In an Oct. 18 press release, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Houston made it through a multi-step certification process to get the designation while Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner gave a nod to some of the city's well-known musical talents, including Megan Thee Stallion and the storied country blues singer Lightnin’ Hopkins.
"Whether it’s performances at our world-renowned Jones Hall, a sold-out stadium during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, or artists selling mixtapes in barbershops and in neighborhoods, we’re proud to cultivate an environment where musicians can flourish," Turner said in a statement.
By receiving the designation, Houston becomes a part of the Music Friendly Community program, which provides tools that can be used to foster economic development related to the music industry, according to the Oct. 18 release.
“Music Friendly Communities certified by the Texas Music Office are serious about attracting and developing the local music industry to boost job creation and economic growth," Abbott said in a statement.
The Music Friendly Community designation has been awarded to more than 30 Texas cities so far, including Conroe, Round Rock, Austin and El Paso. When Conroe celebrated its one-year anniversary of their designation in 2020, city officials said the designation made it easier for local venues to bring musicians to the city.
The designation comes just over one month after the Houston City Council approved the city's first Music Advisory Board, which will help strategize on how the city can support local musicians and bolster its place in the music industry. Members appointed to the board included Anne Lundy, director of the Community Music Center of Houston, and Mark Austin, who founded the Houston Music Foundation to support local artists after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down venues.
A certification ceremony will take place Oct. 25 at The Heights Theater, during which TMO Director Brendon Anthony will present the designation to Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin.
