Music and Digital Peacebuilding in the 21st Century

The 21st century has transformed the way Europeans create, share and experience music. Where peacebuilding once relied on physical gatherings—festivals, concerts, exchanges—today’s youth connect across borders through digital platforms. Technology has not only reshaped the music industry; it has opened entirely new avenues for cultural diplomacy, cross-border collaboration and the creation of communities built on empathy and creativity.

Pandemic-Era Virtual Choirs: A New Model of Solidarity

When COVID-19 swept across Europe in 2020, music suddenly became a lifeline. Lockdowns silenced concert halls, yet millions found connection online. Virtual choirs emerged as one of the most powerful symbols of unity.

Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir—composed of singers recording individually from more than 100 countries—became an emotional beacon during the pandemic. But Europe created its own grassroots versions too:

• In Italy, where early lockdowns were strictest, community choirs formed digital ensembles that performed classic Neapolitan songs online.
• In Spain, school choirs collaborated digitally to record Catalan and Spanish-language songs, sharing messages of perseverance.
• In Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, orchestras and choirs released virtual performances of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” turning the EU’s anthem into a message of hope during isolation.
• The UK’s Sofa Singers, though not limited to Europe, became a pan-European gathering where hundreds sang online together weekly.

These projects weren’t just performances—they were collective acts of emotional resilience. They allowed people to grieve, celebrate and express solidarity when physical gathering was impossible. They also showed how digital music-making can foster peace by creating safe spaces where strangers feel connected through shared creative purpose.

TikTok, Instagram & Youth Peace Activism

For the current generation, digital peacebuilding increasingly takes place through short-form video platforms. TikTok, in particular, has become a hub for intercultural musical dialogue.

Young Europeans use the app to:

• challenge xenophobia by remixing folk songs from different cultures
• share multilingual covers that celebrate diversity
• respond to hate speech with musical “duets” that reinterpret or soften hostile messages
• promote refugee inclusion through collaborative singing
• teach each other traditional dances and rhythms from their heritage

One powerful example is the 2022–2024 movement of young artists across Poland, Romania, Germany and the UK who used TikTok to produce musical tributes welcoming Ukrainians displaced by the war. Hashtags like #MusicForPeace, #SongsForUkraine, and #YouthForUnity generated millions of views.

Unlike formal campaigns, youth-led musical activism thrives because it feels natural, authentic and peer-driven. Young people do not wait for institutions—they innovate, remix, and collaborate spontaneously.

Online Cross-Border Collaborations

Digital platforms have also made it possible for young Europeans to create music together even if they never meet physically.

Platforms such as Soundtrap, BandLab, and Endlesss are being used by:

• Polish and Ukrainian teenagers co-writing peace-themed hip-hop tracks
• French and German singer-songwriters collaborating on bilingual pop
• Balkan youth blending traditional rhythms with electronic music
• cross-border rock groups forming online and later meeting at festivals

Some EU-funded youth initiatives now pair young people from different countries to create music online as a way to reduce prejudice and increase intercultural understanding. These collaborations often outlast the projects themselves, turning into long-term friendships and creative partnerships.

Why This Matters for MyPEACE

Digital peacebuilding is not a temporary trend—it is the future. As young people increasingly socialise, learn and create online, music becomes a key tool for positive engagement.

MyPEACE’s digital portal and collaborative tools directly support this new era by offering:

• safe spaces for cross-cultural music creation
• tools for youth-led peace messaging
• opportunities for digital choirs and remix collaborations
• online exhibitions of youth-created peace-themed songs

By embracing the digital-native reality of today’s young Europeans, MyPEACE positions itself at the heart of modern peacebuilding.