Washington State lacked comprehensive data on its music sector, leaving policymakers without the evidence needed to justify investments, shape regulations, or prioritize the industry within broader economic development efforts. Traditional economic classifications failed to capture the full scope of music-related activity, obscuring the sector's true scale and contributions. Meanwhile, stakeholders across the ecosystem—from independent musicians to venue operators—faced mounting pressures around workforce instability, rising real estate costs threatening cultural spaces, and inequitable access to resources. Without a unified baseline, advocates struggled to articulate music's role as critical infrastructure rather than discretionary cultural amenity.

CVL Economics designed and executed Washington's first statewide music census, gathering over 1,200 responses from musicians, venue owners, and industry professionals through surveys fielded in English and Spanish. The team developed an ecosystem-based economic model that moved beyond standard NAICS classifications to capture music-specific activity often invisible in conventional analyses. This rigorous methodology quantified the sector's GDP contributions and employment footprint with precision. Findings were then translated into seven targeted policy frameworks addressing workforce stability, cultural space preservation, tourism integration, and equity—providing stakeholders and decision-makers with both the empirical foundation and strategic roadmap necessary for sustained sector investment.