Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the seventh annual Texas Sounds & Cities Conference will convene in Corpus Christi on November 5-6, marking the latest effort to bolster the state’s music industry and creative economy.
The two-day event, announced by Abbott and the Texas Music Office, brings together Music Friendly Texas Certified Communities to share strategies for attracting music tourism and creating jobs.
“Texas is where live music lives,” said Abbott. “Texas’ vibrant music industry supports local job creation while drawing visitors from around the globe, attracting a talented workforce across industries, and supporting business recruitment and expansion efforts throughout the state.”
The conference represents a key initiative by the Texas Music Office, which has operated since 1990 as the nation’s first state music office. Since 2016, the office has certified more than 80 communities through its Music Friendly Texas program. At least 18 communities in the North Texas area have been certified as ‘Music Friendly,’ including Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, and McKinney.
Co-hosted by the City of Corpus Christi, Visit Corpus Christi, and the local Film & Music Commission, the event will feature panel discussions on music industry development. Attendees will explore potential collaborations between certified communities and examine best practices for music-related economic growth.
Abbott thanked the Texas Music Office for “helping communities large and small develop creative partnerships and grow new jobs.” The governor emphasized the role of music in strengthening Texas’s broader economic development efforts.
Music Friendly Texas Certified Communities have been invited to participate in the conference. Registration and agenda details are available at texassoundsandcities.com.
The Texas Music Office operates within the Governor’s Office of Texas Economic Development & Tourism. Its Music Friendly Community Program remains the first and only statewide initiative of its kind in the nation.