On Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, may one eat meat and listen to music Lekavod Rosh Chodesh?[1]

All laws and regulations that apply during the nine days, begin to apply starting from sunset of the entrance of Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, and there is no extra leniency on Rosh Chodesh. Hence, even on Rosh Chodesh one may not eat meat, drink wine, or listen to music. This however, only applies to Ashkenazim, however Sephardim may eat meat and drink wine on Rosh Chodesh, until after Rosh Chodesh, until the second of Menachem Av.[2]

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[1] See regarding meat: Second opinion in Michaber 551:9; Tur 551; Maharil; M”A 551:26 “and so is the law by Rosh Chodesh according to us”; Seder Hayom “even though Rosh Chodesh is a day of joy, this does not apply to Rosh Chodesh Av being that it is the start of tragedy and on this day Aron passed away”; M”B 551:58 “So is the custom in these provinces” based on Derech Hachaim and Chayeh Adam; Mamar Modechai 551:9; Nezirus Shimshon 551; Kaf Hachaim 551:125-126; Mur Veohalos 39; Toras Chaim Sofer 551:19; Nefesh Chayah O.C. 551:1; Minhagei Maharam Eish; Nitei Gavriel 26:2 footnote 3; See also Yerushalmi Taanis 4:5 See regarding music that starting from Rosh Chodesh the restriction becomes even more severe: Kitzur SH”A 122:1; Biur Halacha 551 “Mematin” in name of Peri Megadim “May play for gentiles for Parnasa” and Derech Hachaim “Implies that even according to the Peri Megadim it is only allowed until Rosh Chodesh”

Other customs: Some individuals who are accustomed to eating meat on every Rosh Chodesh, are accustomed to eat meat even on Rosh Chodesh Av. [Toras Chaim Sofer 551:19; Shaar Yissachar Mamarei Tamuz Veav ]

[2] Kaf Hachaim 551:125-126; Kneses Hagedola 551:26 custom of Kushta; Chida in Moreh Baetzba 233; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 15; Kol Eliyahu 45; Yechaveh Daas 1:41; Chazon Ovadia and Yalkut Yosef; Harav Mutzafi [This is unlike the common misconception that Sefaradim avoid meat only on the week of Tisha B’av. I personally asked a number of Sefaradim in Israel and Diaspora and all stated they follow the custom to avoid meat from the 2^nd of Menachem Av]