We recently received news that Musical Getaways and Havana Music Tours have been nominated for a 2026 Music Tourism Award by Sound Diplomacy. This nomination is a specific kind of milestone. It is less about the accolade itself and more about the fact that a model we have been building for over a decade is being recognized within a global conversation about music and cities.
For us, this work didn’t start with a business plan or a defined travel category. It grew out of years of playing, traveling, and learning how music exists within a community. We wanted to see if travel could support that ecosystem rather than just passing through it. Seeing this approach recognized suggests that the industry is shifting toward more grounded, responsible models of cultural engagement.
Building a Model Before It Had a Name
When we first started Musical Getaways, the framework for what we were trying to do didn’t really exist. Most music tourism was built around large festivals or spectator-based tours—experiences where a clear line was drawn between the “performer” and the “visitor.” The traveler remained an outsider, and the music was often treated as a fixed product to be consumed.
We chose to work differently. We focused on the process of music-making rather than just the final performance.
Our model is built on Direct Collaboration, where we prioritize the lives of the people we visit. Instead of using rigid tourist templates, we design our programs around the actual schedules and professional routines of local musicians. This ensures that the artists maintain their full creative agency, allowing travelers to witness their work in its most authentic state.
We also believe in the power of a Sustained Presence. We don’t just “pass through” destinations; we return to the same neighborhoods and recording studios year after year. This consistency allows us to build deep, long-term trust with local educators and community leaders, turning a simple visit into a lasting partnership.
Finally, our commitment to Equitable Exchange ensures that the economic benefits of travel are directed exactly where they belong: to the musicians and community practitioners themselves. By focusing on these direct impacts, we transform travel into a vital support system for local creative ecosystems rather than an extractive industry.
In the early days, this approach was often seen as too complex or niche. Today, the industry is beginning to recognize that this is the only sustainable way to handle cultural access.
The Meaning of “Artist-Centered” Travel
As musicians, we understand that music is not a standalone artifact. It is tied to the history, the people, and the daily life of a place. To experience it with any level of integrity, you have to be willing to enter those spaces on their own terms.
This means sitting in on rehearsals that weren’t staged for an audience. It means spending time in community spaces where music is a social fabric rather than a show. It requires a level of patience and a willingness to embrace the unpredictability of a real creative environment. By keeping our group sizes small and intentional, we ensure that the presence of travelers doesn’t disrupt the very culture they came to learn from.
Growth Through Depth: Brazil and Colombia
This nomination reinforces our commitment to expanding this model with care. We have applied these same principles as we have grown our presence countries like Brazil and Colombia. These destinations were not chosen based on market trends, but because of the deep musical relationships we have cultivated there over time.
Whether it is exploring the percussion traditions of Salvador de Bahia or the contemporary music scenes in Cartagena and Cali, the goal remains the same: to create access through collaboration. We aren’t looking to scale volume; we are looking to maintain the depth that makes these exchanges meaningful for both the visitor and the artist.
The Communities Behind the Work
Any recognition of Musical Getaways is fundamentally a recognition of our partners. This nomination belongs to the musicians, educators, and community leaders in Cuba, Brazil, Colombia, and the United States who open their doors to us. Without their trust and their willingness to share their craft in a direct way, these experiences would not exist.
It also reflects the mindset of our travelers. It takes a specific type of curiosity and respect to move away from the traditional tourist path. Those who join us understand that they are part of a shared effort to redefine how travel and music intersect.
Looking Forward
We see this nomination as a confirmation of the path we are already on. We will continue to prioritize relationships over itineraries and integrity over extraction. At the same time, we are exploring how to make these connections more flexible through platforms like MusicExperiences.com, ensuring that the standards we’ve built over the last decade continue to guide everything we do.
We are grateful for the recognition, and we remain committed to doing the work the same way we always have: one relationship at a time.
