FAQ
+ What is MusicPortland?
MusicPortland is a grassroots trade organization and non-profit advocacy group whose mission is to unite, defend, and amplify the greater Portland independent music scene. By standing together as a music community, musicians, venues, manufacturers, producers, retailers, and fans can have a huge impact. Learn more about who we are.
+ Why Join MusicPortland?
We are more interconnected than we realize. That’s why MusicPortland stands for all of Portland’s independent music scene: Independent Together. When it comes to creating music-supportive city policy, increasing access and equity for BIPOC and marginalized music professionals, lobbying for affordable housing and rehearsal spaces for artists, or making it easier to start and sustain a music business in the Portland area, change is only possible when we stand together.
+ What Does MusicPortland Do?
Since our launch in 2018, MusicPortland has been hard at work advocating for the Portland independent music scene and we are gaining steam. We have helped enact Musician Loading Zones at 16 local venues. We have connected people within the Portland music community through monthly networking meetups and PDX Gear Fest, the first ever expo of dozens of Portland's boutique music manufacturers. MusicPortland has created the City’s first-ever Music Policy Council at City Hall, giving the music community a voice in city policy, practices, and regulations to make Rose City more music supportive.
In response to 2020’s unprecedented shutdown of our industry, we lobbied Portland City Council to support independent music venues and secured $2.5 million, more than Nashville or Los Angeles. We have fought for individual music professionals to secure nearly $500,000 in unpaid unemployment benefits. Read more about our latest actions.