Music City Artist Development
Music City Artist Development is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a 6+ year history of nurturing the local music ecosystem in the San Francisco Bay Area by sustaining all the programs and activities at Music City Starfactory. Our programs help reclaim San Francisco’s place as a global music capital.
Music City Artist Development is dedicated to supporting all of the programs and activities at Music City Starfactory and the Bay Area music scene. Our mission is to reclaim San Francisco’s place as a global music capital by supporting and nurturing a cultural ecosystem that enables musicians and performing artists to live, grow, and thrive in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
The Starfactory provides a self-sustaining, economically viable musical training facility that will serve as an incubator, offering access to the tools necessary to jump start the careers of working musicians and new breakthrough artists. The Starfactory aims to inspire through performance and entertainment. It highlights the immense talent of musicians in our community and adds to the richness and vitality of the San Francisco Bay Area’s culture.
Music City Artist Development is an award-winning 501(c)3 non-profit with over six years of experience supporting Bay Area arts and culture. Music City Artist Development is dedicated to supporting all of the programs and activities at Music City Starfactory and the Bay Area music scene. Our initiatives include:
Music City Artist Development supports local musicians through commission-free gig opportunities. We are the programming partner to a variety of organizations such as Off the Grid and Moscone Center, as well as community benefit districts across San Francisco. We produce our own events like the annual Music City Songwriters Series.
The rising cost of living in San Francisco has eroded the many opportunities that musicians once had, and despite technology’s quick access to a musician’s work, the lack of a centralized physical community has impaired people’s ability to connect on a human level. Music City stands as that community.
In 2020, the City of San Francisco commissioned a Sound Diplomacy study to identify a plan to rebuild arts and culture in the city. A hub for music was identified as a prime solution to bringing back a vibrant music scene in San Francisco. This hub – cited in the study as Music City Hit Factory, now known as The Starfactory – stands as an integral part of Music City Artist Development’s mission to re-establish San Francisco’s place as a city for musicians.
The Starfactory is a musical incubator and an epicenter for the performing arts rooted in the belief that musical talent and creativity continue to be drawn to the San Francisco Bay Area. Through brick and mortar, built by hands and hearts, our objective is simple: to nourish and sustain the future of music in the city, as well as the musician. The Starfactory combines the San Francisco Music Hall of Fame, a venue, a restaurant and cafe, a recording studio, an Internet TV station, plug and play rehearsal studios, educational facilities, and a hotel/hostel for the traveling musician. will honor and preserve the San Francisco Bay Area’s rich musical history and provide a destination for fans, history buffs, and musicians for generations to come.
Music City Artist Development is honored to have received the prestigious Culture and Arts Award from Avenue Greenlight, celebrating the series’s impact on arts and community revitalization. and has been recognized with several Certificates of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Our founder, Rudy Colombini, has been awarded the CBS News Bay Area Icon Award for his commitment to supporting arts and culture in the city.
If you’re interested in booking local talent for your next event, reach out to tamara@musiccitysf.org to check out our roster of bands, DJs, and performers.
In 2023, we provided 600+ commission-free gig opportunities for musicians in the Bay Area!
The only San Francisco Music Hall of Fame honoring the Bay Area’s past and present music history is now proudly operated under Music City Artist Development. Located inside Music City Starfactory in the heart of the city, the San Francisco Music Hall of Fame honors the San Francisco Bay Area musical history, including musicians, producers, cultural leaders, places, and events that shaped the city’s iconic sound.
Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Supporters of San Francisco’s Music Community,
I’m reaching out personally because I’ve spent the last 25 years building something I believe is the perfect gift for San Francisco, a place that is shaping the future of music and culture in our city: Music City Starfactory.
Now, we need your help to ensure that this gift survives, grows, and thrives.
I’m asking you to support Music City Artist Development, our 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to nurturing the local music ecosystem by sustaining all the programs and activities at Music City Starfactory. With your support, our award-winning charity can secure the future of this cultural epicenter and take it to the next level.
