The Office of the Governor named Fort Worth a "music-friendly city" last year — and this year, it just got friendlier.
Visit Fort Worth announced Wednesday that it would launch four new programs to support local, up-and-coming musicians. Among them, a partnership with Niles City Sound — the studio where Leon Bridges recorded his hit album, Coming Home. The program, dubbed Studio Sessions, will select four emerging artists who will work with Niles City to develop and produce a record single. The studio will announce the artists at Visit Fort Worth's annual meeting on Feb. 6, 2019.
Another program will help artists looking to go on tour, with Hear Fort Worth offering travel grants of up to $500 each. Artists can apply via Hear Fort Worth's website from Nov. 1 to Sept. 30, 2019, while funds last.
Hear Fort Worth and Visit Fort Worth will also launch an Artist Showcase campaign, featuring different musicians each month on their social media channels and online.
95.9 The Ranch is joining the initiative as well, offering a grant that would allow Hear Fort Worth to reimburse musicians who apply to play a showcase at SXSW 2019.
“Music is a magnet for visitors,” Bob Jameson, president and CEO of Visit Fort Worth, said. “We want to ensure that Fort Worth artists have the opportunity to develop and make our local scene even richer.”