Heidelberg is the world capital of »Lied«: from the »Codex Manesse«, the most important German Lied manuscript of the Middle Ages, kept in the local university library, or the three-volume folk song collection »Des Knaben Wunderhorn«, collected by Clemens Brentanto and Achim von Arnim, reaching into the 18th century. Further, the works of Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms to Joseph von Eichendorff and Friedrich Hölderlin, whose poetry settings were largely influenced by their stay in the city located by the river »Neckar«. Heidelberg has always been an inspiration for all Lied makers, with a radiance that reaches singers, institutions and audiences all over the world. As a German export hit, the art song is performed worldwide in its original language and can undoubtedly be included in the ranks of immaterial cultural assets. »Lied« is not only an art song, but also a folk song, jazz song, pop song, workers’ song, war song, ballad, chanson and last but not least German hip hop, which has its roots in Heidelberg. The »Lied« is firmly anchored in Heidelberg’s DNA. This heritage must not only be presented at an excellent level and thus preserved, but above all it must also be ensured that the song can unfold in the future, so that the song can set impulses. In order to fulfil this mission, the Music Festival Heidelberger Frühling founded the International Song Centre in 2016.