Deep Roots, Wide Reach

The N.C. Music Office (NCMO) was founded in recognition of the centrality of music to the cultural, economic, and historical life of our state. From mountain ballads to Piedmont blues to coastal hymns, the music of North Carolina has long captivated the hearts and minds of the world. And today, the state’s treasured music communities advance its legacy. The NCMO exists to sustain and advance the state’s rich, polyphonic musical culture. 

The N.C. Music Office amplifies the living musical culture of our state, strengthening every facet of music-making, appreciation, programming, and education across North Carolina. To do so, the NCMO combines art with data, pairing enthusiastic celebration with practical means of support.

For example, The NCMO is extending the work of the Come Hear NC initiative via programming partnerships with PBS-NC, That Station, and a host of festival and music organizations. In tandem with this promotional work, the office is expanding Come Hear NC’s Music Communities program, which helps musicians identify and secure what’s needed most for the continuing health of their towns and cities. 

We’re here to highlight what makes the music of North Carolina extraordinary and preserve the state's unique culture for future generations.