SF Music Week Announces New Programs and a Guest Appearance by Celebrated Bay Area Artist P-Lo
The week-long music industry event series now features a conversation with EMPIRE CEO Ghazi, Dan the Automator and Dregs One, plus an Artist Development Day with workshops led by leading music pros, plus more
P-Lo joins the inaugural SF Music Week 2025 Industry Summit as a keynote speaker.
San Francisco, CA - February 20, 2025 – SF Music Week is expanding with even more programming, uniting artists, industry professionals, and music enthusiasts for an immersive celebration of San Francisco’s musical legacy—past, present, and future. Acclaimed Bay Area artist P-Lo has been announced as the new keynote speaker for the highly anticipated SF Music Week Industry Summit, set for Friday, February 28, at Swedish American Hall. Adding to the excitement, details have been released for Artist Development Day on Saturday, March 1st at Music City SF, including programs with Bandcamp, Women’s Audio Mission, Goldenvoice, and more to help musicians elevate their craft and advance their careers.
Beyond his role as a rapper, P-Lo is a prolific producer and songwriter, often taking on multiple aspects of his music creation process. He prides himself on being an independent artist who produces, writes, and records much of his work solo, showcasing his commitment to authenticity and artistic integrity. His dedication to representing Bay Area culture is evident not only in his music but also in his collaborations with local brands and participation in community events, including partnerships with sports teams and culinary projects that celebrate Filipino heritage.
“We are beyond excited to welcome P-Lo to this year’s Industry Summit,” said Ben Van Houten, Director of Nightlife Initiatives at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “His journey as artists and entrepreneurs embody the spirit of innovation and resilience, making them inspiring voices for our audience.”
Due to a scheduling change, EMPIRE Founder and CEO Ghazi will now speak at the SF Music Week Kick-Off Event on Monday, February 24th, instead of at the Industry Summit. EMPIRE will host The Sound and Spirit of Bay Area Hip Hop, a wide-ranging conversation between Ghazi, Dan the Automator, and Dregs One on the Bay Area’s unique contributions to the genre and culture of Hip Hop.
Harlan Records will host a Downtown Record Swap on March 2nd, 2025
SF Music Week runs from February 24 through March 2, 2025 and features a diverse lineup of 21 events across San Francisco, including:
SFMOMA x SFJAZZ: Live jazz performance by Heavy Arts Ensemble at SFMOMA
2025 Illuminate LIVE Season Kickoff!, presented by Illuminate and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department
iHeartRadio Open Studios & Panel with LadyRay: “Me +1: Filipinos in the Event Promotion Industry” featuring Fran Boogie, Gina Mariko Rosales and Anthony Presents
YBCA x Blue Bear School of Music: DJ Popup and Little Bears Popups at YBCA
Fillmore Tour and Discussion:The Legacy of Bill Graham
Music Industry Panels and Studio Tours at Hyde Street Studios
Chat Room: Music, presented by Gazetteer SF
Live Music at San Franpsycho
Tour the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center
Downtown Record Swap at Harlan Records
Hear and watch the SF Philharmonic's dress rehearsal of Mussorgsky's Pictures
Pass The Aux with !llmind masterclass at EMPIRE
Busk It! - In partnership with The Complex and What's Poppin, Market Street Arts presents more live music on the sidewalks of Market Street
EXPERIMENT IN TERROR - Film & DJ Set! (1962) at Alamo Drafthouse
The full calendar of partner events will be regularly updated at www.sflivefest.com.
SF Music Week was inspired by the success of SF Live, a six-month series of free music concerts launched in May 2024 by esteemed San Francisco arts and music producers Illuminate, San Francisco Parks Alliance, Noise Pop, and Union Square Alliance. Supported by Mayor Daniel Lurie and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), SF Live is one of several initiatives to support the local nightlife and entertainment sector. SF Live has been supported through a $2.5 million investment from the California State Legislature that was led by City Attorney David Chiu when he was a State Assemblymember.
For more information on partner events, panels and details of the summit visit www.sflivefest.com
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About San Francisco Music Week 2025: A new initiative jointly produced by Noise Pop, SF Live, and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development to celebrate the past, present, and future of SF local music, SF Music Week will create a forum to define San Francisco’s music identity and incubate new ideas to support the future of local music business.
About Noise Pop: Noise Pop Industries is the oldest home-grown independent music and arts event promoter in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1993, Noise Pop’s namesake festival has pioneered the multi-venue festival landscape and focused on showcasing early-career performances by then-emerging artists such as The White Stripes, Modest Mouse, Joanna Newsom, The Flaming Lips, Courtney Barnett, Death Cab for Cutie, Grimes, and many more.
