Portland is a hotbed of innovative instrument and gear manufacturers, from modular synths, to pedals and effects, amps and studio gear. Portland music manufacturers have created brands and a manufacturing culture that is authentic, hand-built, and nationally and internationally respected.

The current hotbed of modular synth activity in the United States is Portland, OR.
— Reverb.com

But these innovators in our industry are under enormous pressure from this growing city. It’s harder to find spaces that are secure and affordable because of rising rents and changing zoning. Staff is increasingly hard to find and keep as they themselves struggle to afford the city.

The problem has been that some are reaping the benefits of Portland’s music industry without supporting us in return. In no small part due to Portland’s reputation as a hip town with a great music culture, corporations open offices here knowing that they can attract talent— but they have not yet done anything to support us. The city has depended on music tourism and used music in their branding without developing a reciprocal relationship with artists and music businesses.

MusicPortland is changing that. By making a coordinated effort as an industry to tell our story and quantify what we contribute to this city, we can make a case to very receptive city and state leadership in order to achieve benefits commensurate our value to the city (music tourism, jobs, cultural vibrancy, revenues, and city brand).

 
Photo by Sam Gehrke for Vortex Music Magazine

Photo by Sam Gehrke for Vortex Music Magazine

 

MusicPortland Objectives to support Gear Manufacturers:

  • Organized the first-ever annual expo featuring select Portland-area manufacturers of musical equipment, instruments, and gear. MusicPortland’s Gear Fest was held Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Polaris Hall with 20+ manufacturers. More info.

  • Building Portland’s first-ever Music Industry Directory, starting with the Instruments & Gear sector, to promote our wealth of local music businesses and independent music professionals to new customers locally, nationally, and internationally.

  • Fight for equivalent advantage for music companies that other industries like cannabis and bikes already enjoy— tax incentives and special deals because they are recognized industry sectors

  • Gathering data for the first Economic Impact Study on the Portland music industry; the resulting quantified data on our local music economy will inform all future advocacy and promotional efforts

  • Established the city’s first-ever Music Policy Council at City Hall, to review and make recommendations to optimize all policy and regulations that impact local music. (Sept 2019)

  • Promote a “Portland Backline” as a coveted offering to outfit any new venue or performance space

  • Collaborate with Prosper Portland to schedule a trade mission of PDX manufacturers to Japan to build new distribution relationships with a market that is keen for Portland products and Portland music

  • Exploring Enterprise zone for music businesses that would provide tax breaks and long term secure, below market rates for commercial space

  • Build community with local music professionals and evangelists, hosting monthly professional networking events since September 2018

  • Building a Job Board to match music opportunities with music people and engage BIPOC candidates to build equity and representation

  • Check out all of our initiatives because everything we do will ultimately make a better music industry in Portland.

Do you support our mission?

 

BECOME A MEMBER

Our work is made possible by the generous support of our members. Please consider joining us as an Individual Member for just $25/year or as a Business Member for $250/year. MusicPortland dues are a fully tax deductible business expense. If you are not able to offer financial support at this time, please register for free as a MusicPortland participant to become a recognized part of our industry. We need to know who you are and what you need to successfully advocate for you.



SPREAD THE WORD

Tell your friends, colleagues, and employees about MusicPortland! By registering as part of the Portland-area music industry you help us generate real data— and data is power. Only by quantifying the impact music and artists have on our city can we successfully lobby local government, corporate employers, and development agencies to provide more resources, opportunities, and policies to support us.