From Yolanda Adams to Susan Graham to ZZ Top, the state of Texas is a rich one indeed for music.  There is barely a type of world music that cannot be found here, and the titans gospel, classical, and folk genres abound.  Legendary stories have come from the South by Southwest festival, and epic Hip Hop scenes.

But from the government standpoint, all of those diverse industries have a little help via the Texas Music Office, which represents and promotes over 15,000 registered artists and groups.  With a new Governor, naturally, comes new leadership for the state’s central music industry connector.  Here’s the story from Reeve Hamilton of the Texas Tribune…

Gov. Greg Abbott has tapped Brendon Anthony as the next head of the Texas Music Office, his office announced on Friday. Anthony is known for, among other things, playing fiddle in Texas singer-songwriter Pat Green’s band.

According to state statute, the Texas Music Office, which is housed in the governor’s office, is expected to “promote the development of the music industry in the state by informing members of that industry and the public about the resources available in the state for music production.” The staff also serves as the liaison between the industry and state government.

[…]

Since the Texas Music Office was created in 1990, it has been run by Casey Monahan, a former music writer. This month, word got out that Monahan would not be kept around in the Abbott administration.

[…]

In an interview, Anthony spoke highly of Monahan’s tenure.

“No one can express gratitude enough for a man who devoted 25 years of his life to this office,” he said of his predecessor. “He was a great voice for Texas musicians and businesses.”

Also Friday, the governor’s office named Bryan Daniel as the new director of the Economic Development and Tourism Division. The division will now oversee the Texas Film Commission, the Texas Music Office, the Women’s Commission and the Workforce Investment Council, following a restructuring designed to streamline operations under the governor’s office.

With Casey Monahan’s ouster, many in the music industry feared that Governor Abbott would try to downsize the vital organization, or get rid of it altogether.  But the hire of Mr. Anthony, a venerable force within the state’s vast music scene, should calm those fears.  As a member of the Pat Green band, Anthony was a beneficiary of former Director Monahan’s hard work.  This pick seems to be a sound one.

It will be interesting to see what the next era of the Texas Music Office holds.