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Mannheim, the second largest city in Germany’s federal state of Baden-Württemberg, has turned its cultural and creative sectors into drivers of urban development, with music taking center stage. Matthias Rauch, Head of Cluster Creative Economy at the City of Mannheim, was in Bucharest for the East European Music Conference 2026 and spoke to Romania Insider about the city’s transformation since recognizing the importance of the creative industries, the introduction of Germany’s first Night Mayor position, and why integrating the night economy into urban planning matters. Mannheim's cultural creative industries are “an economic powerhouse” and, beyond their economic contribution, they serve other vital functions, “whether it's bringing people together, urban development, social cohesion as well as just making a city feel different,” Matthias Rauch explains.