AUSTIN (KXAN) — The economic impact of the music industry in Texas was at an all-time high in 2024, according to the 2025 Texas Music Industry Economic Impact Report.
The Texas Music Office started releasing a series of biennial studies on the impact of the music business on the Texas economy in 2015. The 6th annual report was completed at the end of 2024 and released on Thursday.
It tracks the growth of the Texas music industry, including music businesses and music education, according to a release from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office. For the first time this year, it also included music-related tourism. Economic impact is measured in terms of annual earnings, local job creation, and economic activity statewide.
The music industry was highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the report showed “clear signs that music was back, as the economic impact roughly matched that prior to COVID-19,” a summary of the report stated.
The Texas Music Office noted, however, that the number of overall jobs associated with music in Texas has declined, but the jobs that remain pay higher wages. The office said that likely reflects broader trends in the overall labor market rather than relating directly to music.
“Live music lives in Texas,” Abbott said in the release. “A thriving Texas music industry draws visitors from around the globe, attracts a skilled workforce across industries, and supports continuing business recruitment and expansion efforts. With support from the Texas Music Office and employers across the state, the Texas music industry employs hundreds of thousands of Texans and generates more than $31.7 billion in annual revenue throughout the state. Working together, we will continue to create good-paying jobs and build a stronger, more prosperous Texas than ever before.”
According to the Texas Music Office, the music industry in Texas, including music businesses, music education, and music-related tourism, created:
- More than 86,000 permanent jobs
- Nearly $4.9 billion in annual earnings
- Over $12.5 billion in annual economic activity
The total direct and indirect economic impact in 2024 created:
- 196,000 permanent jobs
- $10.5 billion in annual earnings
- $31.7 billion in annual economic activity
View the full 2025 Texas Music Economic Impact Study online.
A conclusion of the 2024 study stated that the impact of the music industry in Texas’ economy was at an all-time high in dollar terms in 2024.
“There are many factors that drive economic growth in Texas, with an exceptional range of activity and opportunity in music and the creative space clearly a major factor. Texas is a place that appreciates creativity and culture in a variety of forms, and its incredible diversity of the local scene undoubtedly serves to both attract and retain talented people. This in turn has a significant impact on business recruitment, retention, and expansion, as well as local entrepreneurship,” the study said.
“Moreover, music is a crucial element of “Brand Texas” that draws visitors from across the globe, the impact of which this report documents for the first time. The creativity expressed through music is a fundamental comparative advantage for Texas—the goal remains to identify the key investments, policies, and regulatory changes necessary for sustainability and growth.”
