We have a detailed history of Tin Pan Alley thanks to invaluable information from the Historic Districts Council in their “Brief-ish History of Tin Pan Alley” written in 2008, and Michael Minn in his piece “Tin Pan Alley”, part of his “New York City” photography collection project. As both accounts cover both overlapping and different information, we present them both below. Many thanks to them both for their thorough and dogged research and insightful presentation.
Tin Pan Alley Today
About Us!
The Tin Pan Alley Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fosters appreciation for the historic beginning of American popular music and the modern music business. Through telling the stories of the songwriters, music publishers, and performers—many of whom were Eastern European Jewish immigrants and Black Americans—that formed the sound and industry of American popular music in the first half of the 20th century, we connect people with the power of music as an essential element of New York City and American cultural history.
We are building a dynamic community of American popular music and supporters to share the history of the people, events, and songs of Tin Pan Alley and to support music and cultural literacy and inspire current and future artists and musicians as well as the public at large. We tell multifaceted story of Tin Pan Alley through varied virtual and in-person programming, including digital content on various platforms, exhibitions, and events such as concerts and tours. A significant part of the Project's work is education as evidenced in all of our programming and particularly our wraparounds, developed in conjunction with the New York City Department of Education, which outline educational units that use Tin Pan Alley songs to tell the story of New York and other histories.
The Rise of NoMad and
Its Effect on Tin Pan Alley
The preservation of Tin Pan Alley, 28th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue, was aided for many years by the absence of development in that area of New York City. For decades, the ground floor businesses on that block were part of the informal area referred to as the Wholesale Flower District, which then slowly morphed into the mix of storefront flower sellers and wholesale import-exporters which exist today. The upper floors are small businesses, tech firms, and loft living spaces, and if you look up you can see glimpses of the buildings as they used to be in the era when Tin Pan Alley reigned supreme. There are many established artists and photographers in the area as well, taking advantage of the loft and commercial spaces in buildings here. Around 2009, the area was discovered and started to be known as "NoMad" (North of Madison Square Park).
