SF Music Week to boost industry will debut in February
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
San Francisco is launching its first SF Music Week in an effort to boost the economy and help grow the local music and arts scene.
Why it matters: Mayor Daniel Lurie announced the newest initiative to support the local music industry Wednesday as another economic driver to spur the city's comeback following a slow post-pandemic recovery that has led to reduced foot traffic and big retailer closures in downtown.
Between the lines: The initiative builds on former Mayor London Breed's creation of entertainment zones — an effort to revitalize struggling areas — which allow businesses to sell alcoholic drinks outdoors during special events.
The latest: The city has partnered with SF Live and indie promoter Noise Pop to host SF Music Week, running Feb. 24 to March 2.
- The programming includes studio and venue tours, film screenings, musician master classes, panels, workshops and live performances that will run concurrently with the 2025 Noise Pop Festival.
- It's also providing a platform to connect musicians, artists and other industry leaders with resources to advance their careers.
What they're saying: The goal is to reinforce San Francisco's reputation as a city that "champions the arts" and strengthen its "position as a global hub of arts and culture, allowing us to foster innovation, attract talent, and support local businesses," Lurie said in a statement.
- "We're not just celebrating our vibrant music scene, but also actively shaping a more sustainable ecosystem for artists, venues and music lovers alike," added Stacy Horne, an event producer at Noise Pop.
Catch up quick: SF Music Week was inspired by the success of 2024's SF Live, a six-month free concert series funded with $2.5 million in state dollars to aid the local nightlife and entertainment sector.
What's next: This year's event will kick off with an industry summit on Feb. 28 featuring a conversation with keynote speaker Ghazi Shami, CEO and founder of independent record label Empire.
- Other panel discussions will focus on the intersection of music and technology and will detail the history behind the city's music scene.
- The free summit runs from 9am-6pm at the Swedish American Hall. Register here.