Press Releases

June is New York Music Month!

Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment Presents Line-Up of Free Events for New Yorkers to Enjoy Throughout Month of June

Full #NYMusicMonth Calendar Available at NYMusicMonth.NYC

Full Agenda + RSVP to the Annual NYMM Conference HERE

NEW YORK, May 21, 2024 – Today, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) presented the full slate of free programming for the 7th annual New York Music Month (NYMM). This is the City's official celebration of its music community. MOME has collaborated with 25 partners to create a series of events in June, including concerts, performances, talks, and workshops to support and spotlight the industry. A full calendar of events, including the agenda for the month's signature event, the NYMM Annual Conference on June 5, can be found at NYMusicMonth.NYC.

"June in NYC is once again New York Music Month, a city-wide celebration with concerts, performances, workshops and talks that look to engage NYC's diverse community of artists, industry professionals and enthusiasts," said Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Pat Swinney Kaufman. "This month-long series offers events and experiences that reflect the state of the local and global music industry, and shine a light on the incredible talent who live, work and perform in our great city, the creative capital of the world. When NYC's music scene thrives, NYC thrives, so let the festivities begin!"

The annual NYMM Conference, presented in partnership with the NYU Steinhardt Music Business Program, will take place for the first time at the NYU Skirball Center. This year's conference is sponsored by TuneCore, ABKCO, Flex One, Downtown Music Holdings, Covington & Burling LLP, Chartmetric, Songbird Creative, SoundExchange, and Hudson House Distillery. On June 5, industry experts and acclaimed artists will discuss issues impacting the industry, including:

Marcie Allen - Founder & President, MAC Consulting
Jem Aswad - Executive Music Editor, Variety
Joey Bada$$ - Hip hop artist/actor/Founder ImpactMENtorship
Grace Bowers - Artist, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge
Torae Carr - Songwriter/Recording Artist, Internal Affairs Entertainment
Sophia Chang - Founder, Unlock Her Potential
Mitch Glazer - Chairman and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America
Billy Porter - Artist, Broadway & Soul Productions
Jeanine McLean - President/Managing Partner, MBK Entertainment Inc
Cathy Moriarty - Actress
Larry Miller - Professor and Director, NYU Steinhardt Music Business Program

In addition, MOME is proud to continue NYMM's free rehearsal space program, which provides NYC musicians with free studio space at the following locations:

Astoria Soundworks - Queens
Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Studios - Brooklyn
Fenix Studios - Staten Island
Greenwich House Music School - Manhattan

NEW New York Music Month Events and Series:

PANELS:

Independent Perspectives, presented by Merlin - A three-part virtual series featuring speakers from across Merlin's dynamic membership of independent labels, distributors, and other rights holders, discussing their company's footprint in New York. (6/4, 6/18 & 6/25, 1-2PM)
Do Your Own Thing: Starting A Business In The Music Industry, presented by Julie Hurwitz, Founder and CEO, Songbird Creative - Established music industry professionals will share their experience in artist development, licensing, distribution, management and marketing. The panel will delve into the realities of starting a business in this competitive field, discussing the common pitfalls faced by new entrepreneurs and offering practical strategies to overcome them. (6/17, 25 W 39th St. 11th Floor)
So You Think You Can Sync, presented by Brooklyn Music Experience - 5 top NYC-based sync managers from publishers, labels and companies will offer a peek behind the Creative Sync Pitching Curtain. (6/20, The Music Playground)
The Recipe Music Workshop Series, presented by Mary Brown (Ms. Mary's Music, Inc.) - GRAMMY-nominated Singer, Songwriter, and Professor Mary Brown assembles industry expert panelists in this two-part series that provides small bites of knowledge through interactive songwriting exercises, vocal training, hands-on production tips and engaging conversations focused on royalties, marketing, distribution and touring. The first in this series is directed towards younger emerging artists, aged 7-12, including a live performance; the second is designed for teen and adult music creatives/artists to guide them through their journey from ideation to realization." (6/23, The Kaufman Center & 6/26, BerkleeNYC)
On the RISE: How Maestra Music is Changing the Theatre Industry, presented by Maestra Music - Discover the power of visibility and community support in musical theatre at a panel discussion exploring how Maestra Music fosters connection through its programming and Directories. (6/24, The New Amsterdam Theatre, 3-5PM)
Real Talk with Women in the Music Industry: From Studio to Sync, presented by The Bridge Studio and She Rocked It Productions - A panel discussion and live podcast recording that will feature real talk and actionable tips from women making an impact on the NYC music industry. (6/25, The Bridge Studio)
Indie Series, presented by Biscuit Head Collective - Series of in-person conversations that will cover Producers making waves in NYC (6/6 Sofar HQ), Tools for Indie Musicians (6/27, Sofar HQ) and Artist Development and Management. (6/28, P&T Knitwear)

