Innovative Music Discussion Focuses on Community Health for Large Events
In a special episode of the Innovating Music Podcast, Kate Becker, King County WA's Public Health officer for Mass Gatherings, and Dr. Gigi Johnson from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, discuss how technology is revolutionising music creation, collaboration, and community building in the connected age.
Before her role in public health, Kate Becker had a rich background in arts and non-profit work. She served as the Creative Economy Strategist for the Office of King County Executive Dow Constantine, the Director of the Office of Film + Music in the City of Seattle for five years, and the Director of Development and Executive Producer for the Seattle Theatre Group.
The virtual event, co-hosted by the Music Policy Forum, Music Cities Together, the Center for Creative Futures at the Maremel Institute, King County Creative, and Innovating Music @ UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, also touched upon the Music Policy Forum and a COVID-19 Handbook for Creative Industries.
The podcast episode, which has a permalink, can be subscribed to on various platforms such as Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Pandora, Overcast, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, YouTube, and other favourite podcast players.
Meanwhile, in King County, WA, health officials are actively addressing the ongoing health crisis by deploying mobile vaccination teams. These teams provide COVID-19, flu, RSV, and childhood immunizations through community health fairs, schools, homes, and other local sites. This approach targets vulnerable populations such as homebound individuals, the homeless, and residents in long-term care. These efforts have been supported by federal COVID grants and coordinated with local pharmacies and public health departments.
While search results do not provide direct quotes or detailed views from Kate Becker specifically, it can be inferred that officials involved, including Becker, recognise the challenges and lessons from the pandemic relevant to the music and events industry. These lessons likely emphasise the importance of vaccination outreach, community-based health interventions, and planning for infectious disease risks in large gatherings.
For those who missed the live event, the audio recording can be found at this link: https://bit.ly/KingCounty031820. The YouTube video of the event can also be accessed at this link: https://youtu.be/IscUamaDI7k.
King County Creative, which has been instrumental in these initiatives, also has a new website and a Facebook page. For more information, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
In the discussion on the Innovating Music Podcast, Dr. Gigi Johnson from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music spoke about the impact of technology on mental health in the music industry. Kate Becker, who previously worked in arts and non-profit sectors, highlighted the importance of health-and-wellness initiatives within the creative economy.
