Toronto approves 'music city alliance' with Austin

[DevO]

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/07/19/toronto_approves_music_city_alliance_with_austin.html

Toronto approves 'music city alliance' with Austin

Toronto endorses twinship with ‘Live Music Capital of the World’

By: Ben Rayner Pop Music Critic, Published on Fri Jul 19 2013

Toronto City Council has voted unanimously to endorse a proposed musical twinship with “Live Music Capital of the World†Austin, Tex., aimed at further nurturing Toronto’s thriving music scene as a tourism draw and an engine of economic growth.

Austin City Council — well aware of the benefits that come from the music industry since hundreds of thousands of people visit the city each year for such festivals as South by Southwest and Austin City Limits — did the same on June 27, agreeing to formally establish a “Music City Alliance†with Toronto. The next step is coming up with the “framework and terms of references†for the alliance.

“This alliance is the first of its kind in the world,†Graham Henderson, president of the industry lobby group Music Canada, said in a statement. “We want to thank the mayors and councillors from Toronto and Austin for recognizing the important role music plays in creating jobs, attracting investment and talent, and enhancing quality of life.â€

Music Canada, which unveiled a music-marketing campaign under the slogan “4479 Toronto: Music meets world†on June 13, and its supporters within the local music community also hope to see the establishment within a few months of a Toronto “music office†comparable to the local film office we’ve had for 25 years and a “music advisory board†at city hall.

“It is great news for Toronto and especially our music community that city hall is formalizing an alliance with Austin, the epicentre of music in the U.S.,†said Jeffrey Remedios, co-founder of local indie label Arts and Crafts, in the same Music Canada statement. “We’ve all been going to Austin for years now and have witnessed the city’s exponential growth, driven by music and fuelled by a supportive city government. I’m excited for what this could mean for Toronto.â€

[Northern Wish]

First of its kind eh? Cool.

[edger]

I don't fully get what this entails but it does sound VERY cool and promising in terms of what that may mean for the types of acts that will make their way to Toronto.