Columbus has rhythm, talent, and venues—but can it build a music industry that rivals Nashville, Austin, or Chicago? We explore Columbus' $1.3 BILLION local music economy and what it'll take to elevate it to national prominence. From local legends to industry insiders, we stagedive into strategy, investment, and how the city can turn homegrown talent into household names.
Featuring:
Bruce Garfield, Executive Director, Music Means Business Inc.
Amy Holihan, Deputy Director, Music Columbus
Natalie Jackson, Co-Founder, Natalie's Grandview
Rashad Thomas, CEO, Elev8tor Music
The host is Chris DeVille, Managing Editor, Stereogum, and Author of Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion.
This forum was sponsored by Music Columbus.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
CMC's onsite book sales partner for this forum was Gramercy Books.
Ready for even more rock reading? Our partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library recommends checking out "Love, Death & Photosynthesis" (2021) by Bela Koe-Krompecher, founder of Anyway Records.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on November 5, 2025.
