Columbus taking "census" of local music scene

Why it matters: Organizers hope the project will give insight on how to attract more industry professionals to the region and help musicians make a living here.

How it works: The online questionnaire is meant for those working professionally as a musician, educator, venue operator or in some other way supporting local music.

• Respondents should be 18 or older and living in Franklin or any of nine surrounding counties.
• The survey closes Nov. 27.

Zoom in: The census asks respondents about their artistic backgrounds, what financial support (such as pandemic relief funds) they've received in the past and what support could be helpful in the future.

• Respondents can suggest professional development opportunities they'd like to see locally, from learning audio engineering to marketing and licensing skills.

The big picture: Music Columbus is administering this census with Sound Music Cities, an artistic advisor that is conducting similar studies in other communities, including Cleveland.

What they're saying: The nonprofit hopes to receive thousands of responses this month and publish the results by early 2024, senior project manager Amy Holihan tells Axios.

• "This has the potential to web out in a lot of different ways," she says, noting the opportunity for new grants and training programs based on what musicians say they want.