Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and NY is Music Announce the Return of "New York Music Month" in June

The official citywide celebration of New York City's music industry, artists, and fans is back!

Full calendar of public events throughout the five boroughs, industry panels, workshops for musicians, free rehearsal space, walking tours of iconic music sites, and more

NEW YORK – Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Commissioner Julie Menin and NY is Music co-founder Justin Kalifowitz today announced the return of New York Music Month for June 2018. Now in its second year, the official celebration of New York City's diverse and thriving music sector features 30 days of events designed to showcase and support the makers of New York City's soundtrack. The month-long initiative highlights and cements New York's status as an international music capital. More information about this year's offerings can be found at NYMusicMonth.nyc.

Some highlights of New York Music Month:

• Over 2,000 hours of free rehearsal space for NYC-based musicians through community development organization Spaceworks, underwritten by MOME. 
• Music and nightlife conference: Speed talks, interviews and panels exploring innovation at the intersection of New York City's music and nightlife industries.
• Free concerts: The New York Music Month website features a comprehensive calendar listing free and ticketed music events across the five boroughs.
• Free walking tours of iconic music sites: Our popular free tours are back for a second year, this time highlighting Morrisania, the South Bronx, and Greenwich Village.
• KIDZ BOP partnership: The best-selling music brand is supporting New York Music Month with a Taxi TV spot promoting the month and a free performance for elementary school children in the Bronx. The country's top music brand for kids, Kidz Bop features current hits "Sung by Kids for Kids."

"We are so pleased to present New York Music Month, back for a second year with even more programming for musicians and music lovers alike," said Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. "This initiative is a celebration of all that our city's incomparable music industry has to offer, whether you're an artist trying to make your mark, a sound engineer interested in honing your craft or simply a music fan looking for free concerts this summer. New York is home to the largest and most diverse music business ecosystem on the planet, and I invite all New Yorkers to join in the festivities this summer!"

"We are excited to extend our partnership with Commissioner Julie Menin and her extraordinary team at the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment in once again producing New York Music Month," said Justin Kalifowitz, co-founder of NY is Music and CEO, Downtown Music Publishing. "With the global music industry continuing its resurgence, it's an exceptional time to celebrate music's broad impact on New York City's culture, education, and the economy, while reflecting on the challenges and opportunities that sit before us. We thank the commissioner for her unwavering support of the City's music community, and her work to ensure that we continue to be the music capital of the world."

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 have emerged here in the city. New York Music Month 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.

Organized to coincide with other major New York City music events in June, the month's calendar boasts both public and industry-facing events, including Governor's Ball, the Annual Songwriter's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the National Music Publishers Association annual meeting, A2IM Indie Week, the Northside Festival, SummerStage and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival opening weekends, and many more.

Resources for Musicians
The talented artists who comprise 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 support and help music creators thrive. New York Music Month features tailor-made programs and free opportunities 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 2,000 hours of free rehearsal space for NYC-based musicians, in partnership with nonprofit cultural community development organization Spaceworks.
• Free workshops: After seeing the popularity of last year's workshops for musicians, MOME is once again offering talks on a range of topics, including how to secure gigs in NYC and tips and tricks for going on the road; how to make money with music; how to license your music for film, television and advertising; and best practices for navigating the legal side of the music industry, in partnership with the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 and Carnegie Hall's Resnick Education Wing. Additionally, Power Station At BerkleeNYC will offer two free workshops: Intro To Sync And Music Licensing, a primer for attendees to the legal and creative aspects of licensing their music for film, television and advertising; and Creating A Band Agreement, a Music Business Workshop designed to inform all musicians on the best practices for navigating the legal side of the industry right from the beginning of their career.
• #MyNYCSong Teen Songwriting Contest: MOME and Guitar Mash are calling on New Yorkers age 13-19 from all five boroughs to submit original songs inspired by New York City. The second annual contest is a chance to write a love letter to your hometown. Prizes include a professional recording session, mentorship and a chance to perform on stage at Guitar Mash at City Winery. Judges include: Chef/Activist Tom Colicchio; Broadway/ Recording Artist Justin Guarini; Singer/Songwriter Joan Osborne; Guitar Mash Artistic Director, Mark Stewart (Paul Simon).

