Macon-Bibb study finds 1,118 music-sector jobs and recommends a cultural officer, new sound rules

Jill Wilton presented a 177-page music-economy study to the Macon-Bibb County Commission on Feb. 20, saying the research identified 1,118 jobs in the local music ecosystem — roughly 1.77% of local employment — and estimated total music-related output of $134,500,000 and gross value added of $88,800,000.

“The goal for all artists is that they are professional artists in the sense that they make their living doing their craft,” Wilton said during the presentation, which the commission received and discussed in a public Q&A. The study was produced with input from Mercer University and Sound Diplomacy and was funded in part by Macon-Bibb ARP funds administered through Visit Macon and by the Downtown Challenge (a Community Foundation of Central Georgia and Georgia Power project).

The study’s regulatory review found several gaps that commissioners and the presenter highlighted as priorities for action: the county’s sound policy lacks numeric decibel definitions; there is no agent-of-change rule addressing whether venues or neighboring residents must mitigate sound; Macon lacks a formal entertainment-district designation and has no busking policy. Wilton said clearer rules would make enforcement easier and help shape the kind of nightlife and family-friendly venues the county wants to attract.

Among its top recommendations, the study calls for creating a cultural officer position (to oversee music, film and public art), establishing a music board to coordinate venues and stakeholders, and investing in professional-development and talent-retention programs to strengthen music-industry back-office jobs. Wilton noted the study also compares Macon’s per-capita music value added (about $484) with higher-performing music cities and suggested steps the county could take to increase visitor spend and local industry earnings.

Commissioners responded positively and pressed for next steps. They asked whether the cultural officer should be housed in county government or under Visit Macon; Wilton said she favored housing the role in county government so the officer could regularly attend commission and committee meetings. Several commissioners urged quick drafting of policy language, community meetings with downtown business owners, and outreach to neighborhood stakeholders to shape any proposed entertainment-district rules.

The full study is available on the county website; Wilton emphasized it includes examples of numeric sound limits used elsewhere and other policy models commissioners can adapt. The presentation closed with commissioners endorsing further work to draft policies and hold community engagement sessions.