Music Study Open Forum in Huntsville was standing room only
On Wednesday, Huntsville music enthusiasts and artists (and some curious beer-lovers) took part in an open forum to discuss Huntsville’s music ecosystem.
The community meeting at Yellowhammer Brewery’s Lost Highway Bierhall at Campus 805 was hosted by the City of Huntsville, Sound Diplomacy and sponsored by RCP Companies.
Music communities don’t exist on their own – they need cities to exist.
The Music Study Open Forum was conducted by London-based music consultant Sound Diplomacy’s Katja Hermes, Head of Projects, and Azu Mico, Senior Project Manager. Presenters also included Shane Davis, Director of Urban Development at the City of Huntsville; Shawn Patrick, Music Development of RCP Companies; Aubrey Preston, Founder of the Americana Music Triangle; and Hip Hop producer Cody Global of Slow Motion Soundz.
Sound Diplomacy has guided cities like Vancouver, London, Brisbane, Berlin and many smaller cities and towns across the world. Their work has helped cities create vibrant, robust music eco-systems, making those places a magnet for new businesses and talented professionals.
Standing room only
The Open Forum had quite a turn-out – in fact, it was standing room only! People were eager to hear what Sound Diplomacy had planned for Huntsville and to share their ideas, grievances, and thoughts. This gathering was clear evidence that the people of Huntsville are passionate about the music scene, and are ready for some big changes to take shape.
Sound Diplomacy discusses our path.
There were some intense moments as some of the musicians discussed their frustration at the difficulty of earning a fair wage for sharing their art. It comes down to Huntsvillian’s supporting the grassroots musicians, with their applause and their pocketbook. We need to embrace singer-songwriters, much like the Shoals and Nashville does. We need to appreciate listening to original songs, as opposed to that worn out cover of “Sweet Home Alabama.” We have some great local talent, let’s give their original music a chance!
Cody G in the house!
Hip Hop Producer Cody G was given the stage to answer many concerns and questions; he did so flawlessly.
Cody G. explained “The city is missing out on tourism and lots of clean, easy money every weekend because people that live here in Huntsville have to travel to Nashville, Birmingham, and Atlanta just to hear quality music. The city, as well as independent venue owners, are going to have to really step up and take the advice and guidance from Sound Diplomacy for this music revolution to be a success.”
Four takeaways from the forum:
- We must recognize the importance of musicians and artists and pay them accordingly. Free concerts are great, but our artists must be able to make a living.
- We must create a foundation of venues both public and private.
- The city must accommodate and make Huntsville a music-friendly city-and loosen up a bit on all fronts.
- We need more music education in Huntsville so that our kids are interested in music and culture at an early age.
Artists, city officials, Sound Diplomacy and developers like RCP are forging ahead. There are great things coming, from real-estate projects like MidCity, to music incubators like The 7-2. Stay tuned… don’t change the channel, and check back often to learn about the sweet music this community is making!’
For any questions about the music study in Huntsville, contact Sound Diplomacy’s Local Consultant at huntsville@sounddiplomacy.com.