HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville’s music ecosystem is resonating around the country … and the hits keep coming.
The most recent accolade was a No. 1 ranking in Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list in the Economic Development category, a win driven in large part by the city’s music-driven placemaking strategy.
“This year made one thing clear: the nation is paying attention to Huntsville’s music movement,” Huntsville Music Officer Matt Mandrella said. “Our Fast Company recognition validated that this city’s artists, venues, educators and creative leaders are building something truly special, and the world is noticing.”
To celebrate the year and the music community, the Huntsville Music Office is hosting the final Quarterly Music Meetup of 2025 next week.
The free meetup, set for Nov. 20 from 6-8 p.m., will be at the newly opened Vesper Sky Lounge at the Trilogy Hotel on Monroe Street. Artists, venue owners, creative professionals, industry supporters and music fans will gather for networking, updates and a special preview of the Music Office’s 2025 Year-In-Review.
Huntsville’s music momentum reached new heights in 2025, marked by significant industry recognition, expanded national partnerships and continued growth in performance and career-development opportunities across the city.
2025 highlights
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Over 250 live music events and more than double the Women in Music Week events during Huntsville Music Month in September
- Huntsville and North Alabama artists showcased during AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, including Muscle Shoals-to-Huntsville programming
- National stage appearances and industry representation at UK Americana Music Week in London
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Event series development, festival presence and local programming such as 805 After Five, LAUNCHPAD, Panoply, Tangled String Music & Arts Festival, Jazz in the Park and the Summer Sunset concerts.
- Expanded performance platforms such as Valley Sounds Live, Live Night with East Iris Studios and songwriter showcases
- Launch of Huntsville: Where Music Takes Off, a cinematic spotlight on the city’s creative identity narrated by Grammy award-winning producer Kelvin Wooten
- National media coverage and thought-leadership pieces elevating Huntsville’s model for music-driven community building
“A few years ago, we were telling the country Huntsville’s music scene was on the rise,” Mandrella said. “In 2025, the country told us. From Nashville to London to New York, Huntsville’s sound and its story are resonating.”
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