HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) announce today that the City of Houston is co-hosting the 5th Annual Texas Sounds & Cities Conference on November 8-9, 2023. Co-hosted along with the Governor’s Texas Music Office, the City of Houston, Houston First and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the music conference includes panel discussions on Texas music industry development and conversations about potential statewide collaboration between certified Music Friendly Communities, as well as best practices that lead to increased music tourism and local job creation.
«The two-day event aims to create a more dynamic music environment across our Texas Music Friendly communities that can strengthen not only Houston’s local music industry but also strengthen the State’s growing economy,” says Mayor Sylvester Turner. “With Houston’s global music impact, we are excited to partner with TMO to welcome a delegation of music representatives from across the State to our great City to learn from one another and take this opportunity to showcase Houston’s rich musical assets.”
The conference brings together Texas cities, music educators, musicians, and music fans who aspire to keep the Texas music scene moving forward. Conversations will be led by music industry representatives from organizations including National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), the City of Austin (Land Use Code), the Texas Music Office, the Houston Music Advisory Board, and many more.
«I am proud of the work that our Music Friendly Texas Certified Communities do on behalf of their local music industries,» said Brendon Anthony, Director, Texas Music Office. «We are excited to host our annual Texas Sounds & Cities Conference in the City of Houston for the first time and to work with our Houston Liaison to bring together all of our Music Friendly Texas Certified Community Liaisons from across the state. The Texas Sounds and Cities Conference will offer these community leaders opportunities to learn from experts in the music industry and to collaborate with their colleagues to develop best practices and beneficial programs for their local industry stakeholders.»
The Texas Music Office’s Music Friendly Communities program launched in 2017, with Forth Worth being the first Music Friendly Community in the state. The program now includes over 48 certified Music Friendly Communities that are serious about attracting and developing the local music industry to spur job creation and economic growth, including Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Austin, and more. |