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Is San Antonio A 'Music-Friendly’ City?

Oscar Moreno
Verisimilitude performing at Ventura San Antonio

San Antonio's music industry contributes an estimated $930 million to the local economy, according to a recent studymandated by the City of San Antonio. 

Despite the cultural importance of music in the city, are creative opportunities in San Antonio being undervalued? 

Private or nonprofit organizations are largely responsible for providing music education in San Antonio and the workforce fueling San Antonio's creative core functions on apart-time basis.

About 80 percent of professionals working in the music industry locally earn a majority of their income from other vocations, according to the study.

Geographically, two-thirds of music venues arelocated in Districts 1 or 2 in the downtown area, and many establishments are not open to all age groups. 

Recommendations from the study include creating more accessible spaces for music recording, rehearsal and performance, as well as support for multimedia initiatives like an industry database to encourage local partnerships. 

Can an official "music-friendly" certification from the state and the establishment of a city-supported San Antonio Music Office make a difference for the local music industry? 

What can the data tell us about the city's soundscape and music as a cultural value to residents and tourists alike? 

Read the full San Antonio Music Industry study here

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Jan Ross Piedad Sakian is TPR’s News Operations Producer. In this role, she develops strategy on collaborative and digital initiatives for the station. Since 2016, Jan Ross has served in a coordinating capacity for TPR’s state and national partners, including The Texas Newsroom.
Kim Johnson is the producer for Texas Public Radio’s live, call-in show The Source. She is a Trinity University alum with bachelor’s degrees in Communication and Spanish, and a Master of Arts Degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.