the philadelphia250 legacy project
Philadelphia Music Museum: A Mobile Music Museum connected by a Music Heritage Trail
The SemiQuincentennial in 2026, provides an international stage to spotlight music from Philadelphia and the region.
In 2019, outreach to the music community began and in 2020 the PMHC was established to advance the concept of the Legacy Project as a cultural preservation, economic development, and social impact initiative.
Through the power of music, the Legacy Project connects Philadelphia's music history to neighborhoods and bridges music and art organizations with residents of the city to create a mobile music experience.
Implementing new interactive and immersive technologies in a mobile education outreach program, installations, pop-up exhibits, concerts, and special events, along with murals, street sign dedications, banners, and a busking program will engage and educate the public and visitors about Philadelphia's rich music history and the city's vibrant music scene.
To demonstrate the feasibility and the sustainability of an actual Philadelphia Music Museum connected with music heritage sites, the Legacy Project aims to collaboratively produce projects leading up to and beyond 2026.
These activities will support the need for an official music agency, an economic study of Philadelphia's music industry, and a means to stimulate the creative economy.
Philadelphia Music Archives Consortium
Long recognized worldwide as an influential musical center, Philadelphia has an incredibly rich and important musical history and is home to a number of outstanding historical repositories that document this history.
In 2023, the PMHC brought together representatives from eight area archival repositories with significant Philadelphia music holdings to form the Philadelphia Music Archives Consortium (PMAC), a network whose members work collaboratively toward the goal of ensuring that important archival materials documenting Philadelphia music history — all genres and styles, across all periods of history—are identified, preserved, and made available for study.
PMAC also serves as a clearinghouse for Philadelphia music archives, connecting both researchers and potential donors of materials with appropriate repositories.
PMAC MEMBERS
African-American Museum of Philadelphia
Drexel University: Atwater Kent Collection, Sigma Sound Studios Collection
Free Library of Philadelphia: Edwin A. Fleisher Collection of Orchestral Music, Henry S. Drinker Choral Library, Special Collections, Music Department, and Sheet Music Collection
German Society of Pennsylvania
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Temple University: Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection, Special Collections Research Center
The Library Company of Philadelphia
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, & Manuscripts
PHLmusic
A campaign for brand development and positioning for a premier American music city.
Philadelphia music is an untapped economic powerhouse that, if branded and promoted, can generate significant financial opportunities for residents and economic development in the city.
Philadelphia, renowned for its historical significance and diverse tapestry of cultures, harbors a rich musical heritage, yet, as music thrives throughout the city there lacks a cohesive effort to harness the unifying force of the music community under a singular, resonant identity.
PHLmusic compliments Philadelphia’s existing brand and has received endorsement from tourism agencies and stakeholders.
At this time, without an official Music Office funded by the City of Philadelphia or a leading music agency poised with the capacity to spearhead a marketing endeavor, the PMHC advocates to convene stakeholders to establish a committee to market and promote Philadelphia as a distinct city of music.
PHLmusic’s strategic branding will create opportunities for musicians and creatives, promote independent music venues, attract tourists, and drive revenue through increased hotel bookings, restaurant visits, and ticket sales for live performances. Moreover, it will stimulate job growth across various sectors, from music production to event management, sustain Philly's music ecosystem, and contribute to the city’s economic prosperity.
Promoted by tourism agencies,
PHLmusic will host a comprehensive website portal for information and
resources to market and promote Philadelphia’s music past and present as a resource for musicians and
scholars, music and educational organizations, visitors to Philadelphia, and music lovers around the world.