City of Austin

In addition to the title of ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ – Austin has been dubbed a ‘Music Friendly Community’ in the State of Texas.

The Texas Music Office, within the Office of the Texas Governor, officially designated Austin a ‘Music Friendly Community’ at a press conference today.

Music is a large part of Austin’s cultural fabric and economy. The designation, the second bestowed to a Texas city, (Fort Worth was designated earlier this year), is fitting as Austin continues to push the envelope to create prosperous opportunities for musicians working hand-in-hand with its Music Commission to address issues of diversity and equity.

“The Live Music Capital of the World should be a city where the local music industry thrives and expands and a city where artists and musicians can afford to live and create,” said Austin Mayor, Steve Adler. “But we’re not going to be the Live Music Capital of the World for much longer if we keep losing musicians and live music venues. That’s the challenge we face, and it’s the challenge we will meet.”

As a result of the Austin Music Census conducted in 2015, the City of Austin’s Music & Entertainment Division within Economic Development Department, has made a deliberate effort to focus on industry development and revenue generation within programs and services to better structure and grow Austin’s music economy and tourism. Securing a variety of robust industry partnerships is crucial to the cause.

“The Texas Music Office believes that it is essential to the well-being of our statewide music industry that we become a more interconnected and organized community,“ said Brendon Anthony, Director of the Texas Music Office. “Every city in Texas has its own identity and contribution to our unique industry landscape and none more so than Austin. We want to work with all of them to help grow their local music industry economies. It is our firm belief that by sharing information about industry successes, as well as missteps, we will make Texas a more productive and profitable music industry and a more strategically-placed player in the international music industry landscape.”

Participation in the Texas Music Office’s new "Music Friendly Community" program provides Texas communities with a network for fostering music industry development, and sends a clear message to industry professionals that certified communities are serious about attracting and developing music industry growth.

“For some time now, Austin’s Music & Entertainment Division and the State’s Texas Music Office have been communicating to determine the best way our two offices could coordinate to drive growth in the Austin music industry,” said Erica Shamaly, City of Austin Music & Entertainment Division Manager within Economic Development. “First we established a memorandum of understanding for the City to regularly update the Austin section of the Texas Music Industry Directory, which lists all music industry assets in Texas, from records labels and management companies, to publishers and recording studios. We are thrilled to take this relationship to the next level with Austin being designated as the next Music Friendly Community - we will be working together now more than ever to help develop the music sector.”

“We are incredibly proud of this designation. The City of Austin has established itself as a world leader in technology, innovation, energy, workforce development and creativity that has led to significant business expansion and overall growth. A more interwoven and innovative music ecosystem is essential to create a more robust economy that yields new opportunities to benefit our artist population facing affordability issues,” said Kevin Johns, Director for the City’s Economic Development Department.  “Our Music Division is keyed into increasing artist compensation while developing a sustainable and vibrant music industry sector to benefit musicians, music entrepreneurs and industry workers now and into the future.”
 

Photo Above: Brendon Anthony, Director of the Texas Music Office presents ‘Music Friendly Community’ Designation to the Austin Mayor Steve Adler. Representatives supporting the designation include: City of Austin Economic Development Department - Music & Entertainment; HAAM, SIMS Foundation, Austin Music Foundation, and Austin Music People
 
About The City of Austin Music & Entertainment Division:
The City of Austin Economic Development Department’s Music & Entertainment Division is highly engaged in developing and executing initiatives that help accelerate the growth of the music industry infrastructure by focusing on job creation, talent export, trade development, and industry revenue growth. The Music & Entertainment Division has also organically developed an important role for the Austin music industry by facilitating introductions, communication, and shaping discussions between music business operators who may not otherwise have knowledge of each other, resulting in new business and connections.  For more information: www.atxmusic.org