CONCERTS/PERFORMANCES:

Women in Hip Hop Festival, presented by MC Sha-Rock Day - A vibrant celebration dedicated to honoring the legendary MC Sha-rock and celebrating the contributions of women in hip hop culture. Hip hop artist and personality Roxanne Shante will host, with artist Strafe' to headline. (6/1, Gun Hill Playground, Bronx)
NYMM Tour of Brooklyn Paramount, presented by Live Nation - Nearly 60 years since its last curtain call, Brooklyn Paramount reopened this spring following a multi-million-dollar renovation that revitalized the venue while honoring its history. This tour will showcase how the space has been renewed to welcome the next generation of legends to the stage. (6/22, Brooklyn Paramount)
Local 802 Pride Concert - A musical celebration of Pride! Set one will consist of a chamber music ensemble and set two will consist of cabaret artists and an accompanying trio. (6/27, AFM Local 802 Club Room)
NYC Female Battle of the Bands, presented by Warrior Women in Business - A concert and talk aimed at supporting the career growth of female artists and bands in NYC, this is a battle of the bands where every warrior woman in music wins The event will feature local NYC professional female-led all-originals bands, ranging from Rock and Alternative to Indie and Punk to Pop – all under one roof! (6/28, AFM Local 802 Club Room)
NYMM Block Party, presented by Tower Records - At their new location in Williamsburg, BK they will have a block party consisting of DJ sets outdoors and live music later in their Tower Labs space. (6/29, Tower Records)

RETURNING New York Music Month Partners, Events and Series:

PANELS:

The First 100 Days: How to Build a Successful Campaign from Start to Finish, presented by Downtown Music Holdings - Downtown's team of experts across marketing, audience engagement and publishing are here to help guide creators – independent artists, labels or anyone interested in understanding more – through the process via this virtual presentation. (6/4, 11:30-12:30pm)
Music Industry Career Series, presented by Emily White (Collective Entertainment) - Amazon #1 best-selling author, host of the #1 Music Business podcast globally, & music industry veteran Emily White will be covering the entire modern music industry, from recording to release, while ensuring artists aren't missing any revenue stream, in "How to Build a Sustainable Music Career & Collect All Revenue Streams" (6/4, Bowery Electric). The second session, Navigating Your Music Career: How to Enter & Advance in the Industry, invites students and young professionals to delve into the business side of the music industry, with expert guidance on advancing your career, whether you're just starting out or looking to take your professional life to the next level. (6/11, interactive livestream, 12:30-1:30PM)
Immigration and Music Initiative (I AM I) 2-part Series, presented by Sonic Records - Aims to empower and mentor New York City-based and foreign-born music creators and celebrate the diverse cultural contributions from immigrants that make New York City the world's leading music hub.This years two sessions are followed by multicultural song writing experience. (6/6 & 6/7, Amazon Music Brooklyn)
Make it Live! - Join Mehmet Dede, talent buyer at Drom and author of "Make It Live: The Handbook for Getting Gigs," for this presentation to learn how live music works including the booking, planning and marketing processes. (6/12, BerkleeNYC, 5:00PM)
The Making of a Broadway Cast Recording, presented by the NY Chapter Recording Academy - Broadway is all about live performance, but the cast recording is how millions of listeners worldwide are often introduced to a show and its score. The recording of these albums is different from those in other genres - they're recorded in just two days, right after the show opens, and edited, mixed, mastered, and packaged in a month, in order to promote the show. This breakneck pace brings its own challenges. Meet a terrific panel of some of the most active creators of new cast recordings to learn how it's done. (6/20, virtual, 12:00-1:00pm)

CONCERTS/PERFORMANCES:

