Tulsa Music Census Aims To Better Understand Local Industry

A local music census is about to circulate around the city. Leaders with the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts, and Culture are trying to better understand the needs of Tulsa's music industry.

The goal is to reach as many people as possible to paint an accurate picture of the music community here.

Like with any census, a big hurdle is distributing it so people can fill it out; that's why the Office of Film and Music is looking for people in the community to help.

It's not hard to find live music in Tulsa, from a huge Zach Bryan concert at the BOK to standing-room-only shows in Cain's Ballroom.

"We have a show here Friday, February 9th. It's King Cabbage Brass Band," said King Cabbage Brass Band frontman Greg Fallis.

Fallis says creating a census to gather viewpoints from musicians like him is a positive step for the music community in Tulsa.

"Obviously, the perspective of the musician I think about, I want to make sure all musicians are getting paid, they make a living wage, they can survive, they can pay their bills, maybe even to repair their car when it breaks down," said Fallis.

Natalie Bowling with the Office of Film, Music, Arts, and Culture says they're looking for people like Greg for two reasons: to get their perspective on the industry and to help spread the word about the census.

"We're just asking for them to share it on their social media or their newsletter or their contacts and community partners could be a local venue in town, a musician. There are many options to be a community partner," said Bowling.

Bowling says the data they gather will help not only Tulsa but 25 other cities across the U.S., like Austin and Nashville, which are doing the same thing.

"We meet with them monthly to learn best practices and ways we can improve and things that they've done that maybe we shouldn't do because it didn't go well," she says.

The hope is the information they learn through this program will help shine a light on Tulsa as a music city.

The census goes live at the end of the month, but the Film and Music office wants to hear from potential community partners as soon as possible. Click here to view.