Economic Impact Study

In 2015, the Texas Music Office commissioned the first of a series of biennial studies on the impact of the music business on the Texas economy. In 2025, the Texas Music Office continued its work with Jon Hockenyos and his team of economists at TXP, Inc. to update the original study, which was completed at the end of 2024.

As the 6th TMO economic impact study was being written in December 2024, there were clear signs that music was back, as the economic impact roughly matched that prior to COVID-19. However, there is some variation from previous analysis. Specifically, the number of overall jobs associated with music in Texas has declined, albeit with the jobs that remain paying higher wages. This has little to do with music per se, but likely instead reflects broader trends in the overall labor market. For the first time, the impact of music on travel and tourism is included in the analysis, further completing the picture of the role that music plays in Texas’ economy.

The return on investment associated with economic development is normally a longer-term payback, as external events tend to drive the fortunes of a regional economy in the near term, which the COVID-19 pandemic clearly showed. However, the outlook for Texas remains bright, not the least due to the strong influx of both firms and people in recent months. Much of Texas’ future will depend on what has brought so many here recently; a highly capable workforce, innovation and entrepreneurship, clusters in knowledge industries, the presence of world-class research universities and other institutions of higher learning, and public policy that supports growth and development.

There are many factors that drive economic growth in Texas, with an exceptional range of activity and opportunity in music and the creative space clearly a major factor. Texas is a place that appreciates creativity and culture in a variety of forms, and its incredible diversity of the local scene undoubtedly serves to both attract and retain talented people. This in turn has a significant impact on business recruitment, retention, and expansion, as well as local entrepreneurship.

Moreover, music is a crucial element of “Brand Texas” that draws visitors from across the globe, a key element of recovery post-pandemic for the hospitality sector. As Texas looks to its economic development future, the creativity expressed through music is a fundamental comparative advantage – the goal remains to identify the key investments, policies, and regulatory changes that can support the monetization necessary for sustainability and growth.

• Combined, music business and music education directly account for just under 86,000 permanent jobs, $4.9 billion in annual earnings, and just over $12.5 billion in annual economic activity, comparable to the results pre-pandemic. 
• The ripple effects associated with the direct injection related to music business and music education bring the total impact (including the direct effects) to over 196,000 permanent jobs, $10.5 billion in earnings, and $31.7 billion in annual economic activity. The State of Texas also realizes approximately $564 million in tax revenue from these impacts.

Read the complete 2023 study
Read the complete 2021 study
Read the complete 2019 study
Read the complete 2017 study
Read the complete 2015 study