Kids Rock for Kids Concert - A free, all-ages, outdoor rock show featuring amazing young bands from New York City, and around the world - 10 countries and 6 states! (6/7, 4-7 PM, Barclays Plaza - in front of Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn)
Concert Series with NYC Parks Department
- Frankie Negron (6/8, Al Quinones Playground, Bronx)
- Neil Berg's Fifty Years of Rock and Roll (6/20, Cunningham Park, Queens)
- DJ Clue and Company (6/19, Roy Wilkins Park, Queens)
Anti Social Camp Opening Day & Showcase - The biggest songwriting camp in the world. (6/10 at The New School, College of Performing Arts, Theresa Lang Center)
AI Music Marketing, presented by Cyber PR - In this mini masterclass, you will learn how to create 29 social media posts (for all platforms) in 11 minutes flat, the exact prompts to use to identify your ideal target audience, how to use ChatGPT and other AI to help you write press releases and more. (6/18, BerkleeNYC)
KreyolCon presented by Kreyol Fest - Kreyol Con will host an in-person panel discussion of Haitian music-industry professionals about a-b-c's of digital marketing in the social media age and what steps the Haitian music industry can take to bring Haitian music to the next level beyond Haitian communities in Canada, the United States, and France. (6/20 at Katra Lounge)

"June means summer sun and outdoor music in New York City, and NYC Parks is excited to join the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment to celebrate New York Music Month with a concert series in Queens and the Bronx. We believe music and the arts play a significant role in keeping our parks active and vibrant throughout the year. We hope New Yorkers and music lovers of all ages come out to our greenspaces to enjoy all of our fantastic events." - NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue

"New York Music Month is all about celebrating our thriving music industry and uplifting the next generation of musicians. In the Bronx, music is at the core of our community. Celebrating music's impacts, uplifting members of the community, and ensuring we can create more pathways to work within the industry is vital to bolstering our local economies. Thank you to MOME for hosting New York City's 7th annual music month to promote the music industry and support the entertainment sector for current and prospective musicians." - Council Member and Majority Leader Amanda Farías

"Music and New Yorkers' identity are absolutely inseparable. My musical career started with public school guitar lessons in Brooklyn and informs my work and my life to this day. As a proud musician and city lawmaker, our city's commitment to artists and the industry is beyond gratifying. I could not be more excited to invite people far and wide to celebrate this fundamental part of the human experience in the greatest music venue in the world: New York City." - Council Member and Finance Chair Justin Brannan

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Mayor's Office once again to present the NYMM Conference at NYU. The conference has become an annual highlight for the New York music community, and this year's event promises to be the best yet." - Judy Tint, music attorney / musician and Clinical Associate Professor of Music Business at NYU Steinhardt

"On behalf of the Flex team, we are proud to support the New York City Mayor’s Office and those involved with New York Music Month. We look forward to seeing everyone at the annual NYMM conference.” - David Rothman, Head of Flex Elite

"New York Music Month is so important to the city and our creative community. There is always talent to be discovered and information to be learned and shared. I myself have gone from NYMM conference attendee to panelist to now working with MOME to curate the day, it truly speaks to my heart and continues to fuel my passion." - Torae Carr, Songwriter/Recording Artist, Internal Affairs Entertainment

"I'm so excited to be part of NYMM 2024 with our I AM I (Immigration and Music Initiative). Thank you to the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment for supporting this powerful mission and helping us keep NYC as the number one music hub in the world. After all, immigrants make NYC the melting pot we all love!" - Mr. Sonic, Grammy award winning producer/engineer and founder of the I AM I

"New York City is the music capital of the world, don't forget it. From Tin Pan Alley to CBGB's to the birth of hip-hop, culture will always be created in NYC from our melting pot and gritty determination. The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment has done an extraordinary job. The goals of Anti Social Camp and New York Music Month are the same — to once again put the Big Apple at the core of music creation." - Danny Ross, Founder of Anti Social Camp

"We are ecstatic to partner with NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment for the 2024 New York Music Month and bring "The Recipe Music Workshop" to the city. This collaboration allows creatives to learn and immerse themselves in the vibrant energy, music scene, and legacy of entertainment in the Big Apple. Hosting a workshop during this lively event is an incredible opportunity to connect passionate musicians, writers and inspire the next wave of artists. It's a joy to contribute to MOME's initiative, celebrating creativity and fostering innovation in the State of New York. The energy and enthusiasm that NYMM brings to the city is truly infectious, and we are excited to contribute to this community. Motivation is the spark, but inspiration is the fire!" - Professor Mary Brown, CEO, Ms. Mary's Music Inc. / Founder, The Recipe Music Workshop.

