Music Friendly Communities Update
On Tuesday, May 19, the Texas Music Office certified the City of McKinney into our Music Friendly Communities program. TMO Director Brendon Anthony conducted a workshop earlier this year, and over the course of the past few months through the efforts of Visit McKinney’s Beth Shumate, Dee-dee Guerra, and Mayor George Fuller, they completed all of the required steps for certification. TMO Community Relations & Outreach Specialist Chip Adams led the certification ceremony during a city council meeting. Regarding McKinney’s certification, Mayor Fuller said: “As a musician myself, our designation as a music friendly city is an honor to be a part of. Music touches the soul and heart. It is a language of its own that comforts, invigorates and motivates. It brings people together, and then our world today, there is not much more important than that.” Congratulations on becoming a Music Friendly Community, City of McKinney!
We have multiple cities going through the Music Friendly Communities process for certification, including the Dallas, Brenham, Waxahachie, New Braunfels, and Waco. The non-profit Keep Waco Loud is working on a special podcast series focused on the life of Tom Wilson, a music genius who produced legends The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, and many more. We’re looking forward to hearing this look into the life of this Waco native, as well as welcoming the city into our Music Friendly Communities program! For more on the Keep Waco Loud podcast, head over to https://www.keepwacoloud.com/podcast.
TEXAS MUSIC FRIENDLY WORKSHOP - ALPINE, TX
The Texas Music Office and the City of Alpine will co-host a virtual Music Friendly Community Workshop on Tuesday, June 9, online. The workshop is open to anyone interested in learning about the new Texas Music Office program that seeks to foster music business economic development in Texas cities and communities. Chip Adams, Community Relations & Outreach Specialist of the Texas Music Office within the Office of the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism Division, will be one of the speakers who will explain the Music Friendly Community designation and answer questions. TMO Director Brendon Anthony will also be present for the virtual workshop.
"With support from the Texas Music Office, the Texas music industry created more than 209,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs in communities all across the Lone Star State last year and generated $23.4 billion in economic activity,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Music Friendly Communities certified by the Texas Music Office are serious about attracting and developing local music industry growth, and I’m proud of the work of the Texas Music Office in helping communities like Alpine to grow their local economy."