Where music and knowledge meet: a comparison of temporary events in Los Angeles and Columbus, Ohio

This article contributes to the literatures on knowledge communities, knowledge exchange, knowledge bases and cultural and creative industries. It suggests that short-term events in even ‘ordinary’ places can meet the criteria for knowledge communities and, therefore, deserve greater attention from scholars. Examples from the music economy are presented in order to expand thinking on knowledge communities with respect to industrial influence and scale. In addition, by comparing a music industry conference in Los Angeles with a music-related project in Columbus, Ohio, processes of knowledge exchange are examined in relation to the concepts of local and global buzz and pipelines and new work in this area. By focusing on the characteristics of knowledge involved in training sessions for independent artists within the two temporary events, a blurring of the boundary between the symbolic and synthetic knowledge bases is proposed.