While the goals and aspirations of our founding fathers were lofty and far-sighted, it seems unlikely that even Ben Franklin could have foreseen the impact of the music industry in his city. From classical to hip-hop, Philadelphia is the home of composers, performers, and production professionals in every genre. And not only that, music fans in Philly enjoy a reputation as being one of the “most dependable audiences on the planet” according to music author Richie Unterberger.
According to Econsult, the music industry cluster is a significant player in the Philadelphia economy with an annual impact of nearly $1.9 billion for the City and over $4.9 billion for the region (“Potential Economic Impacts of Universal Companies’ Proposed Entertainment and Economic Development Strategy”). In 2005, the music, film and video production industries employed 7,000 people in the region, earning $.3 billion, with an average wage of $43,100. (Creative Economy Economic Impact Study: 2007 conducted by Econsult) Music is clearly big business – and getting bigger.
There’s no question that from composition to performance and from the Kimmel Center to the World Cafe Live, from *** Clark to the Philadelphia Opera Company, and from The Khyber to the Philly Fringe, Philadelphia is a great place for music lovers – whatever your taste.
On the performance side, major music festivals in Philadelphia include the summer concert series and ethnic festivals at Penn’s Landing, the concerts Under the Stars, the Bach Festival, the long-standing Philadelphia Folk Festival, the XPoNential Music Festival, and venues from large to small that feature Irish music, folk music, chamber music, an abundance of jazz, and yes, string bands. Original music makers too can find a home in Philadelphia through the Original Music Association of Philadelphia, dedicated to the advancement of the original music scene and the Indie artist in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
Artists like Philly too. Singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata, whose songs have been used in a host of TV shows including ER, The O.C., Nip/Tuck, Brothers & Sisters, Men in Trees and How I Met Your Mother, recently told David Hiltbrand of the Inquirer (posted Sept. 23, 2008) “I love Philly because it's very sweet and laid back and yet metropolitan. And the music scene here is very cool and interesting."
Philadelphia’s musical reputation extends far beyond our borders but recent, regional awards are worth noting.
This month, the Rhythm ‘n Blues Foundation announced their 15th Pioneer Award winners at a gala hosted by music legends Dionne Warwick, Bonnie Raitt and Jerry Butler. Winners included Chaka Khan who received the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award; Bill Withers, Teena Marie and Sugar Pie DeSanto received the Foundation’s Individual Artist Award; The Whispers and Kool & the Gang received the Foundation’s Sidemen Award.
And recently, the The Philadelphia Music Project awarded almost $1 million to 19 local music organizations in support of 141 concerts and residency programs.
Academic institutions are on board as well. The Curtiss Institute of Music is world-renowned. Temple University’s Boyer School of Music has a national reputation and Drexel University’s Music Industry Program and its MAD Dragon enterprise have grown exponentially. Hundreds of students apply for only 54 class seats in a program that is among the University’s most selective. Music Industry’s enterprise now includes the only student-run record label with national distribution through Rykodisc, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and a host of related activities related to music publishing, promotion and video productions.
Speaking of production, the region is home to some of the nation’s top production facilities, many of which owe their start to the historic foundation laid by Sigma Sound Studios, who opened their doors in 1967 and was famous for their role in creating the “The Sound Of Philadelphia.” According to their web site, “You know the sound; you hear it in the recordings of the OJays, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, the Stylistics, the Spinners, MFSB, Grover Washington Jr. and Patti LaBelle, it’s “The Sound of Philadelphia”.
According to Xponential Music Blog, Sigma Sound Studio was the first sound studio in the country to use console automation, and the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording. In the 1970s, SSS was associated with Philadelphia soul and the sound of Philadelphia International records. The Philadelphia Sound orchestrated by writer/producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff were recorded in Sigma Sounds Studios.
There’s no question that technology has changed the business dramatically in recent years, allowing bands and record labels to produce at a level that they could not have achieved a decade ago, the regional industry has real clout on a national level.
For instance, MilkBoy Studios in Ardmore has hosted top names such as Dave Matthews, Gomez, Ashanti and many more. MilkBoy also runs MilkBoy Coffee, a venue for local artists as well as national names. Philly, says Jamie Lokoff, owner of MilkBoy, is one of the country’s top five markets for production. “I think our reputation has preceded us,” he says. “Through the years, there have been big artists that have broken out,” he added, citing Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff.
And The Studio, located in Philadelphia, has worked with top names that include The Roots, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliot, James Poyser, Erykah Badu, Scott Storch, along with many other world-class artists and producers.
To find out more about the music scene in Philadelphia:
Read Music critic Dan DeLuca’s blog "In the Mix," at http://go.philly.com/inthemix.
The Philadelphia Music Scene; Then and Now
http://www.gophila.com/Go/PressRoom/factsheets/backgrounders1/The_Philadelphia_Music_Scene_Then_And_Now_Backgrounder.aspx