Greater Madison Music City Music Recovery Framework Release Party at Café Coda

The Greater Madison Music City (GMMC) project grew out of years-long efforts to address racial disparities in the local music community, especially the lack of resources and opportunities for hip-hop artists and musicians of color. Under the GMMC banner, Madison’s Urban Community Arts Network (UCAN) and the consulting firm Sound Diplomacy have collaborated over the past couple of years on a first-of-its-kind study of music in Madison and Dane County, with funding from the City of Madison and Dane Arts. More specifically, GMMC is focusing on the economics and policy landscape at play in local music. 

GMMC’s first report, released in summer 2021, provided an overview of the economic impact of music in the area, and painted a stark picture of who benefits and who misses out. On December 8, GMMC will release its latest report, which makes a number of recommendations for improving the economic lot of musicians, building up music-driven tourism (arts funding and tourism are very intertwined in city government, for good or ill), and leveling the playing field for marginalized audiences and artists.

At this Café Coda event, GMMC will be presenting the report, and hopefully initiating a lot more conversation—and of course there will be music, from DJ M. White. The details of the report don’t become public until the start of the event, but its findings and recommendations will be worth grappling with. Look for more detailed coverage from Tone Madison once that’s out.

—Scott Gordon

Illustration by Shasya Sidebottom.