NEW YORK MUSIC MONTH 2019 EXPANDS PROGRAMMING WITH NEW RADIO/PODCAST SHOW, FREE CONCERTS, AND MUSIC AND TECH CONFERENCE

Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment and NY is Music announce expanded line-up of citywide events during June in celebration of New York City’s music industry, artists and fans

Full calendar of public events throughout the five boroughs includes: concerts, workshops for musicians, free rehearsal space, songwriting competition, free walking tours of iconic music sites, and more

NEW YORK – Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Anne del Castillo and NY is Music co-founder Justin Kalifowitz today announced the full slate of programming for the third annual New York Music Month (NYMM) this June 2019. This year’s expanded NYMM features a new radio show/podcast all about NYC’s music scene, nine free concerts in the Bronx and Queens, a conference on music + tech, along with the popular free business classes and access to rehearsal space for musicians, free music history walking tours every weekend, hands-on weekly workshops by and for the LGBTQ+ community, and more. The full list of events and activities for NYMM 2019 is available at NYMusicMonth.nyc.

New additions to New York Music Month include:

The launch of CityFM – This new WNYE original radio show and podcast, produced by co-sign and Raspberry Jones, explores NYC’s music culture, emerging artists and trends, and upcoming events told through the lens of what’s happening around the city in Summer 2019. TUNE IN every Friday at Noon (12pm) EST on WNYE – 91.5 FM, June – August.
Nine new concerts in the Bronx and Queens – MOME and NYC Parks have teamed up to present a new series of concerts in the Bronx and Queens parks to celebrate New York Music Month! Ranging from Caribbean music to Latin to rock and roll, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Performing artists include: Bobby Sanabria, Disco Unlimited and Dirty Sock Funtime Band.
Songathon – Songathon is the 24-Hour Songwriting Competition that brings together talented songwriters for an exciting weekend of competition, collaboration, and mentorship by respected members of the music industry. During Songathon, songwriters are given 24 hours to write a song that is then performed live for an audience who vote on their favorite.
Sound Thinking NYC Career Expo — The inaugural June 19th Sound Thinking NYC (STNYC) Career and College Exposition enables middle and high school students to explore how to turn a passion for music into a possible college and career path, especially in music production. Hosted by the CUNY Creative Arts Team, MOME, and VH1 Save The Music Foundation, in partnership with NY is Music, the STNYC Expo includes hands-on activities and opportunities to meet music professionals and college representatives.

“We are so pleased to present New York Music Month, back for a third year with a terrific slate of diverse programming for musicians and music lovers of all ages,” said MOME Commissioner Anne del Castillo. “This initiative is a celebration of all that our city’s thriving music industry has to offer, whether you’re an artist trying to make your mark, a sound engineer interested in honing your craft or a music fan looking for free concerts and music-related activities this summer.”

“I’m thrilled to see more love for The Bronx in this year’s New York Music Month and especially pleased to see Bronx Walk of Famer Bobby Sanabria included in the lineup. These concerts bring Bronxites together as a community and open up the world of music to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to treat their families to a fun night out. Thank you to NY is Music and Commissioner del Castillo for including The Bronx in such a strong way in this year’s programming,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

In addition, the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, NY is Music, and the NYU Steinhardt Music Business Program present the New York Music Month: Innovation at the Intersection of Music + Tech conference on June 4, an event sponsored by royalty solutions provider SoundExchange and media partner Billboard. The Innovation at the Intersection of Music + Tech Conference will showcase key perspectives and insights from New York City’s vibrant music and tech industries. City officials and executives from Universal Group, Facebook, Nielsen, Google Music, Pandora, Soundcloud, Songtrust, and Genius, among others will be featured throughout the day, in a mix of fireside chat interviews, keynote addresses, and speed presentations.

“New York Music Month continues to be an exceptional showcase of the music industry’s broad cultural, educational, and economic impact on the city, and the diverse community of creators that choose to live and work here. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and Commissioner Anne del Castillo’s ongoing support are among the reasons that New York City remains the global center of the music industry” said Justin Kalifowitz, co-founder of NY is Music and CEO of Downtown Music Holdings.

Music is central to New York City’s economy, social fabric, and cultural identity. From hip hop and salsa to folk and electronic, an enormous array of musical styles has emerged from every borough in the city, NYMM celebrates this essential form of artistic expression, and creates opportunities for musicians and music lovers alike to experience everything the city’s booming music industry has to offer.

NYMM 2019 will feature an expanded roster of events, workshops, educational expos, concerts, walking tours, and resources for musicians. Here’s a comprehensive line-up of new and returning events the city is offering

Conference and Workshops

In addition to the Music + Tech Conference on June 4 and the Sound Thinking NYC Career Expo on June 19, NYMM offers a range of opportunities for New Yorkers who are interested in learning about NYC’s vibrant music industry.

Interlude+: Curated by Offline Projects, Interlude+ is returning in 2019 with a monthlong music and arts program of free, hands-on workshops for and by the LGBTQ+ community. Weekly workshops will be led by LGBTQ industry thought-leaders on different themes and s in interactive environments. The series brings together respected musicians, artists, industry leaders to inspire a new generation of creatives in nontraditional educational environments such as dance studios, theatrical stages and galleries.

Resources for Musicians
New York City’s creative communities are a vital part of what keep our economy humming, and the City wants to do its part to help music creators thrive. In addition to Songathon, the 24-Hour Songwriting Competition, NYMM features tailor-made free programs for members of the city’s music-making community.

