Music Policy Research & Advocacy

The music industry is a significant economic and cultural force, generating $170 billion annually in the United States alone and supporting 2.47 million jobs across various professions. Despite its size and impact, the industry faces complex challenges threatening the sustainability of diverse musical cultures and artists’ livelihoods. These include issues of fair compensation, intellectual property rights, media ownership concentration, and access to public funding.

Georgetown University has actively engaged in music policy through faculty contributions, educational initiatives, and strategic partnerships. Faculty members have made significant scholarly contributions and consulted for key organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts. The university archives hold the Future of Music Coalition archives, and the music program has facilitated annual policy summits for over 20 years, bringing together artists, scholars, and policymakers to discuss music policy and strategically affect change. These activities, combined with partnerships with local music venues, businesses, and not-for-profit and government organizations, have facilitated practical learning experiences and advocacy efforts, strengthening Georgetown’s impact on music policy.

The Music Sustainability Initiative is an interdisciplinary project advancing the cultural, economic, and policy conditions that promote a more just and sustainable future for music.

The Initiative builds on Georgetown University’s 25-year legacy in music policy, artist advocacy, and cultural strategy, anchored in its stewardship of the Future of Music Coalition archive and public-facing scholarship. This initiative connects this legacy to the urgent and evolving challenges facing musicians in today’s increasingly unstable creative economy. Learn more about the initiative here.