Macon Magazine

128 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2024 " E v e r y b o d y s e e m s t o b e o n t h e s a m e p a g e i n M a c o n ." supportive. It's just like everybody seems to be on the same page in Macon." Some might say that music makers are not just on the same page in Macon but are starting to sing the same song – an anthem calling for Macon's continued growth as a world-class music city, where a framework of effective communication, policy, and funding firmly supports the arts as essential to mental and physical well-being, as Atrium Health Navicent CEO Delvecchio Finley explained. "You know the power that music has to get you moving, to get people connected to one another. That's the other piece – community." he said. When you receive an acoustic serenade as you dine alfresco downtown, then attend a massive concert at the new amphitheater, do you hear the sound? When you hop into a seat at the historic Grand Opera House and end your evening at a bar with a beat and a whole different crowd, do you feel the vibration? When you watch your child's school musical at The Douglass before meeting friends for a happy hour revue at Grant's Lounge, do you see the culture we create? What we see are results that speak for themselves. A C T I O N S T E P S T H AT A R E S T R I K I N G A C H O R D Some direct actions aiming to address these challenges are already starting to get legs. Mercer University has launched several music business workshops through Mercer Music at Capricorn to help with additional education, like a recent afternoon exploring the music business and the law. Stakeholders agree that more discussion and collaboration is needed. But with all the frenzied progress, they are hopeful. As Beasley puts it, "As we progress and grow, naturally more competition will as well. Figuring out how to work together and help each other will be the key to being successful locally." Wilkerson is looking for political and financial support for the recommendations in the music plan, citing that she was working with Mayor Pro Tem Seth Clark to determine what ordinances could be changed quickly and that her top priority was trying to create a position for a cultural officer. She's also ready to make a music board that gets the players, often seen as competitors, talking together: "I always see things as opportunities for collaboration and not threats when two things happen at the same time. If there's a beer festival happening at the same time as fireworks, then what can we do to draw across them to get those people together?" Evans also feels positive: "I feel like as long as we're able to do business, we have so much infrastructure in place now, too, that's so We hope you have enjoyed our 2024 Music Issue. Tell us what what Macon music means to you and what you'd like to see more of in 2025. Email our editors at hello@maconmagazine.com. ABOVE The amphitheater includes thousands of covered fixed seats as well as lawn seating.

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