Celebrating the Launch of Indiana Musicpedia: A New Era in Preserving Indiana’s Musical Legacy
On Tuesday, May 18, we celebrated a major milestone in documenting Indiana’s rich musical heritage with the official launch of Indiana Musicpedia. Hosted in the Biergarten at The Rathskeller in downtown Indianapolis, the evening brought together music lovers, history buffs, and community supporters for a night of celebration, conversation, and live music.
Indiana Musicpedia is a groundbreaking online resource that aims to catalog every Indiana-related musical artist dating back to the early 1900s. Each entry includes detailed information on artists’ careers, discographies, images, associated acts, and links to external media like audio and video. The site also goes beyond artists, documenting music businesses such as record labels, venues, recording studios, record stores, and instrument shops. Every listing is searchable by time period, location, and genre, making it a powerful research tool for fans and scholars alike.
Guests at the launch event enjoyed a live performance by The Payton Collier Duo, who played a lively set from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet the Indiana Entertainment Foundation (IEF) board, staff, and volunteers, and learn more about the projects and mission driving the initiative forward. It was a chance to connect, get involved, and celebrate what’s to come.
At the time of the launch, Indiana Musicpedia already featured over 1,100 entries, many with rich and complete content. Visitors to the site are encouraged to contribute by commenting on entries and uploading their own photos, scans, and personal stories—making it a truly collaborative archive.
Thanks to everyone who came out to support this exciting step forward in preserving Indiana’s music history. If you couldn’t make it, there’s still time to get involved. Visit IndianaMusicpedia to explore, contribute, or support the project through membership, donations, or volunteering.
