WACO, TX — We are turning up the volume of the Waco Music Industry and on Wednesday, August 28th. The Texas Music Office will come to town to present the state's "Music Friendly Community" program.
"When communities decide, "We are all in to help them," the fact that Waco is willing to do it, we couldn't be more excited about that," said Director of the Texas Music Office Brendon Anthony.
KXXV Anchor Lindsay Liepman reached out to the Texas Music Office and worked for several months to gather support, including Keep Waco Loud, The Music Association of Central Texas, Creative Waco, The Arts Alliance and The Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau.
From city leaders to students, to musicians and venue owners, Wednesday is going to make history.
Lindsay sat down with the head of the Texas Music Office, Brendon Anthony to get the details.
In the blue room of The Saxon Pub in Austin, two Texas legends sang, picked and boot tapped to the tunes that true Texas treasure are known for.
"Lee Roy Parnell and Gary P. Nunn are serenading your interview," said Liepman as Nunn and Parnell played in the background. "It's great. It's surreal and I love it," responded Anthony.
It was a serenade of sorts as Anthony explained the "Music Friendly Community" program coming to Waco.
"When a creative community gets listened to by the city in which they live for the first time, that's a very powerful thing," said Brendon.
Towns across Texas are implementing programs to help their music industry grow and thrive, and now Wacoans are on board.
"If you see a mass gathering policy in Conroe change. If you see a music campus created in a place like Lindale and partnerships with TJC, tangible result. If you seen an artist put on the road like in Ft. Worth. Tangible result. I haven't seen the same thing twice. They are all programs that are unique to the communities that created them from the tool kit we give them," said Anthony.
Waco has seen explosive growth over the past few years and providing a thriving music scene to locals and tourists helps continue positive growth.
"The Texas music industry has put Texas on the map. We have guys like Gary P. Nunn and Lee Roy Parnell that put Texas on the map. When we go overseas they know Texas musicians. It's extremely important but that's one half of a two-half coin. The other side is economically, it puts more than 100,000 people to work today and provides billions in income and millions of tax revenue to the state. That's an industry that is extremely important to support," said Anthony.
During the certification process, a liaison will be designated between Waco's music community and the state and an advisory board is formed. The community will engage with leaders for practical programs to benefit the industry.
Anthony says Waco's music industry is on par with any other Texas city, and when communities decide to go all in, they're here to help.
"I'm really excited to see what Waco does after certification. I think it will be a unique program and we can't wait to partner with them," said Anthony.
The Texas Music Office Waco Workshop and Showcase happens Wednesday, August 28th at 7 pm at Brotherwell Brewing in Waco.
