Kentucky establishes Governor’s Office of Music

Governor Andy Beshear has established the Governor’s Office of Music through an executive order to support Kentucky’s musical heritage and creative economy. The new office is designed to assist local artists, venues, festivals, and music-related businesses, helping them thrive as economic drivers for the commonwealth.

Kentucky is only the second state to create an office specifically dedicated to its music industry. As part of the launch, the state introduced the Kentucky Music Industry Directory via a new website to facilitate collaboration between industry stakeholders. Additionally, a new “Kentucky: Sounds Like Home” license plate has been promoted to celebrate the state's musical legacy.

Sebastian Kitchen, the deputy secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, has been appointed as the executive director of the office.