Music Friendly Texas is a state certification for cities that commit to growing their local music business, and Frisco earned it in March 2023. The ACM Awards, held in Frisco from 2023 to 2025, have since moved to Las Vegas.
The short answer
- Music Friendly Texas is a Texas Music Office program that began in 2016.
- Frisco earned the certification in March 2023, so it is several years old now.
- The ACM Awards left Frisco after the 2025 show, and the 2026 show returned to Las Vegas.
- Check your own city’s noise rules before you host live music at home.
- A patio cover gives shade and shelter, but it will not contain sound.
Frisco’s music identity has changed since the certification arrived. The city earned the label in 2023, hosted a major awards show for three years, and still runs live music through its venues and arts groups. As of November 1, 2026, here is what the certification covers, what it does not, and how to host music at home.
What is the Music Friendly Texas certification?
It is a program run by the Texas Music Office, part of the governor’s office of economic development and tourism. The office introduced it in 2016 to encourage music business development and jobs in Texas communities. A city that completes the multi-step process is named a Music Friendly Texas Certified Community.
Frisco was named in March 2023, as the 42nd Texas city to earn the designation. According to Visit Frisco’s release, Mayor Jeff Cheney said it would let the city showcase its cultural arts groups and highlight local artists, the live music industry and venues. The certification is a label for a city’s commitment. It is not a grant, and it does not guarantee any single concert.
Did Music Friendly Texas keep the ACM Awards in Frisco?
No. The Academy of Country Music Awards were held in Frisco for three years, from 2023 through the show on May 8, 2025, at the Ford Center at The Star. In December 2025 the Academy announced that the 2026 show would return to Las Vegas.
Visit Frisco’s 2023 release mentioned the upcoming awards in the same breath as the certification. That does not mean one caused the other, and nothing published says it did. For a current picture of live music in Frisco, Visit Frisco and the arts foundation Frisco Arts are the places to look.
Can you host live music at home, and what does it take?
Yes, with limits. A small acoustic night for friends is a long way from a full-volume show, and your neighbors and your city set the line. Noise rules vary from city to city, so check the rules where you live before you plan an evening.
| What you want | What helps | What does not |
|---|---|---|
| Shade and a dry spot for players | A patio cover over the seating and gear area | An open yard in July sun |
| Soft light for the evening | Warm string lights on a frame or post | Floodlights aimed at neighbors |
| Less sound reaching neighbors | Lower volume, earlier hours, speakers aimed toward your house | Any roof or frame, because none of them contains sound |
| A place that survives weather | A covered, sturdy surface for instruments | Leaving speakers and amps out overnight |
Here is the honest don’t. Do not build a permanent stage or a bigger patio just because your city has a music label. Frisco, Plano and Dallas each write their own rules on noise, permits and gatherings, and a certification at city level changes none of them for your lot. Build for the evenings you will actually have, and keep the guitar to a sociable volume.
Heat and sun are hard on instruments and speakers, and North Texas had a long, hot run in the summer of 2023. A patio cover is a roof on posts that gives shade and shelter, and it can be a good home for an evening of music. It will not make the music quieter for the house next door. See our patio covers page for options.
Building anything in Frisco may need a permit, so start with the city’s residential permit page. Two related reads are our posts on patio cover lighting for evening gatherings and the Frisco arts center plan. If a patio project is on your list, American Eagle Builders, a family-owned exterior remodeler in Arlington, offers free in-home estimates.
Questions we get asked about this
It means a city has completed a multi-step process with the Texas Music Office and committed to supporting its local music business. The program began in 2016. The label is a statement of commitment, not a grant, and it does not promise any particular concert or festival in the city.
March 2023. Frisco was the 42nd Texas city to earn the designation, according to the governor’s announcement and Visit Frisco. The certification is now several years old, so it is better treated as background than as news.
No. Frisco hosted the Academy of Country Music Awards three times, with the third on May 8, 2025. In December 2025 the Academy announced that the 2026 show would return to Las Vegas. Check Visit Frisco for current music events instead of relying on older posts.
Often, in a small way, but rules differ by city, so ask the City of Frisco about noise limits before you plan. Think about your neighbors, keep volume modest and finish at a reasonable hour. A patio cover gives shade and shelter, but it will not contain sound.
Start with Visit Frisco’s events listings and the Frisco Arts foundation, which supports local artists and arts groups. Venues post their own schedules, and big events can change from year to year, as the ACM Awards' move to Las Vegas shows. Check each venue before you buy tickets.
