Skip to content
CityLab
Transportation

Auditioning Not for Broadway, but the Subway

Each year, hundreds of musicians vie to see their name not in lights, but in pink, on a banner indicating they’ve earned official status to perform in New York City’s subway stations.
The Sunnyside Social Club, a member of the MTA MUSIC program, performs at the 2nd Avenue Subway station in Manhattan.
The Sunnyside Social Club, a member of the MTA MUSIC program, performs at the 2nd Avenue Subway station in Manhattan.Elizabeth Shafiroff/Reuters
Claire Bryan

On Monday, in the culmination of a four-month long process, MTA MUSIC announced the newest members of the MTA Music Under New York program that gives official sanction to New York City subway musicians.

It may come as a surprise that some, but not all subway performers in NYC subway stations, have passed a rigorous audition process.