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Music Friendly Texas Program

Shakey Graves
Texas Music's Shakey Graves performing at SuperBowl Live 2017 in Houston, TX. Photo by Rob Loud.

"We are thrilled to announce that McKinney, Texas, has entered into a partnership with Notes Live for the development of The Sunset Amphitheater, a state of the art, world class venue that will showcase world class talent in our community. This is a historic moment for our city, as we continue to grow and attract visitors and businesses with our vibrant culture and quality of life. McKinney is proud to be designated as a Music Friendly city by the Governor's office, and we believe that our efforts to achieve this designation played a role in Notes Live's initial consideration of our community. We look forward to working with Notes Live to create a musical destination that will enrich our city and the region."

- Mayor George Fuller, City of McKinney

“As the Mayor of our vibrant city, I am thrilled to announce Tyler’s official designation as a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community,” said Tyler's Mayor Don Warren. “This recognition not only honors our rich musical heritage but also celebrates our ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive environment for musicians and the music industry. Together, we harmonize the notes of culture, creativity, and community, making Tyler a melody that resonates across the Lone Star State.”

- Tyler Morning Telegraph

In 2016, the Texas Music Office (TMO) created the only Music Friendly Community Program in the US, now known as the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community Program, and since then, the TMO’s Music Friendly Texas program has grown into a fully operational network of now 60 Certified Communities across the state. As the standalone State Music Office in the US, the TMO is proud to be the gold standard for all states, cities, and countries across the globe who wish to emulate our unique office and programming. Texas is leading the way in working to support the commercial music ecosystem, and we welcome all new partners who are interested in following the TMO’s example.

Becoming a Certified Music Friendly Texas Community

Participation in the TMO's Music Friendly Texas Certified 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.

 

Getting Started: To take the first step in becoming a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community, just click the button below to start your Music Friendly Texas Workshop Petition!

Get Started 

Certification Steps:

1. Complete the Music Friendly Texas (MFT) Workshop petition form, which can be found above or here.

2. Upon petition form submission and approval, schedule and host a TMO sponsored Music Friendly Texas workshop.

3. Establish a Music Office/Liaison within a division of city government (city office, economic development corporation, CVB/destination tourism office) that will be responsible for monthly reports concerning the progress of local music industry development programs.

4. Register with the TMO's Texas Music Industry Directory.

5. The liaison’s organization also signs a mutually agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that creates a working arrangement for the sharing of Music Directory data, and establishes protocols for keeping the directory information up to date.

6. Create an advisory board made up of local music community industry stakeholders.

7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE MFT LIAISON: The MFT Liaison will be responsible for monthly reporting (mentioned above), as well as participate in monthly virtual MFT Regional Office calls, one yearly in-person MFT Regional Office meeting, and attend our annual Texas Sounds & Cities conference, where MFT Liaisons come together once a year from all over the State.

 

Questions?: If you need any additional information regarding the Music Friendly Texas program, or have any questions, just click the button below! 

Contact the Music Friendly Texas Program 

Cities that have received the official Music Friendly Texas Community designation from the TMO include: 

Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Denton, Lindale, Stephenville, Conroe, San Angelo, Nacogdoches, Abilene, McKinney, Waxahachie, Waco, Alpine, Bastrop, New Braunfels, Victoria, Arlington, Denison, Lubbock, Brenham, Dripping Springs, Round Rock, El Paso, Odessa, Vidor, Grand Prairie, Port Aransas, San Marcos, McAllen, Bryan, Wimberley, Salado, Harker Heights, Edinburg, Selma, Marshall, Granbury, Corsicana, Frisco, Linden, Corpus Christi, Lufkin, Dalhart, Weatherford, Sweetwater, Clear Lake Shores, Kerrville, College Station, Amarillo, South Padre Island, Belton, Tyler, Marble Falls, Mont Belvieu, Galveston, Corinth, Chandler, Alvin, Glen Rose, Mineral Wells, Rockwall, Angleton, Navasota, Sugar Land, The Colony, Carrollton, Temple and Mexia.

Click the city point on the map below for each Music Friendly Texas Certified Community's official liaison contact info:

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Cities that are currently working through the certification process include: 

Carthage, Texarkana, Sherman, Hutto, Grapevine, Crockett, Harlingen, Anahuac, Rockport-Fulton, Menard, Bertram, Lampasas, Hidalgo, Kilgore, Bandera, Cedar Park, Mansfield, Leakey, Borger, Buda, Lockhart, Killeen, Graham, League City and Garland. 

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