Huntsville Music Office celebrates landmark year for city’s creative economy

HUNTSVILLE – In the wake of a banner year where the Huntsville music ecosystem reached an international crescendo, Music Officer Matt Mandrella led a celebration Thursday at the Huntsville Music Office’s final Quarterly Music Meetup of the year at the newly opened Vesper Sky Lounge at the Trilogy Hotel.

Surrounded by local artists, venue operators, creative partners and community leaders, Mandrella delivered a dynamic year-in-review highlighting the milestones that propelled Huntsville’s music ecosystem onto a national and global stage.

“2025 was a year defined by collaboration, innovation and the unstoppable momentum of Huntsville’s music community,” Mandrella said. “Every achievement we’re celebrating is the result of hundreds of people across this city working together to make Huntsville a premier music destination.”

2025 highlights

The year began with a major spotlight moment with Fast Company naming the city of Huntsville one of the world’s most innovative companies for leveraging music as a tool for economic growth. Mandrella was also invited to join the Fast Company Impact Council to continue elevating Huntsville’s music story nationally.

In June, Axios launched its Huntsville newsletter, featuring the Music Office in its inaugural issue, later picked up by the Nashville edition.

Huntsville’s influence extended to Montgomery as well. Mandrella joined state leaders for the signing of Bill 177, landmark entertainment legislation allocating $2 million annually for music-related incentives, a major boost for Alabama artists, producers and record labels.

The Music Office also strengthened partnerships in Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina and Oklahoma as well as the cities of Tulsa, Austin, Dothan and Memphis, laying the groundwork for a forthcoming multi-state initiative.

Record-breaking local impact

Huntsville’s creative engine ran at full speed throughout the year. The Music Office tracked more than 2,220 events on its public Music Calendar, up from 1,800 in 2024, and directly supported more than 185 events, ranging from festivals and educational programming to city-wide celebrations.

During Huntsville Music Month in September, the Office promoted over 250 events and more than doubled participation in Women in Music Week. At the kickoff, the City honored local music champion Mario Maitland with an official recognition and custom cigar box guitar.

In October, Mayor Tommy Battle proclaimed Oct. 29 as Kelvin Wooten Day, recognizing the Grammy-winning producer’s artistry, mentorship and deep contributions to Huntsville’s musical identity.

The Music Office also debuted new storytelling assets, including a year-in-review video and a short video narrated by Wooten that premiered alongside Fast Company’s recognition.

Growing a music city together

Throughout the evening, Mandrella emphasized the collaborative spirit powering Huntsville’s rise. More than 100 partners, artists, venues, nonprofits, universities, festivals, industry groups and city departments were recognized for their contributions.

“Musicians and music entrepreneurs are moving here, and more importantly, they’re staying here,” Mandrella said. “They feel supported, connected and part of something bigger.”

Mandrella also spotlighted strong seasons for the Von Braun Center and The Orion Amphitheater, inviting both organizations to share highlights and exciting news for 2026.

“We’ve made tremendous strides toward becoming an international music destination,” he said. “The energy we’ve felt all year isn’t going away, and we’re ready to take this momentum into 2026.”