On March 18, 2025, Cuyahoga County Exec Chris Ronayne invited musicians, venue owners, nonprofit executives, music media representatives and politicians to the Music Box Supper Club to launch a new initiative geared towards strengthening the region’s live music industry.
Presentations and discussions by Cindy Barber of Beachland Ballroom & Cleveland Rocks: Past, Present and Future, and Sean Watterson of Happy Dog & the Cleveland Independent Venue Association each outlined their thoughts for what it might take to support local artists and venues, and make NEO a leading destination for live music and comedy performance.
Also presenting were leaders of two other unrelated commissions: Dave Gilbert of the Cleveland Sports Commission and Bill Garvey of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. CoolCleveland’s Thomas Mulready spoke with Chris Ronayne on the banks of the Cuyahoga. View the video interview here.
Drawing on Cleveland’s storied music history and local music assets, Ronayne sees an opportunity: “We looked at what they’ve done in Nashville, we looked at what they’ve done in Austin, we looked at what they’ve done in New Orleans… where they’ve got music commissions, they are supporting live stage music,” says Ronayne, targeting key cities that have made a reputation on live music. “Supporting musicians, audience development, bringing people out away from their screen time, to see live stage music, and most importantly, it’s an economy opportunity, it’s a job generator.”
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