2025 struck a different chord for the Huntsville Music Office . It just hit different.
This year wasn’t just about songs or shows. The Huntsville Music Office spent 2025 doing the work to build infrastructure, support talent and turn passion into profession, further solidifying music as a defining part of Huntsville’s identity.
While the previous year marked five years since Sound Diplomacy conducted the first municipal music audit for the City, 2025 stands out as the year that those goals and recommendations became a reality.
International, national and local recognition
In March, the world took notice.
Fast Company named the City of Huntsville to its prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for making music and supporting musicians a centerpiece of a city’s business growth
“Innovation is in Huntsville’s DNA, being the home to NASA. We are honored to be recognized for harnessing music as a catalyst for economic growth. Our investment in music is not just about entertainment—it’s about job creation, tourism, and fostering a vibrant, creative economy that benefits our entire community.” — Mayor Tommy Battle
In June, the country tuned in when the nationally recognized news website, Axios , launched in Huntsville, one of only 34 cities selected for Axios Local. And what did they choose as the topic of their inaugural newsletter? The Huntsville Music Office and the country’s first municipal music officer, Matt Mandrella.
From articles on how libraries are becoming launchpads for music careers to how music can be a tool for economic development, Huntsville’s music story also spread like wildfire through 80 media placements and speaking engagements.
And in July, the message carried all the way to Montgomery when Mandrella was invited to attend the signing of Bill 177 , a landmark entertainment industry bill that allocates $2 million per year in incentives, specifically for music albums.
Supporting artists
Most importantly, musicians are adding Huntsville to their tours, spreading the word on the road to other musicians and moving here to build their careers because of the support they feel from across the city.
This year marked 70 tours supported by Huntsville’s Music Ambassador Program (MAP) , the first municipal touring support program in the United States, which invests directly in local musicians by easing the burden of touring costs.
“MAP grows every year, and each tour teaches us something new about the realities artists are facing on the road,” Mandrella said. “We’re proud to see MAP becoming a model for other cities and states, and we’re even more excited about its trajectory here.”
This year, East Iris Live Night , a groundbreaking music exchange between the Huntsville Music Office, Universal Music Group’s East Iris Studios, the Apollo Coalition and MidCity District exposed Huntsville artists to Nashville crowds and brought emerging Nashville acts to Huntsville’s The Camp at MidCity.
And, for its second consecutive year, Huntsville’s presence at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville also showcased north Alabama talent to industry influencers and fans nationwide.
The Music Office presented two major events, Rocket City Ramble and Muscle Shoals Meets the Rocket City, highlighting both rising and established artists. The gatherings blended the legacy of Muscle Shoals artists with Huntsville’s emerging voices, emphasizing a rich regional music identity.
By the numbers
The data backs the beat.
In 2025, the Huntsville Music Office:
- Increased the number of Huntsville Music Office calendar events from 1,800 to over 2,200
- Promoted over 250 events during Huntsville Music Month in September
- Programmed and supported over 185 live music events
- Partnered with over 100 community partners and venues
- Doubled the number of Women in Music Week events
- Partnered with DHI to increase 805 After Five attendance to over 15,000
- Partnered with the City’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and DHI to increase Jazz in the Park attendance to over 27,000
- Showcased more than 20 Huntsville-area artists in Nashville
- Supported 6 house shows with more coming in 2026…
The Rocket City isn’t just launching rockets anymore. It’s launching sounds, stories, careers and experiences that are reshaping how music lives, works and grows in a community.
