THE BROADER SOUNDSCAPE.

Soundscapes NYC is a public history and educational initiative that explores how music and sound have shaped New York City’s social, political, and cultural life. Through public programs, oral histories, student research, performances, and digital storytelling, the project brings together scholars, artists, and communities to uncover the stories embedded in the city’s soundscape.

Graffiti on New York subway rolling stock in 1978 by Acabashi. 

CONSULTING & PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Soundscapes NYC partners with museums, universities, archives, media organizations, cultural institutions, and community groups to develop engaging programs that connect history, music, and place.

  • Services include:

  • Historical consulting

  • Public programming and event curation

  • Documentary and podcast production

  • Oral history projects

  • Archival research

  • Exhibition development

  • Public lectures and keynote presentations

  • Educational content development

Projects typically range from $500–$20,000 depending on scope and duration. Contact us for a custom proposal.

Please send inquiries and proposals to: soundscapesnycpodcast@gmail.com

PAST PROJECTS:

THE HIP HOP MUSEUM (opening Fall 2026)

THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL

LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

L-R: Allen Elliot (SNYC DP), Rocky Bucano (Founder, The Hip Hop Museum), Ryan Purcell, (Founder, SNYC)

MEDIA SPOTS & TESTIMONIALS.

"Soundscapes NYC is an important oral archive of NYC music history. It has been a great pleasure collaborating on the work of bringing these only-in-New-York stories of music to life. I look forward to all the chapters ahead!"

Genji Siraisi
Executive Director - The Museum of Music & Entertainment in NYC (MOMENT NYC)

"Soundscapes NYC unpacks New York's musical and cultural history in a way that is both delightful and thorough. Ryan Purcell is a generous and unpretentious host who really knows his stuff!"

Jessie Rifkin
Executive Director- Walk on the Wild Side Tours Author of This Must Be the Place: Music, Community, and Vanished Spaces in New York City

Meet the Team

  • RYAN DONOVAN PURCELL, PhD.

    FOUNDER & HOST/PRODUCER

  • SHELAGH LITTLE

    WRITER/ SENIOR PRODUCER

  • DANN BUTT

    CO-PRODUCER

  • JASON GOODMAN

    CO-PRODUCER

  • ALLEN ELLIOTT

    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY