Minnesota’s legendary music legacy — from neighborhood venues to global stages — is about to gain a permanent digital home.
The Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO) has announced the launch of the Minnesota Music Archive (MMA), a statewide initiative dedicated to collecting, digitizing, preserving and sharing Minnesota’s recorded music history across genres, generations and communities.
The public will be able to explore the archive beginning April 1 through a searchable digital repository at minnesotamusicarchive.org. At launch, the archive will feature more than 2,000 recordings from 1,200 artists, spanning nearly seven decades of Minnesota music from 1956 to today.
Celebrating the launch in downtown Minneapolis
To mark the occasion, DEMO will host a public launch event on April 2 at 6 p.m. at The Hennepin (900 Hennepin Ave.) presented in partnership with Hennepin Arts, Firehouse Performing Arts Center and the Minneapolis Rotary 9.5 Club.
The evening will include live performances, Minnesota-focused DJ sets, a preview of the archive and its mission and Interactive archive workstations for guests to explore
Scheduled participants include Dust of Suns Ensemble, Agnes Uncaged, DJ Stage One and Mary Lucia, with DEMO board member Terrell X serving as emcee. Attendees will also see a preview trailer for Andrea Swensson’s upcoming documentary about Minnesota blues legend Cornbread Harris.
Preserving a musical legacy
Founded in 2005 by longtime First Avenue legend Steve McClellan, DEMO has spent two decades advocating for Minnesota’s independent music community. The Minnesota Music Archive represents the organization’s most ambitious effort yet — designed to ensure that the state’s musical output is preserved before physical media deteriorates or digital platforms disappear.
The archive embraces the full breadth of Minnesota’s musical traditions, including polka, hip-hop, metal, country, classical, Tejano, jazz and Indigenous music traditions.
Built by the community
The Minnesota Music Archive is designed to grow over time as musicians, collectors and volunteers contribute recordings and metadata. Community participation will play a key role in expanding the collection and ensuring Minnesota’s music story remains accessible to future generations.
About DEMO
The Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO) promotes and preserves Minnesota’s independent music scene. Since 2005, DEMO has connected artists, fans and cultural institutions through initiatives that support emerging musicians while honoring Minnesota music’s outsized influence on American culture.
The Minnesota Music Archive was developed through collaboration with partner institutions, private donors, volunteers and organizations including Hamline University. The project is also supported in part by funding from the State of Minnesota through the Minnesota Historical Society’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Beginning April 1, visitors can explore the archive at www.minnesotamusicarchive.org.
For more information about DEMO, upcoming events or how to volunteer or donate, visit www.demomn.org.