BMI to open office in Austin

Image courtesy of BMI

By Nathalie Phan

Today, the Texas Music Office and BMI announced that BMI will open an office in Austin by March of 2019, just in time for SXSW. This development is big news for the Austin's musicians and music industry professionals as BMI will be the first major performing rights organization to organize an official office in the city. The creation of music publishing infrastructure gives musicians a chance to develop their relationships with professionals in the licensing and songwriting space, strengthens the naively ignored income stream of music licensing, and will attract publishing and licensing companies to the city.

---

“BMI has a long track record of music industry community building in cities such as Nashville and Atlanta, and we look forward to working with them as they continue their work here in Texas,” said Texas Music Office Director Brendon Anthony. “BMI’s move to Austin represents a significant investment towards supporting Texas songwriters and their compositions. We are proud to welcome BMI and will work alongside them to increase opportunities for Texas musicians in the years to come.”

Governor Greg Abbott adds, “Today we are proud to announce that BMI’s support of Texas songwriters, composers and music publishers will become even more Texas-focused,” said Governor Abbott. “This capital investment expansion represents a real commitment to continue Texas’ rise as a music industry business center. I thank the Texas Music Office for their work in making this expansion possible and look forward to working with BMI to grow our thriving music industry.”

Entrepreneur and Austin Music Movement co-founder, Gary Keller, has signed on as a major sponsor of the local BMI office's Texas music initiatives. “The new BMI office adds to the incredible momentum we’re seeing behind the growing Austin Music Movement,” says Keller. “Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World and having a company like BMI, with the support of Governor Abbott, establish a presence in our city helps further our efforts to support local music and provide resources to the many great musicians who call Austin home.”

According to BMI's official statement, the Austin office is the newest location for BMI, which currently has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta, London, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. Mike O’Neill, President and CEO of BMI, adds, "We’re thrilled to call Austin our newest home.” Read BMI's official full statement here.