During a rare Wednesday morning meeting, due to the Veterans Day holiday, the Brownwood City Council approved an ordinance on first reading establishing a Music Advisory Board.

City of Brownwood staff has been working through the process to become a Texas Music Friendly community. This designation will help with the advancement of music, economic development, and tourism in the City of Brownwood through the Texas Music Office (TMO).

Through the creation of an advisory board, comprised of local music stakeholders, the Music Friendly Texas community program establishes a system to encourage partnerships, and a means to provide information to both the City and to the TMO.

The City’s Music Friendly Liaison coordinates these advisory board meetings and serves as a direct conduit between stakeholders and City government. When a city better understands the needs of their music industry, they can find better ways to support and help it grow. Live music is important for quality of life and can be a crucial economic driver and a draw for increased tourism.

The program helps the certified communities to stay connected on a regular basis through monthly meetings. This gives an opportunity to ask questions, share program details and find ways to collaborate. Along with the annual Texas Sounds & Cities Conference, these meetings provide a forum for these conversations and foster a system of support. More live music opportunities can spur growth for both tourism and commerce.

Visitor Services Manager Tatiana Figueroa will serve as the liaison for the City of Brownwood and will conduct the stakeholder meetings and provide the required reporting as indicated in the Memorandum of Understanding.

The Memorandum of Understanding is a crucial final step in Brownwood’s process to become a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community, a designation that will provide the Brownwood local music scene with statewide recognition, networking opportunities, and a clear message that Brownwood is actively fostering music community growth and development.

The Music Advistory Board ordinance will have to be brought before Council again for second and third/final reading, before going into effect.

Council also approved the following members to the Music Advisory Board: Wendy Lawson, Sawyer Dodds, Ray Tipton, Ashley Jaynes, Micah Jaynes, Jodie Armstrong, Danielle Rosborough, Eric Evans, Levi Packer, and Christopher Rosborough.

Also Wednesday morning, the Brownwood High School Ag Issues Forum Team – fresh off a district winning performance – gave their presentation about wild hogs. Team members included Braylee Reeves, Aubrey Neel, Madison Moseley, Evan Smith, Cate Smith, Cyndea Wilson, and Shari Ray.