Every American city needs a music office

Cities are spending aggressively to compete for economic growth and cultural relevance. They build entertainment districts, recruit employers, subsidize major developments, and launch branding campaigns designed to attract people to them. While governments turn their eyes to more traditional economic sectors, like technology or manufacturing, they are overlooking a key place-based industry that can’t be outsourced: music. Municipalities are realizing that music is more than entertainment and culture. It’s entrepreneurship and small-business growth. It’s also tourism and commercial real estate, along with global brand building. The cities that treat music as economic infrastructure are seeing measurable returns. That is why municipal music offices need to be seen as quality-of-life and economic development tools designed to organize and strengthen an industry that already exists in nearly every community. MUSIC IS A STRATEGY A music economy already exists in nearly every city. It includes performers and venues, but also educators, engineers, promoters, production companies, record stores, festivals, hospitality businesses, media organizations, nonprofits, and community supporters. …