With the increasingly fierce competition among cities, place managers must provide an environment capable of not only attracting visitors and investments but also keeping residents satisfied. Therefore, local development goes beyond public policy and becomes a market challenge. Furthermore, there is a growing recognition among governments and other stakeholders that a dynamic music scene boosts a city s economy by creating jobs, attracting tourists, and strengthening the city s brand. Within this context, the present study investigates how the live music industry affects the process of building a city s brand. The project analyzes the components and dimensions of the live music industry and also shows how a city can articulate them in order to foster the development of its live music industry and strengthen its brand. This analysis was based on a multiple-case study conducted in Rio de Janeiro and in Montreal, cities with strong and long-standing traditions of live music. A theoretical model was developed as a result of this inquiry. It proposes the breakdown of the city cultural infrastructure into two parts: a live music infrastructure geared towards major events, and a live music infrastructure geared towards what happens year-round, outside of major events. The findings show that major events have a strong influence on city branding. Yet the research also shows that it is what happens throughout the year that nourishes a city s cultural identity, which in turn has a strong influence on the city s brand. The results highlight that: (a) strong music scenes can be a tourism argument because they are an element of differentiation; (b) cities must protect their small and medium-sized venues because these spaces can make music events more accessible and relevant to the population of different territories; (c) the protection of the live music industry of a city and the preservation of its musical heritage go hand in hand. Musical heritage influences music composition, consumption and other aspects involved in a city s music scenes; (d) ensuring the continuity of public policies for culture and establishing a more inclusive process that considers the diversity of the audience is key; and (e) considering the scarcity of resources, public funding should prioritize support for music education, year-round live music events, and the preservation of the city s heritage. The study also emphasizes that the Tourism Office and Bureau of Cultural Affairs should work together to keep city branding authentic, since what is not uniquely linked to a place can easily replicated, and therefore can t be considered an element of differentiation. This study intends to provide information for academics, music industry professionals, political leaders and government officials involved in economic and/or cultural development, and tourism and business leaders looking for ways to boost local economies through culture.