Title
Proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for the creation of a Music Office, and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, In November 2015, City Council passed a bill that created The Music Industry Task Force. Fifteen individuals representing the music industry were appointed to the Task Force in February 2017; and
WHEREAS, In summary, the mission of the Task Force was to foster the continued growth of Philidalphia's music scene by cultivating new opportunities, reducing barriers, and promoting awareness in the general public of the achievements and activities of Philadelphia's music community; and
WHEREAS, In August 2017, the Task Force held its first meeting and subsequently issued its final report in August 2019 with its findings and recommendations; and
WHEREAS, On December 9, 2022, the City Council Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy held a hearing to discuss and adopt the Task Force Report and its recommendations. The public hearing included testimony from members of the music industry and other stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, The Task Force Report was adopted by a vote of City Council on Jauary 19, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia's creative economy generates $4.1 billion in total economic impact which equates to 55,000 full-time jobs, $1.3 billion in household income and $224.3 million in state and local taxes; and
WHEREAS, A major focus of the report was to enhance Philadelphia's reputation as a leading center for the creation, recording, publishing and performance of music and thereby bolstering the City's economy and increasing tax revenue; and
WHEREAS, The number one, and most important, recommendation of the Task Force Report was to "Establish a centralized, independent, permanent entity to continue the mission of the Music Industry Task Force"; and
WHEREAS, This recommendation, in summary, considered that a Music Office or...
Click here for full text