This project was awarded to Dr. Melanie Ptatscheck as part of the DAAD postdoc funding program “Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience” (PRIME). It seeks to explore the lifeworlds and musical practices of buskers in New York City (NYC), focusing on their well-being, the value of busking, and supporting systems, especially in post-pandemic times. Due to its rich history of diverse urban music cultures and its numerous famous busking locations (such as Washington Square Park, Times Square, Central Park, and subway stations), NYC is considered one of the most popular cities for busking. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted busking in this city, forcing buskers to adapt or suspend their activities. As the city emerges from the pandemic, it is crucial to document the revitalization of busking, its challenges and potentials for the performers, and its importance to the maintenance and recovery of urban music cultures. The postdoctoral project is designed as a qualitative study within the framework of ethnographic research. Through participant observation, interviews, and autoethnography, the project aims to a) gain insights into buskers’ lifeworlds, b) explore the impact of the pandemic on their musical practices, c) investigate the role of busking in revitalizing urban spaces, and d) identify support measures and potentials for change. The outcomes of this study can provide valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and cultural organizations in supporting buskers and fostering a thriving creative, and healthy environment. The project follows the central hypothesis that the examination of this group of creative workers in the live music sector has great potential for effective discussions on the deficits and challenges musical life is facing; it may foreshadow changes in the (cultural) economy and contribute to the well-being of creative workers as a basis for sustainable music ecologies.