Episode 221
Music as Economic Development with Matt Mandrella
June 1st, 2026
34 mins 37 secs
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About this Episode
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Dane Carlson talks with Matt Mandrella, Music Officer for the City of Huntsville, Alabama, about what it means for a city government to take music seriously as an economic development strategy.
Matt explains how Huntsville’s music audit led to intentional investments in venues, programming, artist development, tourism, and workforce attraction, including the Orion Amphitheater, MidCity, Women in Music, tour grants, a central music calendar, and partnerships that help local artists and businesses grow.
The conversation shows economic developers how music can strengthen quality of life, support downtown and district development, attract talent, create career pathways, and give a community a stronger identity without trying to become the next Nashville or Austin.
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10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers
- Start with an audit. Before launching programs, study the local music ecosystem, identify gaps, and use that work to create a practical roadmap.
- Treat music as quality-of-life infrastructure. Think about music the same way you think about parks, trails, sports, and public spaces: as something that helps people choose to live, work, and stay in your community.
- Connect music to talent attraction. If your community has hard-to-fill jobs, especially higher-skill jobs, remember that people also choose places based on what life feels like after work.
- Design venues as district anchors. A major music venue can help catalyze surrounding private investment when it is tied to restaurants, hotels, housing, public spaces, and a broader district strategy.
- Program public venues beyond big concerts. Use civic venues for free and low-cost community events, fitness classes, festivals, seasonal events, and local programming so taxpayers feel ownership of the space.
- Support artists as small businesses. Programs like tour grants, showcases, and local performance opportunities can help musicians build momentum, gain confidence, and create professional pathways.
- Create a central music calendar. If residents and visitors have to check five different websites to find live music, the community is leaving value on the table.
- Use small programs in small communities. Even without a major amphitheater, communities can support live music on town squares, at restaurants, farmers markets, downtown events, and public gatherings.
- Build the behind-the-scenes workforce. Music creates opportunities beyond performers, including sound, lighting, staging, trucking, security, ticketing, marketing, hospitality, and event operations.
- Develop your own identity. Do not try to become Nashville, Austin, or New Orleans. Build a music strategy that fits your own community, culture, venues, talent, and long-term goals.