Music York Musicians Perform Transportation Program Musical Performances

Since 1985, the New York City "Metropolitan Transportation Authority" (city transportation department) has been operating the Music Under New York program, which "schedules" (arranges the time and place for) musical performances within the city's "underground" (below the surface of the earth) "subway system" (system of underground trains used for local transportation).

According to local laws, anyone can perform music in public areas such as the subway system, regardless of whether they are participating in the program. However, musicians who perform through the Music Under New York program receive free "promotion" (advertisements; information and materials designed to encourage people to attend or do something) that increases their "visibility" (how well known someone or something is). They also have greater "access" (ability to have or do something) to the most popular, "high-traffic" (with a lot of people moving through the area) spots.

Music Under New York offers "transit riders" (people who use public transportation) more than 7,500 performances each year throughout the subway system, and represent a wide variety of "musical genres" (types of music), many of which "incorporate" (include) unusual musical instruments.

To become part of the Music Under New York program, musicians must participate in the annual "auditions" (performances containing a sample of one's artistic work for others to evaluate) in Grand Central Terminal. More than 350 individual musicians and "ensembles" (a group of musicians or dancers who perform together) currently participate in the program. Many of the performers are famous, having performed at "prestigious" (important and greatly admired) locations, such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.