How Your Support Will Be Used
Your contribution directly fuels programs that make a real difference:
Educational scholarships for underserved musicians through our education and artist development programs
Completion and growth of the ONLY San Francisco Music Hall of Fame, preserving local music history, attracting tourism, and supporting the city’s economy
Booking commission-free gigs for local musicians, continuing a 6+ year track record of over 300 performances annually
Providing low-cost rehearsal spaces and artist housing for working musicians
Ensuring the activities and programs at Music City Starfactory continue and grow, sustaining a cultural hub for the city
Developing new artist programs and initiatives to nurture talent and strengthen community
Operational and administrative support, including staffing and office resources, to maintain and expand our positive impact
A Personal Note From My Heart – Imagine a World without Music
I have dedicated my life, my heart, and every resource I could gather to building a place where artists of every background, every age, and every dream can come together, to learn, collaborate, perform, grow, and be part of something bigger than themselves.
If music has touched your life, inspired you, or given you hope for the future of San Francisco, I ask, from my heart, that you stand with us now.
Every donation keeps the music alive.
Every contribution helps protect something irreplaceable.
Every act of support moves us closer to a stronger, more vibrant San Francisco.
Why This Matters to San Francisco
When you support Music City Artist Development, you’re:
Investing in your own backyard
Rebuilding San Francisco from the inside out
Creating a stage for the city — and the world
Supporting a scalable creative engine with global reach
Helping shape San Francisco’s next golden age
Art is not a luxury.
Art is infrastructure.
Art is community.
And without it, cities die.
All Donations Are Tax-Deductible
Music City Artist Development is a registered 501(c)(3). Every gift supports our programs, our artists, and the city. Your support stays local and creates global impact,
Supporting local businesses, tourism, and community revitalization,
Helping nurture the next generation of artists
Sustaining a 6+ year, award-winning nonprofit
Together, we can continue delivering The Perfect Gift to San Francisco: a vibrant, thriving, and inclusive music community.
With gratitude and love,
Rudy Colombini
Founder
Music City Starfactory
Music City Artist Development, 501(c)3
© Music City San Francisco 2025
Experience the vibrant rhythms and captivating melodies of Latin music as we feature live bands and electrifying DJ sets, showcasing a diverse array of genres from Brazilian Rhythms/Salsa/Cumbia/Latin Jazz/Spanish Rumba/Latin Rock/ Forró & global beats. Feel the energy as talented musicians take the stage, bringing their unique flair and passion to every performance.
Enjoy DJ sets spinning Latin Jams with Disco 80s/90s Funk/Hip Hop/Tropical Bass/Rock/Breaks & more.
Doors Open: 6 PM
Live Performances Begin: 7 PM-10PM
Step into the rhythm and soul of the city at Music City SF every Tuesday for an unforgettable night of live jazz! Wheter you’re a jazz aficionado or just looking to unwind, our talented musicians will transport you through the smooth, sultry sounds of Classic Jazz, Soul Jazz, and Jazz Fusion.
Door Opens: 6 PM
Live Performance Begin: 7 PM – 10 PM
Step into the unexpected at Music City SF’s Eclectic Night, where musical boundaries are meant to be crossed! Every Friday, we bring you an exciting mix of artists, from funk to jazz, hip hop to rock, and everything in between.
Doors Open: 6pm
Live Performances Begin: 7 PM-10PM
Every Thursday night, dive into the heart of the underground with weekly rotating performances featuring a fresh mix of musicians, cyphers, and DJs that keep the energy alive. Whether you’re here for smooth R&B vibes, soulful vocals, or fire hip-hop beats, The Music City Underground has it all.
Doors Open: 6 PM
Live Performances Begin: 7 PM-10PM
Step into a time machine of music and let the decades take you on an unforgettable journey! Relive the hits from the ’60s to the ‘2000s with incredible tribute performances that’ll have you dancing all night long.
Doors open at 6 PM.
Performances kick off at 7 PM.
From timeless classics to deep cuts that defined an era, keep the dance floor alive with the irresistible rhythms and smooth sounds that made Motown legendary. Don’t miss a night of soulful vibes and nonstop energy!
Door Opens: 6 PM
Live Performance Begin: 7 PM – 10 PM
Experience a thrilling variety of Rock, Folk, Blues, and Country music every Wednesday night! A high-energy event featuring live bands and DJs across six stages! From rock anthems to country classics and everything in between, this night promises non-stop entertainment and unforgettable performances.
Doors Open: 6 PM
Live Performances: 7 PM – 11 PM
Deborah Barsotti
Education director
deb@musiccitysf.org
More info coming soon!
Aprill Lacey
Executive Director
Aprill@musiccitysf.org
Contact Aprill for booking inquiries!
