During a welcome speech at A2IM IndieWeek in New York, Shira Gans, MPP, Senior Executive Director of Policy and Programs for the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in NYC, announced that the Mayor’s office will soon conduct a census of music recording studios. “If you can’t measure something, then you can’t tell the stories about it.”
Shira Gans says the recording studio network in NYC is rapidly evolving, with many established studios closing and some new ones holding grand openings. To track the changing landscape, the Mayor’s office has created a survey that will be distributed to studio heads and other industry professionals.
“So if you know anyone who has a recording studio or works with recording studios — please send them my way,” she said.
“I’m constantly hearing these two narratives. On the one hand, it’s ‘Oh my god, all the recording studios are closing.’ And on the other hand, it’s, ‘Hey, did you hear about this new cool recording studio that’s just opening?'”
After being approached by someone from Bridge Studio in Williamsburg, Gans decided to look deeper into this dynamic.
The goal is to create an accurate list of current operating studios to understand the New York City landscape and quantify their economic impact.
“[We want to] understand strengths and weaknesses so we can see if there’s a way the city can further support recording studios and also to give the industry itself a tool,” Gans explained.
Gans highlighted an earlier economic impact study, which discovered that New York City’s music industry supported 60,000 jobs, generated $21 billion in economic output, and yielded $5 billion in wages. “The industry used that to advocate for tax credits and to tell the story of how important it is — not just to the culture of New York but also to the economy.”
The results of the confidential survey will be sent directly to the Mayor’s office, providing them with information on how they can better support studios throughout New York City.
“If you can’t measure something, then you can’t tell the stories about it,” said Gans, adding, “And if you can’t tell a story about it, then you can’t advocate for new policy or change or recognition.”
Gans also took a moment to mention the free panels and programs happening throughout the city during New York Music Month in June.
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