Sound Diplomacy Appointed to Develop Long Beach Entertainment Strategic Plan
Sound Diplomacy has been appointed by the City of Long Beach, California, to develop a comprehensive Entertainment Strategic Plan that will help guide the future growth of the city's music, entertainment, tourism and creative sectors.
Approved by Long Beach City Council, the project will provide a framework for understanding and strengthening Long Beach's entertainment ecosystem through research, stakeholder engagement and practical policy recommendations.
The Entertainment Strategic Plan forms part of the City's wider economic development ambitions and will explore how entertainment, music and culture can contribute to economic growth, placemaking, tourism and community development.
The project will begin with a comprehensive engagement process involving musicians, venue operators, promoters, cultural organisations, business associations, hospitality operators and city departments. Through interviews, surveys, focus groups and workshops, the project team will gather perspectives from stakeholders across Long Beach's entertainment landscape.
Alongside stakeholder engagement, Sound Diplomacy will assess the city's existing entertainment assets, including venues, events and cultural infrastructure. The project will also examine entertainment policies, permitting systems, zoning regulations and operational frameworks to identify opportunities that support future growth.
The work will include benchmarking Long Beach against other cities with established music and entertainment sectors, helping to identify approaches that could inform the city's long-term strategy. The final Entertainment Strategic Plan will provide a phased implementation framework, including recommendations, timelines, performance indicators and funding opportunities designed to support the sector's development over time.
Jett Glozier, Head of Business Development at Sound Diplomacy, said:
“I first spotted Long Beach as an opportunity for its music and entertainment economy over a year ago, with things already bubbling away: a new amphitheatre set to open next month, LA28 on the horizon, and a city with a history of producing amazing artists.
When the RFP to deliver an Entertainment Strategic Plan for the city was finally released, I knew this was exactly the kind of project we needed to go for.
Caitlin Buckley, Abbey Ehman, myself and the wider team worked hard to put together a strong, compelling bid and Long Beach City Council has now approved a contract to develop a full Entertainment Strategic Plan for the city, covering everything from permitting and zoning reform to venue ecosystems, artist infrastructure and nighttime governance.
Proud to have led this one, and very excited to see what the Sound Diplomacy team delivers in partnership with the city.”
The project is expected to be delivered over the coming year, with stakeholder engagement and research beginning in the coming months.
Photo ℅ Eyad Abutaha EYADSTUDIO