Trade Group to Strengthen Local U.S. Music Ecosystems Launches

A group of municipal and state governments involved in fostering music and entertainment in their respective localities has formed the Association of Music Offices (AMO), it was announced Monday (May 11) at the Music Biz conference in Atlanta. The newly launched national trade group, so far composed of 14 government music offices, community organizations and industry partners, will champion shared resources and best practices for local music ecosystems, according to the announcement.

Governmental founding members consist of the Dallas Music Office, the Huntsville Music Office, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, the New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Nighttime Economy, the North Carolina Music Office, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, the Texas Music Office and the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture. Other founding members include community-based organizations Georgia Music Partners and Music Export Memphis, and industry affiliates the Recording Academy, Pace Public Relations and Marauder, a marketing and development organization that works with music communities, the press release states.

“Every city has a music scene, but most overlook it as an economic and quality of life driver,” said Matt Mandrella, the music officer for the city of Huntsville, Ala., in a statement supplied to Billboard. “As the country’s first municipal Music Officer, I’m so excited about the team we have launching AMO and even more thrilled to see other regions follow our lead in the future. Together, we have the opportunity to significantly amplify the power of music ecosystems nationwide.” 

According to the announcement, AMO will aim to strengthen music ecosystems nationwide, while also serving “as the collective voice for music office leadership.” What’s more, the organization will share expertise and help foster “long-term economic impact and cultural vitality nationwide” and “reshape how local governments and organizations invest in and sustain their creative economies.”

“It’s exciting to see the Association of Music Offices grow from organic discussions about policy into an organization that has the potential to transform how we support music at the state and local level,” said Reid Wick, the Recording Academy’s director of regional advocacy and member engagement, in a statement.

The AMO’s initial focus, the release adds, will be to establish governance and membership structures for the organization; develop data and measurement frameworks to quantify music’s local impact; build community engagement models for diverse and inclusive music ecosystems; and create a central hub and accessible resource library for engagement toolkits, funding mechanisms, education and other programs.

The announcement ends with an appeal for music offices and allied organizations to learn more about participating in AMO’s first year at www.musicoffices.org.