Keith Owens: Why Isn't Detroit Music Part of 'Rebuilding the City and Its Economy'?

Keith Owens, a journalist and blues guitarist with more than casual knowledge of Detroit music, sees a puzzling gap as the city picks itself up.

"There is no effort to promote and market Detroit's rich – but essentially untapped – musical capital ($) as a means of rebuilding the city and its economy," he writes at Model D.

Despite our indisputable musical legacy, which spans three generations on both the national and international scenes, it's sometimes difficult to hear on street level.

There is no central music district where visitors and tourists can go to sample the best of what we have to offer. There is virtually no official acknowledgment by the city's tourism bureau – or by any city department – of the critical role music has played and now plays in what makes this city great and so unique.

Keith Owens: "There is no central music district where visitors and tourists can go to sample the best of what we have."

In a 13-item call to action by civic leaders and music fans, the freelance writer suggests how "Detroit can reassert itself as the leading contender for the title of Music Capital of the World."

These steps are part of his To Do list:

• Mayoral selection of "a Detroit music ambassador" whose prominence would "be a front-page headline around the world when it is announced." Owens doesn't describe the figurehead's role.
• Arrange a Detroit Music Homecoming similar to a three-day business version hosted by Crain's last September. "Why not do the same for Detroit's famous musicians? The Detroit Institute of Music Education (D.I.M.E.) would be a great candidate to coordinate the event so that Detroit music alumni can also be utilized to help educate the city's up-and-comers."
• Create an app, map or website to help locals and out-of-towners connect with live music and music history in the city. "Perhaps the Blexting app can be adapted to the purposes of documenting Detroit's music history."
• "There should be billboards advertising Detroit music throughout the city, the state, and the region. . . . There should be no doubt when driving through the Midwest where the Music Capital of the World is located. If the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland can have billboards on I-75 in Michigan, then there is no reason why a large sign of Betty LaVette shouldn't be on I-75 in Ohio. Or Atlanta."

Owens, who lives in Detroit's Atkinson Avenue Historic District (part of the Boston-Edison neighborhood), is a board member of the Detroit Sound Conservancy -- which gets two shouts on his list.

He was communications director for Wayne County's treasurer from 2006-11. A two-decade journalism career includes stints as a Free Press editorial writer (1993-95), Metro Times columnist (1997-2006) and Michigan Chronicle senior editor (2003-06).