The Fort Wayne/Allen County Music Economy Strategy and Launch of the Fort Wayne Music Office
Music Economy Strategy
Visit Fort Wayne is proud to announce the release of the highly anticipated Fort Wayne/Allen County Music Economy Strategy, along with the launch of the Fort Wayne Music Office — one of the strategy’s key recommendations and an important next step in strengthening our region’s music ecosystem.
“The power of tourism lies in its ability to spark economic growth, support local businesses, and showcase the authentic character of a community. Our music scene already draws visitors from across the region, and this strategy positions us to amplify that impact. By investing in our music economy, we’re investing in a stronger, more dynamic future for Fort Wayne and Allen County,” said Jill Boggs, CEO of Visit Fort Wayne.
As outlined in Visit Fort Wayne’s 10‑Year Tourism Master Plan and Greater Fort Wayne Inc.’s ACT Plan, our community seeks to grow our music economy. To that end, Visit Fort Wayne engaged Sound Diplomacy to conduct an in‑depth analysis of our music landscape and develop a comprehensive strategy featuring 17 actionable recommendations. While Fort Wayne serves as the focal point of the report, its insights and goals are designed to support and elevate the entire Allen County community.
This work was made possible through generous support from the Knight Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, the Don Wood Foundation, the Northeast Indiana Strategic Development Commission, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., and Visit Fort Wayne.
The Music Economy Strategy can be downloaded at FortWayneMusicOffice.com
Fort Wayne Music Office
The first outcome of the Music Economy Strategy is the development of a Music Board, comprised of seven partners: Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, City of Fort Wayne, Embassy Theatre, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Surack Enterprises, Sweetwater, and Visit Fort Wayne. This group was established earlier this year, and today they are introducing the Fort Wayne Music Office.
Music Board Statement – Music is one of Fort Wayne and Allen County’s powerful cultural and economic engines. The Music Economy Strategy gives us a clear roadmap, and the Music Office provides the leadership structure to bring that vision to life. Together, we are investing in an industry that enriches our quality of life, drives economic opportunity, and strengthens our identity as a vibrant regional music hub.
The Fort Wayne Music Office will champion Fort Wayne and Allen County as a unified, vibrant regional music destination, maximizing the cultural and economic potential of our music sector through centralized coordination, promotion, and activation.
The Fort Wayne Music Office will serve as a central point for strategy across promotion, education, policy, and placemaking. A core focus will be elevating and marketing the world‑class assets we already have: nationally recognized education and production programs at Sweetwater, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and the University of Saint Francis; a diverse range of genres and live music venues including the Embassy Theatre, The Clyde, The Brass Rail, and others; and strong support from city and county partners such as Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Visit Fort Wayne, Arts United, and the City of Fort Wayne.
As the Music Office is established, the Music Board is beginning the search for its first Executive Director. Those interested in applying can learn more at FortWayneMusicOffice.com.
To explore the full Music Economy Strategy, learn more about the Music Office, or download the Executive Summary, visit FortWayneMusicOffice.com.
For additional information or media interviews, please contact:
Kody Tinnel, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne
ktinnel@artsunited.org
260-424-0646
Mary Tyndall, City of Fort Wayne Community Development
mary.tyndall@cityoffortwayne.org
260-427-1127
Kelly Updike, Embassy Theatre
kellyupdike@fwembassytheatre.org
260-247-3690
Jennifer Atienzo-Fisher, Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.
JAtienzoFisher@gfwinc.com
260-203-5737
Surack Enterprises
press@surack.com
Pete Van Baalen, Sweetwater
pete_vanbaalen@sweetwater.com
260-333-9605
Jessa Campbell, Visit Fort Wayne
jessa@visitfortwayne.com
260-424-3700