"I am so proud to be a part of this year's (2024) NYMM! As a Warrior Woman in music who has a strong mission to help and support the careers of both female musicians and women that work in the music industry in NYC, I am thrilled to co-host the Warrior Women Battle of the Female-led bands. The intention is to create and deliver a program where all women in music win! As an educator and service-provider to artists, I have too often seen the struggles creatives have to undergo to make it in NYC. This initiative from MOME is exactly what we need to build a creator economy in our city that can actually thrive! NYC is the world's home of arts and culture and NYMM represents an important piece of driving this forward. Thank you for supporting all Warrior Women in Music who need these opportunities!" - Jasmine Sandler, CEO, Warrior Women in Business

"We're thrilled to be partnering with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment again this year. This partnership addresses a crucial need for affordable spaces where NYC's incredible musicians, artists, makers and students can make music and build community. Today, more than 1,600 musicians celebrating all genres and traditions rehearse at subsidized rates at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and we're so grateful for MOME's vital support in our efforts to bring more music to more New Yorkers." - Chad Cooper, Executive Director, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

"Building community is central to the ethos of Unlock Her Potential and what better medium than music to engender coalition building. Music helped me shape my worldview and no city was more integral to that process than New York so I'm proud to contribute to a conversation for NYMM around how the music industry helps propel culture and conversations forward." - Sophia Chang, Founder Unlock Her Potential

"We're honored to be hosting the Indie Series in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment to help shine a spotlight on all of the amazing artists, producers, managers, and creatives that are the lifeblood of New York's music scene. It's truly inspiring to see the hard work that these people put in every day. New York's music community is in good hands with MOME supporting these grassroots movements in so many different ways." - Luis Valencia, Fenway Recordings & Cofounder of Biscuit Head Collective

"We couldn't be happier to renew our partnership with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment for NYMM 2024! Since Greenwich House Music School opened its doors in 1905, our mission has always been to provide access to high-quality music education and create a safe and welcoming place for artists to learn, rehearse, and commune. This MOME initiative allows us to reach more NYers than ever! We know how hard it is to find affordable rehearsal space in this city, so we deeply value the opportunity to provide that vital service to local musicians and love seeing new faces walk through our doors each day!" - Rachel Black, Director of Greenwich House Music School

"New York Music Month is the premiere event for musicians and the music industry to come together as a community and grow one's career while also bolstering our larger music ecosystem. I am honored to be a part of a world-class lineup that is also free for all to attend." - Emily White, Collective Entertainment

"We are absolutely honored and thrilled to be part of the NYMM initiative presented by the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. It's programs like this that keep NYC at the global heart of culture, entertainment, and community-building. Our teen rock festival will have extraordinary young performers traveling in from 9 other countries and across the US to share their passion for music, meet their kindred spirits from around the globe, and spread joy to audiences -- and there's nowhere better to do that than in the glorious nexus of culture and art that is New York City. Thanks in no small part to MOME!" - Dave Miller, Board Chair, Kids Rock For Kids

"We are thrilled to welcome New Yorkers to get an inside look at Brooklyn Paramount as part of New York Music Month. This venue has a storied past and an exciting future and thanks to our partnership with Long Island University, will be a place that develops the next generation of music industry leaders. Thank you to the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment for celebrating our industry and the return of Brooklyn Paramount." - Margaret Holmes, General Manager of the Brooklyn Paramount

"Music is the pulse of New York City and we're honored to host our groundbreaking musical celebration of Pride on June 27 as part of New York Music Month along with our partners at the Mayor's Office for Media and Entertainment. We honor all musicians and creative workers who make NYC the cultural capital of the world and we extend our thanks and appreciation to our allies who work so hard to keep the music live in NYC and beyond." - Sara Cutler, president of the NYC musicians' union (AFM Local 802)

"Walking the streets of New York is a symphony in and of itself. Thank you to the Mayor's Office for highlighting and relishing that fact with New York Music Month. After more than 25 years of living here, I am truly honored to take part in celebrating the city that molded me. I Love New York!" - Julie Hurwitz, Founder, CEO of Songbird Creative