Greater Owensboro Music Commission seeking partners for music census
The plan is to launch the census in July and gather information from anyone involved in music performance, production, education and other avenues.
Steve Johnson, facilitator for the Music Commission, said the census results will help the community identify changes that would help promote music.
When the results are released later this year, 'it will come with some recommendations' for improvement, Johnson said. 'I don't know what those are, because it will be unique to Owensboro and Daviess County.'
The survey and its results will signal nationally 'that Owensboro-Daviess County is serious about music,' Johnson said.
According to a press release, the census' findings 'will inform strategies for supporting live music, boosting music education, improving regulations and guiding future investments in the region's cultural economy.'
People involved in music in Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties, and others involved with music in Owensboro and Daviess County will be included in the census, the press release says. Johnson said the work now is to get organizations involved in music, such as venues, churches, businesses and others, to spread the word about the census.
'If you look at other communities, they've done this,' Johnson said.
The census data will be compiled into a report with findings by Sound Music Cities, an Austin, Texas firm.
Johnson said the report is expected to be released in November.
Musicians who come in to play at venues such as Friday After 5 can also participate, Johnson said. Some questions will be Owensboro-Daviess County specific, and will look at address any barriers people in music face in the community, Johnson said.
'We want to hear them (musicians): 'Why do they go to Nashville to do a gig?' or, 'What are the biggest barriers' to music performance and the music business in area, Johnson said.
'What are some of the gaps we can fill?' Johnson said later.
The recommendations will be driven by the responses to the census.
'It's meant to be realistic ... otherwise, it doesn't get done,' Johnson said. 'We are going to try to find realistic opportunities that exist.'
People interested in being a community partner should visit the commission's website, GreaterOwensboroMusic.org.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Uncertain economic times? That means it's gold's time to shine
What's it worth: From Costco gold bars to pots of gold That's enough for more than 1 billion Olympic gold medals, which are actually primarily made of silver, and about 750,000 pots of gold waiting at the end of every rainbow. Or you'd have to spend $694 billion at Costco on its 1-ounce gold bars, although the $3,410 bar is out of stock. Value of reserves rises and falls with price of gold The price of gold fluctuates, but as of July 2025, the market value of all the gold stored in the New York Federal Reserve vault could be estimated somewhere between $470 billion and $680 billion, depending on the market price of gold, which hit a record high this year. Who owns all the gold in the Fed's stockpile? But none of that gold belongs to the Fed, and most of it isn't American. In 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department reported it only stores about 13.4 million fine troy ounces – about 416 metric tons – there. The rest belongs to foreign governments, other central banks, and official international organizations, who trust the Fed to keep it locked away 80 feet below street level. Golden opportunity for a heist movie? Where is the world's gold stored? The United States stores gold in other places, too. The largest American-owned gold stockpile is at Fort Knox in Kentucky, which houses about 147.3 million fine troy ounces of gold – about 4,583 metric tons. Other countries, including Germany, Italy, and France, also have large gold reserves. More: Trump wants lower interest rates. Will the Fed make cuts? Live updates Why people still like gold Beyond its shine, some investors, central banks, and governments view gold as an attractive asset that inspires confidence, even in uncertain times. 'It's historical money. It goes back several millennia as original money,' said Aakash Doshi, the global head of gold strategy at State Street Investment Management. 'It goes back to biblical times. It was one of the gifts from the three wise men.' Invest in Gold Thor Metals Group: Best Overall Gold IRA Priority Gold: Up to $15k in Free Silver + Zero Account Fees on Qualifying Purchase American Hartford Gold: #1 Precious Metals Dealer in the Nation While today gold isn't used as a large-scale payment method, it's a highly liquid asset with no particular credit risk and is not directly controlled by any central bank, according to Joe Cavatoni, the senior market strategist for the Americas for the World Gold Council. Some investors still view it as 'real' money – something that can't be printed – and a hedge against market and economic volatility. 'Gold performs in good times as well as in the bad times,' Cavatoni said. Why gold demand surged While the dollar or the euro isn't going away anytime soon, Doshi said the demand for real hard assets that complement fiat currency rose over the last few decades as global debt and governments' share of that debt has increased. In 2024, gold overtook the euro as the second-largest global reserve asset after the U.S. dollar, according to a June European Central Bank report. Doshi listed the 2008 financial crisis, the U.S.-China trade war, shifting trade alliances like the rearrangement of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and expanded sanctions as forces driving some central banks' increased interest in gold, as they seek stability amid economic shocks and geopolitical tension. Cavatoni said that rating agencies' recent downgrades to the U.S. government's creditworthiness and the risks that come with holding treasuries are also likely on people's minds, adding that a lot of the increased demand is coming from emerging market central banks. Gold price jumped since the start of 2024 He said gold is valued higher when market risk is unclear and uncertainty is high, adding, 'that's kind of the world we're living in now.' 'When you think about their absolute level of holdings, they are still very low relative to the percentage of total reserves. And I think that there's still an opportunity for them to continue to grow,' Cavatoni said. 'But I think we're seeing in our second quarter data and other sound bites that they're definitely paying close attention to what the performance is going to look like.' Reach out to Rachel Barber at rbarber@ and follow her on X @rachelbarber_ Illustrations by Veronica Bravo This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In uncertain economic times, that means it's gold's time to shine Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Senate candidate Nate Morris says he's 'going to trash McConnell's legacy' at Fancy Farm
