News
Governor Abbott Announces Brenham Designated As Music Friendly Community
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Brenham, having completed the multi-step certification process, has been designated as a Music Friendly Community by the Texas Music Office (TMO). The Music Friendly Community program seeks to foster music business economic development in Texas cities and communities. TMO Community Relations & Outreach Specialist Chip Adams presented the Music Friendly Community designation to Brenham Mayor Milton Y. Tate, Jr. on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 during a virtual certification ceremony in partnership with Visit Brenham.
FREE WEBINAR - Understanding the Save Our Stages Act: How Music Venues Apply For SBA Pandemic Assistance
The Texas Music Office + The Governor's Office of Small Business Assistance will co-host a FREE webinar for Texas small businesses in the music industry concerning pandemic recovery resources. On Thursday, January 21 at 1 pm CT, webinar attendees will learn about recent legislation that can help their business, such as the Save Our Stages Act, and other pandemic assistance available through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Industry experts, Blayne Tucker and Curtis Monroe will join us to discuss the application process currently under development for the recently passed Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Agreement, which includes $15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions. Our panel of experts will be available to answer questions live during the webinar.
Fort Worth Public Library & Austin Public Library seeking local musicians to add to their Amplify 817 and Electric Lady Bird streaming music programs
The Fort Worth Public Library & Austin Public Library are both seeking local musicians to add to their respective Amplify 817 and Electric Lady Bird streaming music programs. Click to learn the application process for both programs that are exclusively available to musicians and artists in the Fort Worth and Austin metro areas.
Texas Music Mixtape: In Conversation with Singer/Songwriter Molly Burch
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 2:30 pm CT on the Texas Music Office's Texas Music Mixtape, we're joined by Austin-based singer-songwriter Molly Burch. We talk with Molly about her new Captured Tracks Records' single “Emotion” (feat. Wild Nothing), what her 2020 pandemic pivot was like, and she gives us a hint at what she has in store for 2021. LISTEN to the Texas Music Mixtape every Wednesday on KOOP Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, or from anywhere in the world via KOOP's web player: https://koop.org/listen-live/.
TMO Director Brendon Anthony’s “2020 Year in Review”
TMO Director Brendon Anthony delivers his annual "Year In Review" letter, detailing Texas Music Office accomplishments and highlights from 2020. Anthony goes through the office's work during the last year, reviewing how the TMO had to pivot in the ways the office communicated with constituents, while continuing its role as an economic development office for the Texas music industry. The TMO quickly adapted to create new communication channels to assist the state's music industry professionals, helping them persevere through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Texas Music Mixtape: New & Overlooked Releases From 2020
TODAY, December 30th at 2:30pm CT, the TMO's Texas Music Mixtape radio show features new music from Texas artists including the Texas Gentlemen (Dallas), Surfaces (College Station), James Steinle (Austin), Estereomance (El Paso), Lou Charles (Fort Worth) + Paul Wall (Houston), Kat Hasty (Stephenville), and more!
20 in 2020 Achieved: Texas Music Office Certifies 20 Total Music Friendly Communities
The Texas Music Office's community-focused economic development program - MUSIC FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES - grew from 10 certified cities to 20 in 2020, proving a growing need for music industry resources and enhanced communication during the Covid-19 pandemic. The "20 in 2020" goal to certify 20 Texas communities by the end of 2020 that was set at the start of the year - before Covid-19 - was still able to be achieved thanks to the hard work of TMO Community Relations & Outreach Specialist Chip Adams, the various Texas cities and MFC liaisons, and the entire TMO team. The "20 in 2020" work is illustrated in the infographic herein.
Watch the Archive Editions of the Mechanical Licensing Collective + TMO Co-Sponsored Webinars: THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL AUDIO MECHANICAL ROYALTIES FROM DSPs IN THE USA
On Tuesday, December 8th - and on December 16th - the TMO welcomed the newly created Mechanical Licensing Collective (the MLC) to Texas as we joined the MLC in co-hosting two FREE webinars for Texas music creators, producers, and self-administered songwriters entitled “THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL AUDIO MECHANICAL ROYALTIES FROM DSPs IN THE UNITED STATES." The webinars provided crucial information for songwriters who administer their own publishing to help ensure they receive this important revenue stream from digital service providers.