The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is about to get a lot more musical thanks to Experience the City of Music, an initiative aimed at promoting local music.
The initiative uses the airport’s video screens and speakers to showcase local musicians ranging from Ray Charles to Pearl Jam in an effort to expose the more than 32 million travelers who visit the airport the Seattle’s abundance of musical talent.
Beginning Jan. 28 curated videos of local artists will be shown on terminal and baggage claim monitors and visitors to the airport will be able to listen to a multi-channel web radio player available through free airport Wi-Fi. Visitors to Sea-Tac will also hear informational messages from the likes of Sir Mix-A-Lot, Ben Gibbard, Jerry Cantrell, LeRoy Bell and Macklemore throughout the airport.
You can listen to Macklemore’s message, which promotes the region’s environmental awareness and its music, as well as Jerry Cantrell’s message which just promotes “awesome” local music, by clicking here.
The player, which can be accessed here, features an impressive array of locals. It can be sorted by genres and includes smaller artists like Hey Marseilles, Joshua Morrison and Pretty Girls Make Graves as well as more notable names like Death Cab for Cutie and musicians with ties to the area including the Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters. The ability to sort through genres is nice and it’s great to see artists past and present listed (Wheedle’s Groove selections are a nice touch) but it’s a bit of a missed opportunity to not include a hip-hop station, especially considering Mix’s and Mackelmore’s involvement with the initiative.
Here are some additional details of the initiative, according to a press release:
Overhead music featuring local emerging artists like Fences, Beat Connection and Allen Stone with legends like Ray Charles, Heart and Nirvana
Video segments on terminal monitors throughout the airport featuring exceptional original content from KEXP, EMP, MTV, Chase Jarvis, the Seattle Channel’s Art Zone, Light in the Attic Records, and The Seattle Band Map
An Android mobile app, developed by Front Runner, which will feature access to the PlayNetwork music playlist, videos and KEXP concert listings; iPhone, Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry apps coming soon
Performances by the Dusty 45s, Recess Monkey, Fly Moon Royalty and Carrie Clare and the Lonesome Lovers will take place at the airport’s south baggage claim Saturday beginning at 3 p.m. to celebrate the launch of the initiative, which is a cooperative effort by the Port of Seattle, Seattle Music Commission and PlayNetwork.
