Credit: Instagram (@isaiahthomas4philly)
Philadelphia’s City Hall was surprisingly star-studded at Thursday’s City Council meeting.
Almost every seat in the cavernous Council Chambers was filled, with many visitors holding blue signs that read “Philadelphia Music Advocacy Day.” About half of the meeting’s guests were influential figures in Philadelphia’s music scene, from radio hosts to Grammy award winners.
The high-profile crowd attended this week’s City Council meeting to show support for a new resolution introduced by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas. Calling to recognize Philadelphia as the “Original Music City,” the resolution seeks to acknowledge the contributions of musicians to Philly culture, as well as policies that would support emerging artists.
After Thomas announced that he was “very excited” about this resolution, the audience erupted in cheers and applause.
Notable artists like Meek Mill and Will Smith have made Philadelphia a hub for a thriving music industry. According to Music Artist University, the industry produces $6.1 billion in annual economic output, supporting more than 31,000 jobs and yielding $64 million in annual tax revenue for the city.
Despite their significant economic impact, Philadelphia musicians feel like there is little support from the city in return. They cited issues such as a lack of affordable housing and an absence of a director role dedicated to music in the city government.
Even though the meeting continued for over two hours before the public comment section commenced, the music industry advocates stayed for their opportunity to address the Council.
Freeway, a rapper born in North Philadelphia with over 400,000 monthly Spotify listeners, was the first artist to take the microphone. “We run the music industry,” Freeway said. “Our artists go on tour with everybody. Our drummers, our keyboarders–we’re working our hardest all over the world.”
Throughout the entire public comment section, speakers would repeatedly pose a similarly formatted question to remind the audience of Philadelphia's music heritage.
“Which orchestra made movie history by performing the soundtrack for Walt Disney’s legendary animated film Fantasia?” asked Danielle Allen, Vice President of Education and Community for the Philadelphia Orchestra. The audience would shout back in unison: “Philadelphia!”
Not only were musicians present, but also people who work behind the scenes in the industry. Kerri Park, the COO of World Cafe Live, attended the Council Meeting to represent independent venues and festivals. She spoke with conviction, with her brown ponytail and silver hoops swaying.
“Declarations matter, but we must also understand that our impact cannot be taken for granted,” Park said. “Take some other music cities as a cautionary tale as to what happens when you do not invest back in your ecosystem.”
Suzann Christine, a Philadelphia R&B artist, asserted that the world without music is a bleak one. She stressed that Philadelphia musicians need affordable housing policies, funds for music education, and support for live music and sightseeing tours as the city prepares for an influx of tourists in 2026.
“Our government and its citizens use our voices, our talent, and our influence to uplift their causes, while we receive very little in return,” said Christine. “Do not forget about us.”
After many comments from various music professionals, the resolution was ultimately adopted.
“We’re not asking for handouts, we’re asking for partnerships,” said Markee “Plex” Djordan, CEO of Monster House Entertainment. “We just need the city to meet us halfway.”
