MusicPortland’s community of nearly 5000 engaged music professionals is reimagining what Portland can look like if all of the stakeholders and beneficiaries of our organically earned reputation as a Top US music city were to strategically participate in it. Our independent music culture is the most valuable and yet least strategically supported asset in our city. MusicPortland works to engage all stakeholders in a Portland-supportive, music-driven, revitalization conversation.
From our First Monday Meet-ups bringing together the entire Portland music community for education and networking every month to gathering diverse voices and identifying equity issues within Portland’s music scene, from our Music Policy Council, advising Portland City Hall on music-supportive policy to business-boosting PDX Gear Fest showcasing local music gear builders; from collective action to support venues threatened by closure and demolition to individual casework to secure denied pandemic unemployment benefits for music professionals— MusicPortland is working for independent music as an economic and cultural imperative in Portland.
UNITE | DEFEND | AMPLIFY
Our 501(c)6 Trade Organization, MusicPortland, works to support the business of music and to make Portland a place where music businesses, venues, and artists can be successful at any stage of development.
What MusicPortland Does
MusicPortland
Successfully lobbied for the historic 2022 state bill recognizing Commercial Music and Live Performance as emerging Economic Sectors in Oregon with funding for their study.
Engaged by Business Oregon in 2023 to design and execute the state’s first Commercial Music Census to identify statewide music businesses, venues, and artists to inform economists.
Performed key advisory role for the 2023 Business Oregon Economic Impact Study with PSU’s Northwest Economic Research Center.
Successfully advocated for the independent, for-profit music community to participate in the 2023 Regional Cultural planning process for the first time in its history - it had historically only considered nonprofit arts to be culture.
Co-founded the Cascadia Music Corridor Project with music advocates in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Idaho to create systems to support dynamic touring assistance for Portland area artists in the region.
Delivered a detailed seven-step interdepartmental policy plan to make Portland a supportive music city with endorsements from more than 32 organizations and city influencers from Portland Business Alliance to tenant’s rights organizations. The first of the seven has already been implemented, and two more are moving ahead.
Established a strategic working relationship with Travel Portland to assess and grow music tourism.
Working with Business Oregon to launch promotion and trade opportunities with the Japanese market for local Instrument and Gear manufacturers
Established multi-year funding commitment from Portland City Hall to support the local popular music sector as a key economic and lifestyle asset.
Established the Leadership Equity Advocacy Project in 2019 to empower leaders and voices from the Black, Native, Latin, LGBTQIA+, and Disabled parts of our music culture and center their support in all of our work. LEAP is now a program of MusicOregon, our 501(c)(3) companion organization, but equity and diversity remain a guiding principle of MusicPortland’s work.
Advocated and won the First City CARES allocation to support music venues in the U.S. - $2.5 million
Partnered with Independent Venue Coalition to secure the First State CARES allocation for music venues in the U.S. - $50 million (supporting the Independent Venue Coalition)
Secured More than $700K+ in denied OED PUA claims for music professionals
Launched Portland’s first-ever Music Industry Directory - New sections roll each quarter
0rganized successful collective action to support the repeal of a City ordinance that threatened 36 music venues with likely closure or demolition.
Produced the first annual MusicPortland Gear Fest in November 2019, attracting more than 1500 people to the one-day event & garnering interest from trade missions from Canada, Japan, & Germany to attend the following year. The Pandemic interrupted plans, but Gear Fest will relaunch in 2024
Secured (in partnership with Musicians’ Union AFM99) 16 Musician Loading Zones at Venues (more than any other U.S. city except Austin)
Produced and hosted more than 15 networking, professional development, and educational events each year since Sept 2018
Get Involved
Your support matters. MusicPortland is a grassroots trade organization and non-profit advocacy group whose mission is to unite, defend, and amplify the greater Portland independent music scene. By taking 5 minutes to register with MusicPortland, joining us as a member for as little as $25/year, volunteering with us, or attending one of our events, you can make the Portland music scene stronger and empower our advocacy for you.