While the CMC agrees with the City of Chicago that underground and dangerous promoters need to be weeded out, we have deep concerns with how this ordinance was communicated to the public. Therefore, the CMC cannot support it at this time.

The CMC is also concerned about the impact to the music community and believe that as written it will not address the real, isolated problem but instead increase business costs for promoters seeking to do business with many of Chicago's upstanding PPA-licensed music venues, thereby depressing the overall economic and cultural contribution made by Chicago's vibrant music community

 » DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE (.pdf)

On Thursday, January 24, the Chicago Music Commission convened a diverse panel of experts for a groundbreaking public conversation on the economic opportunities being generated by Chicago’s growing music industry.  The event took place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Street., open to the public free of charge.  Never before has a panel of such caliber come together in public to discuss Chicago’s music industry, its future, and its impact on Chicago’s economy at large.  

The CMC commissioned the Cultural Policy Center at the University of Chicago to undertake the first-of-its kind Economic Impact Study. The results are now published in a report: Chicago Music City: A summary report on the music industry in Chicago.