Free rehearsal space: Recognizing the difficulty of securing affordable practice spaces in New York City, MOME will underwrite over 2,300 hours of free rehearsal space for NYC-based musicians, in partnership with Spaceworks.
Free business workshops for musician: MOME is once again offering free workshops to help musicians sharpen their business skills: “How to Make Money with Music” (Jason Feehan and Randy Chertkow) at Carnegie Hall and “Make it Live: A Practical Approach to Getting Gigs in NYC and Touring the United States” (Mehmet Dede) at Local 802.

Opportunities for Music Lovers
NYMM features a vast array of free concerts and events for New York City’s diverse community of music enthusiasts in addition to the launch of CityFM and nine new concerts in the Bronx and Queens, including:

Weekly Free Music Neighborhood Walking Tours:Tour companies around New York City will be offering walking tours of the sites and neighborhoods that nurtured some of the city’s most iconic music, provided at no cost! Learn about music history in the Bronx, Harlem (new), and Village.
World Refugee Day Free Concert:In celebration of World Refugee Day, MOME, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and Spaceworks are partnering with a broad coalition of organizations that support refugees to host an evening of music, food, and community. The free and open event will be held on Saturday, June 22rd, from 3-6 p.m. at the Brooklyn Conservatory.
Comprehensive Music Event Listings: The New York Music Month websitefeatures a comprehensive calendar listing free and ticketed music events across the five boroughs.
KIDZ BOP Spot:KIDZ BOP, the #1 music brand for kids, is partnering with NYMM during June. A spot starring The KIDZ BOP Kids celebrating the month will run on a variety of city channels and events.

“There’s nothing quite like the energy and excitement of a concert in the park,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “We are thrilled to partner with MOME this June to bring free live concerts to parks in Queens and the Bronx, so that New Yorkers can be exposed to new artists right in their own backyards.”

“The NYU Music Business Program is proud to be hosting the New York Music Month kick-off conference for the third consecutive year, and to partner again with MOME and NY is Music,” said Larry Miller, NYU Clinical Associate Professor of Music Business and Director of the Program. Added music attorney and NYU Clinical Assistant Professor of Music Business Judy Tint, “New York has long been at the center of the music world, and that has become even more evident in today’s landscape, where creativity, technology and commerce thrive in all five boroughs. No wonder the city never sleeps!”

“CityFM is beyond excited to create a program that shares sounds and stories from the talented people who make up New York’s incredible music communities,” said Jessica Weber (co-sign) and Piotr Orlov (Raspberry Jones). “We are continually inspired by these artists and creators who we run into and exist among every day, and we’re humbled to be given a platform to shine a spotlight on all the things happening in this city we love so much.”

“We’re proud to once again partner with The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment to bring INTERLUDE+ to life and create a unique experience for the community during New York Music Month,” said Tim Kosters, Founder, Offline Projects. “Now in its third year, INTERLUDE+ will be an expansive series of workshops, talks, and art installations – free and open to the public.”

“We’re excited to partner with the City of New York to provide this opportunity for musicians,” said Tanisha Christie, Resident Artist: Director of Programs, Spaceworks. “New York has always been a place for musicians to thrive, and we hope this initiative will continue to encourage NYC’s musicians to create new music and explore new collaborations.”

“We’re excited to bring together and support New York’s finest songwriters through Songathon,” said Noah Hyams, CEO, Songathon. “By being a part of New York Music Month, we are able to help celebrate New York as the music hub it is, and we’re eager to hear the songs that are written at the event.”

“Music enriches the lives of all Manhattanites,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I’m excited that the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment is offering an even more robust lineup of programming and activities during their third annual New York Music Month this June.”

Council Member Peter Koo, Chair of the Technology Committee, stated, “This summer in the city will be packed with music and entertainment courtesy of New York Music Month and its expansion into music and technology conferences, more resources for musicians and, of course, more free and live music concerts! Thank you to MOME for its commitment to making sure our summers are full of new and exciting events for everyone to enjoy.”

“As a civic president in my past life, I took every opportunity I could get to host concerts in the parks, and they were always a hit in the community,” said Council Member Robert Holden. “A huge thanks goes out to NYC MOME and the Parks Department for coming together to offer more free concerts and many other great musical programs to New Yorkers.”

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About the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment

The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) comprises four divisions: the Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting which coordinates film and television production throughout the five boroughs; NYC Media, the largest municipal television and radio broadcasting entity in the country with a reach of 18 million viewers within a 50-mile radius; workforce and educational initiatives in film, television, theater, music, publishing, advertising and digital content to support the development of NYC’s creative industries, which account for over 305,000 jobs, and an economic output of $104 billion; and the office of Nightlife, supporting the sustainable development of New York City’s nightlife industry which accounts for close to 300,000 jobs and an economic output of $35.1 billion.

About NY is Music

NY is Music is dedicated to advancing the importance of music in economic development, culture, and education in New York. Having worked with over 200 businesses and institutions encompassing every facet of New York’s multi-dimensional music industry, the organization focuses on identifying and increasing awareness of the music industry’s cultural and economic impact, creating new networks of common interest, promoting music education, and supporting the future of New York’s diverse music ecosystem. NY is Music was established by Bill Harvey and Justin Kalifowitz in 2014.