AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ music industry continues to create growth statewide, impacting not only individual performers, but also the overall economy.
On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott released the 2025 Texas Music Industry Economic Impact Report, highlighting the state’s financial success from the past year.
The report, released every other year by the Texas Music Office (TMO), showed nearly $5 billion in earnings in 2024. In total, almost $4.9 billion was created in yearly earnings, plus more than $12.5 billion for economic activity.
Meanwhile, an added 86,000 permanent careers were also generated, according to the report.
“Live music lives in Texas,” Abbott shared in a statement on Thursday. “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.”
The report focuses on three main proponents of the state’s music industry: business, education and – new this year – tourism.
Last year, the industry’s direct and indirect effects also helped create $10.5 billion in annual earnings and $31.7 billion in yearly economic activity, plus nearly 196,000 jobs. Roughly $564 million in tax revenue was also earned.
While Austin is the state capital, it has also been considered “The Live Music Capital of the World” since the early 1990s. The city boasts several popular music events each year, including the iHeart Country Festival, the Pecan Street Festival, the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) and South by Southwest.
In 2023, ACL added almost $500 million to the city’s economy, creating over $3.5 billion since its start nearly 20 years ago.