Midtopia: The Music Incubator

A Wichita couple is working to make it easier for local artists to achieve success on the local music scene.

For more than a decade, Jessie and Adam Hartke have been developing their concept for putting local musicians on the map. Co-owners of local music venues WAVE, The Cotillion, and promotion company Hartke Presents, the couple unveiled their venture, Midtopia, in March to provide “often undervalued and overlooked” independent area artists a template of tools and resources to jumpstart and sustain their musical ventures, Jessie said.

Supported through the generous grants of a local philanthropist, Midtopia operates as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, devoted to helping Wichita artists realize their musical dreams.

“It is a passion of ours to showcase the amazing talent this community has,” Jessie said. “We’re focused on building up the Wichita music ecosystem. Historically, not a lot of resources have been available in that realm.

“Two years ago, we were able to dive into this concept after Covid as more opportunities were afforded the Wichita music scene. We launched in March, after almost 15 years, to work with artists in our own community, where resources and infrastructure were lacking. We’ve always been in awe of the amazing creative energy that cities like Wichita have, and wanted to establish a sustainable trajectory for artists and music workers in our community.”

“I feel like Wichita is a beautiful, well-kept secret that will someday be the source of books, movies and documentaries because of all of the talent that comes out of our little dot on the map!” — Midtopia artist, Rudy Love Jr.

Driven by a shared love of music, Jessie, a classically trained flutist, and Adam, a community organizer who plays a mean guitar, understand just how difficult it can be for an artist to gain a foothold in the ever-changing music industry. Through Midtopia, their goal is to keep musicians sufficiently inspired to press on through difficult times in pursuit of establishing viable music careers. Incorporating suggestions collected during multiple study group sessions, Midtopia offers artists a bundle of essential services to showcase their talents. Tools include a recording studio, video studio, booking services, use of tour vans, and online and in-person networks connecting area musicians for collaborative and creative interaction.

“You can have amazing artists, but they can get burned out or left behind because they don’t have the resources to continue their craft,” Jessie said. “We’re teaching them good business practices, booking tours, and providing vans they can utilize. We’re pretty much creating a small business incubator for artists to become established businesses.”

Using D Tour, an independent booking collective encompassing more than 50 markets from coast to coast, Midtopia artists can gain exposure through concert booking opportunities at venues with seating capacities of 200 to 8,000. Such exposure is vital when looking to make connections and win fans.

Already four Wichita bands currently involved with Midtopia are benefiting from its connections. In early July, representatives from the four acts attended the National Independent Venue Association conference in Washington D.C. to broaden their musical horizons. Two Midtopia bands, Rudy & the Encore and Keo & Them, played on the stage at the Atlantis, which had hosted the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band, Foo Fighters, a month earlier. The recently opened venue is becoming a must-play destination for up-and-coming acts. 

“The music here goes way back, yet our scene maintains a very friendly and inviting energy. New groups and new music are forming constantly, and it's always inspiring to see what the talent here will do next.” — Midtopia artist, Sophie Emerson, The Cavves

What’s especially gratifying to Jessie and Adam is that Midtopia helps not only the musicians involved, but also those individuals behind the scenes who assist them. To that end, Midtopia employs 16 people to help provide services for its musician clients, including booking agents, sound engineers and graphic designers. Band members also work behind the scenes to supplement the numerous operating costs associated with sustaining a working act, including equipment, travel expenses and props.

“We utilize the different talents we have within our community,” Jessie said. “We stress helping not only musicians, but also music workers. Music is like a flower. When you see a flower, you may not notice roots and soil are involved. We want to involve all these artists through the work this non-profit does.”

Though still in its infancy, plans are already in the works to expand Midtopia into an enterprise that continues to open doors for area musicians for years to come, Jessie said. And that, she said, is music to the ears of Adam, herself, and the Wichita music scene at large.

“Every day this is our dream job,” she said. “We’re super grateful to have this opportunity to showcase the talent our city houses. At this point, we’re creating a space where people can come to elevate their craft, share ideas and attain their goals.”