovery sessions around a genre or instrument, and creation residencies.

Finding the right contact

In a media library, the person who decides on musical programming is rarely the director. Look for:

• The music collection manager (or «music librarian»)
• The cultural events coordinator
• In smaller institutions: the director of the establishment

These contacts are sometimes listed on the media library's website under «team» or «cultural agenda». The data.gouv.fr database lists many public institutions with their contact details, which LiveContact uses to build its verified databases.

Building a dossier suited to the public sector

The public sector has its own conventions. Your artist dossier must be clear, understated, and educational.

1. A statement of intent: describe your project in 10 lines — musical style, target audience, format of the performance, duration.
2. A link to a live recording or quality video capture.
3. Your references: other media libraries, festivals, schools where you have already performed.
4. Your fee: state a net or gross fee (specify which), and whether you are able to issue a performance rights agreement or co-production contract.

If you offer a participatory workshop in addition to the concert, you considerably increase your chances: many media libraries value the «concert + audience Q&A» format.

Tailoring your proposal for young audiences

Media libraries often seek artists capable of engaging a family audience aged 4 to 12. If your repertoire lends itself to this or if you have developed a specific project for this audience, mention it explicitly. Wednesday and Saturday mornings are the most in-demand slots for this type of programming.

For young audiences, plan for a short duration (30 to 45 minutes maximum) with an interactive moment: questions, instrument demonstrations, a brief rhythmic initiation. These formats are highly valued.

Proposing a residency

Beyond the one-off concert, some media libraries support creation residencies, often in partnership with the DRAC (Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles). A residency can last from 2 days to several weeks and includes financial support, sometimes accommodation.

To apply for a residency, you will need a solid artistic project, a press kit, and ideally a production company or label backing you. Contact your regional DRAC to find out about current open calls.

The right prospecting calendar

Media libraries plan their programming 6 to 12 months in advance, often at end-of-year or spring municipal council meetings. The best periods to send your dossiers are September-October (for the following season) and January-February (to fill spring and summer slots). Avoid prospecting in July-August, when municipal services are on leave.

Reaching hundreds of media libraries quickly

Italy has thousands of libraries and media libraries. Identifying the right contacts manually is extremely time-consuming. The pack Médiathèques France from LiveContact offers a selection of institutions with verified emails, sorted by department, so you can focus your energy on writing rather than searching for contacts.

If you prefer to delegate email sending and follow-up, the Campagne Géo service lets you target media libraries in your priority geographical area.