Conferences, Panels, and Workshops
Along with our events aimed at musicians, we are pleased to offer a range of opportunities for New Yorkers who are interested in learning about other elements of the industry.

• Innovation at the Intersection of Music and Nightlife: As part of New York Music Month 2018, on June 8th, MOME, NY is Music, and the NYU Steinhardt Music Business Program will host a day-long conference featuring speed talks, interviews, and panels with leading voices from the music and nightlife scenes.
• Divas Behind the Music: MOME and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation will invite 150 exceptional high school youth from underserved communities to engage directly with and be inspired by women leaders in the music industry. The event seeks to address the persistent information and opportunity gap faced by young people of diverse backgrounds with respect to careers in the music industry, and encourages young women to pursue technical and management careers in music.
• Interlude+: A free, hands-on music and art workshop series curated by Offline Projects, for and by the LGBTQ+ community. The series brings together respected musicians, artists, and industry leaders to inspire a new generation of creatives in nontraditional educational environments. Topics will include music and identity; production in the sampling era; and music, motion and new media.

Opportunities for Music Lovers
New York Music Month features a vast array of free concerts and events for New York City's diverse community of music enthusiasts, including:

• Free Music Neighborhood Walking Tours: So many neighborhoods have played pivotal roles in music history – as birthplaces of pioneering artists, homes to cutting-edge music venues, and even inspirations for global music movements. 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. Each tour provides an in-depth history of a different style of music in each neighborhood. This year's tours will highlight Morrisania, the South Bronx, and Greenwich 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 immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers to host an evening of music, food, and community. The event will be held on Saturday, June 23rd, from 3-6 p.m. at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and will feature musicians and dancers from all over the world. The event is FREE and open to the public.
• KIDZ BOP in Taxis and in Concert: KIDZ BOP, the #1 music brand for kids, is partnering with NYMM. For three weeks during June, the city's 13,000 cabs will feature a spot starring The KIDZ BOP Kids, who invite viewers to explore NYC musical landmarks with them and celebrate New York Music Month. The KIDZ BOP Kids are making a special stop on their "KIDZ BOP Live 2018" tour to visit PS 91 Bronx Elementary School on Tuesday, June 12th. The KIDZ BOP Kids will take the stage to perform acapella and answer questions from elementary students.

"Queens is home to so much talent," said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. "The return of New York Music Month will continue the celebration and promotion of local musicians to an even larger audience."

"Brooklyn's music industry has been celebrated and uplifted through the years by iconic figures such as Barbra Streisand, Lena Horne, and Neil Diamond," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. "I commend Mayor de Blasio, MOME Commissioner Menin, and NY is Music co-founder Justin Kalifowitz for continuing that enduring legacy with the second annual New York Music Month. The array of events at this year's celebration will undoubtedly shine a bright light on the vastness of our borough's diverse talent, while opening the doors for our communities to be enriched with the beauty of musical splendor."

"We are a global art and entertainment capital, and New York is Music Month is a wonderful celebration of that fact," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. "I encourage New Yorkers and visitors alike to engage with the music and nightlife conference, take advantage of the free rehearsal space, and take part in the many events, concerts, and tours that are part of New York is Music Month."

"I'm excited to see New York Music Month return for a second year," said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Chair of the City Council's Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries. "This month of events provides musicians opportunities to learn from each other and to create and share their music. It also gives New Yorkers the chance to experience local talent at free concerts. This is a fantastic way to highlight and celebrate our city's world-class music industry."

"Coming from a musical family, I understand the importance of music and the arts in New York City," said Council Member Paul Vallone, Chair of the Committee on Economic Development. "Music has and continues to play an enormous role in shaping our city's culture and initiatives like this keep us on the path to remaining a goliath in the music world."