South Region Turns Up the Volume at Music Friendly Texas Event in New Braunfels

Texas Music Office

NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS (News Release) - South Region Music Friendly Texas Meeting, held on August 7, 2025, brought together music industry professionals, advocates, and local leaders from Corpus Christi, Bandera, San Antonio, Rockport, and Port Aransas for a full day of connection and collaboration in New Braunfels.

Photo courtesy of Texas Music Office.

Kicking off with breakfast at the historic Gruene Mansion Inn, the meeting began with a welcome from the Texas Music Office, followed by an inspiring keynote from Carlos Alvarez, a Latin Grammy Award–winning producer and influential figure in the regional music scene. Attendees also heard from the SIMS Foundation, with Derrick Lesnau and Sarah Andrews presenting vital mental health resources for musicians.

After a short break, participants engaged in an open roundtable discussion focused on regional music development and collaboration. A visit to the iconic Gruene Hall allowed for a bit of sightseeing and photo opportunities before reconvening for lunch at the Phoenix Saloon, a landmark venue in downtown New Braunfels. The day concluded with a Texas Music Incubator Rebate (TMIR) session, offering valuable insights into funding and support opportunities for local music venues and professionals. Overall, the meeting fostered a spirit of unity and forward-thinking within the South Region’s vibrant music community.

Liaison, Sammie Martinek from the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, was in charge of the event as well as Ross Fortune and his staff at the Phoenix Saloon.

In 2016, the Texas Music Office (TMO) created the only Music Friendly Community Program in the US, now known as the Music Friendly Texas Certified Community Program, and since then, the TMO’s Music Friendly Texas program has grown into a fully operational network of now 87 Certified Communities across the state.