News – Newsletter
Virtual Music Friendly Community Workshop - Grand Prairie
The Texas Music Office (TMO) and the Visit Grand Prairie will co-host a virtual Music Friendly Community workshop on Thursday, March 11 at 6 pm CT. TMO Community Relations and Outreach Specialist Chip Adams will co-host the workshop via livestream to represent the TMO, answer questions, and speak about the Music Friendly Community program.
SBA Announces Reopening of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The SBA has announced the reopening of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for new & existing borrowers. This round of PPP authorizes up to $284 billion in potentially forgivable loans that can be applied to job retention & certain expenses thru 3/31/21. New applicants can apply for PPP loans through SBA approved "7a" lenders including many Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). As with prior rounds of PPP funding, borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness.
Federal Income Taxes & Your Unemployment Benefits
Getting ready to prepare your 2020 taxes? If you received unemployment benefits and/or pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA) benefit's, make sure to view the Texas Workforce Commission's info on how federal law requires reporting all of the benefits as taxable income. “Unemployment benefits are taxable income reportable to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under federal law. You must report all unemployment benefits you receive to the IRS on your federal tax return," notes TWC.
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.
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.
New Braunfels Certified As A Music Friendly Community
Friday morning, October 30, 2020, city and state officials, New Braunfels' Chamber of Commerce staff and board members, local media, and representatives of Gruene Historic District met for a special presentation in Gruene Hall, Texas' Oldest Dance Hall. New Braunfels, TX was officially certified as a “Music Friendly Community” in Texas by the Office of Governor Greg Abbott's Texas Music Office.
Virtual Music Friendly Community Workshop Coming To Dripping Springs, Houston, and Arlington in October
On Wednesday, October 21, the TMO will co-host a virtual Music Friendly Community (MFC) Workshop with the City of Dripping Springs. On Monday, October 26, the TMO and the City of Houston will co-host a virtual MFC Workshop. And on Tuesday, October 27, the TMO will co-host a virtual MFC Workshop with the City of Arlington. TMO Community Relations and Outreach Specialist Chip Adams will host the workshops via livestream to represent the TMO, answer questions, and speak about how the Music Friendly Community program provides economic development opportunities for Texas communities.
Texas State Musician Nominations Due October 15
Nominations for Texas State Musician - and Poet Laureate, and Visual Artist (2D and 3D) - are open through October 15. Any Texas citizen can nominate a living Texas artist for the Texas Legislature's highest honor for artists. Artists will be selected for both 2021 and 2022, so nominate more than one artist to join folks like Willie Nelson, Ray Benson, Little Joe Hernandez, Shelley King, Emily Gimble, and more as honorees.