The 2024 DC Music Census opens on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 9:00am EST.

The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, along with other music community leaders and stakeholders here in our nation's capital and around the world have identified the importance of having measurable information about people who do music related work to provide them with better support. The results of this census will be made available to the thousands of music industry professionals, nonprofits, and government agencies in our area, as well as to the countless music patrons and consumers who are the lifeblood of our music ecosystem.

The census asks questions specific to the realities of music workers, including general information about their demographics and occupation types as well as their perspective on issues such as diversity, equity, and belonging.

Yes. The census does not collect any personal identifiers or IP addresses. Any individual responses highlighted in the published results will be attributed as “Census Respondent.”

From 10-20 minutes, depending on your respondent category. (Creative, Venue owner, or Industry) and whether you type in lengthy comments. 13 minutes is the average time spent on the census.

Those working in the music industry in ANY capacity who are 18 years or older and living in the greater Washington, DC area including Virginia and Maryland.

Eligible Counties include: Washington D.C, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, Howard, Frederick, Charles, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince William.

Additional Jurisdictions Include: Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax City, Manassas, Manassas Park

You should participate in the census if you contribute any type of music-related work, with or without compensation, and you believe your skills and commitment are worthy of acknowledgment and support. This includes part-time work, rarely paid work or volunteer work, and work that is more administrative than creative.

To keep the data analysis manageable, we must limit the census to one entry per person, which means you must select one primary identity (creative, venue owner, or industry). That said, we know that most music people work in more than one area, so you will also have an opportunity within the census to provide info on work you do in other identity categories.

No. You can use a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Note that if you wish to leave and finish your response later, you will need to use the same device.

Currently the plans are to release the data through a series of infographics in the late summer of 2024.

Una vez que haga clic en el enlace del Censo, elija Inglés o Español en el menú en la parte superior derecha. Esta opción de idioma sólo está disponible en la primera página, por lo que no podrás cambiarla más adelante.