It’s official: Austin is Music Friendly

Austin was officially named the second “Music Friendly Community” in the state by the Texas Music Office. (Fort Worth was named the first Music Friendly Community earlier this year.) The city’s press release states that participation in the Music Friendly 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.” This is especially significant for Austin, as it struggles to continue to unite and support its creative class alongside rapid economic development. “The Live Music Capital of the World should be a city where the local music industry thrives and expands and a city where artists and musicians can afford to live and create,” said Mayor Steve Adler at the press conference. “But we’re not going to be the Live Music Capital of the World for much longer if we keep losing musicians and live music venues. That’s the challenge we face, and it’s the challenge we will meet.”