Berlin techno has been recognized as a UNESCO heritage site

In Berlin, techno has entered the list of German cultural heritage. The conference of state culture ministers and the federal government commissioner for culture and media have decided to include the German capital's music scene in the list of intangible cultural heritage, according to a press release published jointly with the German UNESCO Commission. The inclusion of techno culture was promoted by the non-profit organization Rave the Planet, whose leadership includes Love Parade co-initiator Matthias Roeingh, aka Dr. Motte.

To support the initiative, Rave the Planet had already organized techno parades in Berlin in 2022 and 2023. According to Dr. Motte's initiative website, inclusion on the intangible cultural heritage list will promote awareness that techno it has long since emerged from its niche and has become a cultural form in its own right. According to the German UNESCO Commission, “techno culture in Berlin is not only a specific musical style, but also a lived alternative to classic practices of listening to music. In Germany, the club scenes of Frankfurt and Berlin became established in the mid-1980s. From the DJ culture that emerged in previous years, techno became the soundtrack to the spirit of optimism after reunification.” And again: “The free spaces that emerged contributed to creating the techno scene, so present in Berlin today. Sound and sound productions are closely linked to the city and developed their special character in the context of German reunification.”