Lexington businessman Nate Morris took his opportunity on the Fancy Farm stage to again take a jab at his favorite punching bag, retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell. Morris is one of three high-profile Republicans who've announced bids for the 2026 Senate election, following McConnell's February announcement that he would not pursue an eighth term. At the 145th annual Fancy Farm Picnic on Aug. 2, Morris said, "When I launched my campaign for the United States Senate, I went with three things that I want everyone to remember me by. Number one, I'm an America first conservative who supports Donald Trump 100% of the time. I'm an entrepreneur who built a trash company right here in Kentucky and took it public on the New York Stock Exchange. And number three, I'm going to trash Mitch McConnell's legacy." More: Senate candidates seeking McConnell seat trade jabs at Fancy Farm. See updates Morris admitted he's heard complaints about the last of those statements. "But I have a serious question," he continued. "Who here can honestly tell me that it's a good thing to have a senior citizen who freezes on national television during his press conferences as our U.S. senator? It seems to me, maybe, just maybe, Mitch's time to leave the Senate was a long time ago." McConnell, who spoke earlier on the stage, had left a seated area behind the podium by the time Morris spoke. At a Republican breakfast before Fancy Farm, McConnell seemed to take a shot at Morris, saying one candidate wants to be different from him. "I'm wondering how you'd want to be different from the longest-serving Senate leader in U.S. history?" he asked. This story was updated to add video. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Nate Morris says he's 'going to trash McConnell's legacy' at Fancy Farm
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Who had the best zingers? Here's a round up from Fancy Farm
FANCY FARM, Ky. — The 145th annual Fancy Farm Picnic wasn't short on BBQ — or political zingers. The event drew its typical rowdiness as politicians gave short speeches on a stage, with supporters of three high-profile Republican candidates running to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell packing the crowd. All of this year's lineup of speakers came from the GOP, save for John "Drew" Williams, who's announced a bid against U.S. Rep. James Comer. Here are some of the zingers that were dished out out. Emcee Ashli Watts Watts, president and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, is the first woman emcee in Fancy Farm history. She wasted no time making wisecracks about that fact. "I am the first woman to emcee the picnic in 145 years, which I guess makes me the official Fancy Farm DEI hire," Watts said. She also poked fun at the "solicited and unsolicited advice" she received when preparing for her monologue. "I just want to take a moment to thank all the men out there who gave me so much unsolicited advice," Watts said. "Truly, nothing gets you ready for the job like having political jokes mansplained to you." Watts also joked about McConnell's retirement as he sat on stage. "Democrats are panicking about losing their second favorite person to blame, Republicans are pancking about losing their first favorite person to blame, and C-SPAN is panicking about losing its most consistent source of dramatic pauses," she said. U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell McConnell didn't focus on the typical zingers during his speech. Instead, he focused on policy, mentioning a recent visit with President Donald Trump where the pair talked about the decision to bomb Iran. "I told him he made the right call," McConnell said. "This is how you restore peace through strength. America is stronger and safer with Republicans in charge in Washington." McConnell was also quick to criticize former President Joe Biden and his administration. "The Biden DOJ went undercover to intimidate Catholics, and crazy climate change rules made a tough job tougher for all the Grave County farmers," he said. Congressional candidate John "Drew" Williams Williams, the Democrat running to unseat Comer, had one consistent message to Western Kentucky voters: He brings service to the community. "For the last six years, I've been building a community from the ground level," Williams said. "I've been listening to people's needs without political power. I even helped serve the Fancy Farm Picnic today." While Williams focused on his community work, he also criticized Comer, saying "he's not like us." "Western Kentuckians don't like big money politics or career politicians, or people who had to move to gain communities in Frankfort so far away, they had to redraw the district," Williams said. U.S. Rep. James Comer Comer, who represents Western Kentucky in Kentucky's 1st Congressional District, partly touted his prominent position as chairman of the House Oversight Committee during his speech. "I love this environment," Comer said. "It's like a regular House Oversight Committee meeting." Most of Comer's speech consisted of criticizing Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's lack of attendance and the media. "But now, (the media) is on one of its newest false narratives, and that is Andy Beshear is popular in rural areas," Comer said. "Some of you are writing that Andy Beshear can help deliver rural America in 2028. Well, y'all obviously didn't grow up in rural Kentucky." Senate candidate Daniel Cameron While U.S. Senate candidate Cameron emphasized in the beginning of his speech that he would support President Donald Trump's America First Agenda, he also used his time to critize opponents Andy Barr and Nate Morris. "Andy Barr wants you to think he's America First, but it's hard to believe him when he voted with Nancy Pelosi 1,200 times," said Cameron, a former Kentucky attorney general and CEO of the 1792 Exchange. In regard to Morris, Cameron specifically called out the businessman's work dealings. "(Morris) talks tough about deporting illegals, but the only thing he's ever sent across the border is his business," he said. "You can't stand up for American workers when the only experience you've had is firing them." Senate candidate U.S. Rep. Andy Barr Barr made sure to tout his current position represening Kentucky's 6th Congressional District while campaigning for U.S. Senate, but that didn't stop him from taking a couple jabs at Cameron and Morris. "Nate calls himself the trash man, but dumpster fire is more like it," Barr said. He later referrenced Cameron's loss to Beshear in the 2023 gubernatorial race "I'd say anyone can beat (Beshear), but I wouldn't want to offend Daniel Cameron," Barr said. "Good to see you Daniel, I think we're going to keep the tradition alive of Andys beating Daniels." Senate candidate Nate Morris Morris' speech partly focused on criticizing McConnell — something he's consistently done as part of his campaign. "Why is it that you all get defensive when I talk about a man who is a year older than Biden, just as mentally compromised and holds the same positions as Biden on amnesty, Ukraine funding and hating Trump?" Morris said. He also called Barr and Cameron "McConnell boys." "Andy and Daniel, you know, today might be the perfect day to break some real news. … Perhaps you could both show us the seat of your britches so we can finally understand exactly where Mitch's hand goes in," Morris said. Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@ or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fancy Farm 2025: Best zingers from Kentucky's political picnic
