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“Glam Rock, Punk, New Wave, New Romantics, Baggy, Britpop, Two step garage... British music has been defined by an ever evolving series of fashionable sounds which, more often than not, burn out and fade away. Only one scene has ever changed the world – Merseybeat.

The post-austerity Britain of the 60's is heralded as a golden age when skirts got shorter, love got free-er and the world danced to Britain's beat. At the centre of the world was Liverpool and four mop-topped Scousers who had emerged from the Cavern Club to change music for ever.

Yet, the reason why you should vote Liverpool the Most Musical City is about more than just John, Paul, George and Ringo. Yes, the Beatles are as famous today as when they split up almost 40 years ago, but there's much more to Liverpool's music scene which continues to consistently produce innovative artists who retain the intrinsic character of the city.

Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers and Cilla Black all played a part in making the 60's swing before Liverpool artists cleverly avoided the decade that music forgot – the 70's. Instead Scouse tunesmiths retired to think again, emerging from Eric's Nightclub in the form of Echo and the Bunnymen, the Mighty Wah!, The Teardrop Explodes and to ruffle the feathers of Radio One with Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

The 1990's saw more perfect pop from The Farm, The Boo Radleys, Cast, Space and The La's whose 'There She Goes' remains a timeless classic and a must have for the soundtrack of any romantic comedy. With The Zutons, The Coral and Candie Payne as chart favourites, the Mersey Sound remains, ably supported by a classical music history with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the oldest concert-giving organisations in the world, at its heart.

So, why should Liverpool get your vote? If not for a love of the Beatles, then why not for what they started – years of consistent, perfect pop, dripping in melody which is always evolving and yet is unmistakably Liverpudlian – the longest running 'scene' in British music.”