Seattle To Musicians: Move Here!

Michaelangelo Matos | October 29, 2008 2:00 am

Sub Pop is preparing to give away $13,000 in an annual local scholarship program. That’s one of the many parts of Seattle City of Music, the oddly un-punctuated name of a new initiative being put forth publicly today at the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle. The city’s mayor, Greg Nickels, is the host of the fete, which according to the latest press release will “announce [the] formation of [a] city music commission and [a] collective 12-year strategy to solidify Seattle as a home to music business, musicians and live music.”

The 20-strong committee readily acknowledges that Seattle’s already a solid music capital, calling the local music economy a “$2.2 billion industry.” There’s a plan to make Seattle a musician’s destination, in part by making the city more accommodating to them financially–in a city as festooned with brand new, overpriced condos as Seattle in 2008 is, eh? The committee is also planning to offer health care to musicians and spur a music education initiative beginning with K-12, both righteous things, and the plan to focus tourism on live shows seems fairly logical as well. (Especially with Mk. II of Belltown’s Crocodile Cafe readying itself to launch in ’09.)

Seattle City of Music [Official site]