THE TEXAS MUSIC PROJECT

The Texas Music Project is an initiative of the Social Marketing Resource Center in conjunction with the Texas music industry and the state of Texas, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education. Begun in 2003, the project's primary mission is to help strengthen and restore rigorous music education to Texas schools and promote Texas music. To do this, the Texas Music Project conducts the Don't Mess with Texas Music^TM marketing campaign and creates fundraising products (CDs, merchandise) and events featuring Texas artists, music and performance venues. Part of the marketing effort is a Web site that blends the talents of the state's commercial music industry with corporate sponsors to support the values of music education. Visitors to the site are encouraged to purchase the "Don't Mess with Texas Music" CD -- a sampling of Texas music and one of the tools used to raise funds for music education across the state. The highly successful compilation, released in September 2003, features such Texas musicians as Willie Nelson, Clint Black, Erykah Badu and the Dixie Chicks. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will be distributed to music education programs through the Texas Commission on the Arts beginning in September 2004. The grants will be awarded to schools based on need.

A special-edition Latino CD released in July 2004, entitled "Don't Mess with la Musica de Tejas," is anchored by five-time Grammy winner and International Latin Music Hall of Fame Inductee Flaco Jimenez, and features such artists as Los Lonely Boys, Grupo Fantasma, Ruben Ramos and many others. All proceeds from the sale of the CD will benefit music education for Latino students in Texas schools.

Artists representing a broad spectrum of genres are profiled on the Texas Music Project's Web site. Performing arts venues are invited to hold benefit concerts and events, which are also promoted by the site.

"The Texas Music Project provides the Texas Commission on the Arts with a long-term opportunity to work with private sector partners toward a shared goal of improving arts education, especially in the area of music, for schoolchildren throughout the state," says Ricardo Hernandez, the arts commission's executive director. "'Don't Mess with la Musica de Tejas' also brings to light the tremendous contribution that Tejano/Latino musicians have made to the cultural fabric of Texas."