In a recent Hypebot feature, editor-in-chief Jeremy Young takes an in-depth look at the Levitt Model and its impact on communities, artists, and public spaces across the country, making the case that the Levitt Family Foundation’s approach to free outdoor concerts should be replicated far more widely.

Young points to several elements that make the Levitt Model powerful: concerts are free for audiences and artists are always paid; programming is shaped by local communities; and multi-year, sustained investment builds momentum by inviting people back to public spaces week after week. The result, he writes, has ripple effects beyond the concerts themselves—from supporting local businesses, creating opportunities for musicians, strengthening community connections, and fostering a greater sense of belonging.

Pointing to the Foundation’s growing reach and track record of success in communities of all sizes and backgrounds across the country, Young writes: “Levitt has already done the work of proving that free outdoor concerts can be a net positive, not just for building sustainable revenue for local creatives and communities, but as a development initiative for civic infrastructure. The real question is: Why aren’t we talking about this more?”

Looking ahead, the article also points to the growing potential for municipal agencies, philanthropy, businesses, and other local partners to join the Foundation in embracing free live music as a central investment in arts access, economic vitality, public spaces, and community well-being.

“In other words,” Young writes, “this should not be an extraordinary act of philanthropy; it should be one of the ordinary ways a community invests in live music, and in itself.”

Read the full story: “Why the Levitt Foundation Model Should Not Be an Outlier,” Hypebot.