Census counting Charlotte region's music community

DANIEL COSTON | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Charlotte Symphony conductor Kwame Ryan is a leading figure in the region's music community. The Charlotte Music Census aims to count individuals, businesses and institutions involved in the local music industry

From holes in the wall to grand venues, Charlotte’s counting its music community.

The Charlotte Music Census, a regional partnership between Music Everywhere CLT, Austin, Texas-based Sound Music Cities is an initiative that focuses on the experiences of people who make, support, and sustain local music by gathering data to guide community-led growth and investment.

The census, which launches this month, will collect information from a range of individuals, including musicians, educators, DJs, engineers, producers, businesses and promoters. The Arts and Science Council, Charlotte Is Creative, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Fair Play Music Equity Initiative, and Tosco Music are partners.

Census results will be released publicly in early 2026 and will inform strategies to support live music, improve access to professional development for the music community, boost audience engagement, support inclusivity, and guide future investment.

“To shape the future of our music scene, we have to start by understanding the present,” Rick Thurmond of Music Everywhere CLT and Charlotte Center City Partners said in a statement. “The Charlotte Music Census helps shine a light on the people and places that make our creative community thrive—and ensures they’re part of the city’s vision going forward.”

The census is open to anyone 18 or older who works in any music capacity, paid or unpaid, in the Charlotte area, including performance, production, entrepreneurship, education, and administration.
There is also an open call for community engagement partners and ambassadors to raise awareness and participation in the initiative. Interested individuals can sign up at CharlotteMusicCensus.org for toolkits and support.

“Charlotte’s music community is vibrant and diverse, and to truly support it, we need to understand it,” said John Tosco, founder and executive director of Tosco Music. “The Charlotte Music Census gives us that opportunity. …We want all voices to be heard, and we encourage everyone involved in Charlotte’s music scene to participate so we can all build a more inclusive, connected community through music together.”

Comments