Bill establishing Tennessee fund for venues and artists heads to governor's desk
The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill that would create a live music fund for venues and musical artists. The bill will now head to the Governor Bill Lee's desk for a signature.
The identical companion bills SB2508/HB2712 were carried by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, and House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville.
How does Tennessee live music fund help venues, performers?
The bill lays out a potential structure for a live music fund that will one day provide grants to venues, promoters and performers.
The bill does not actively allocate money to the fund for this fiscal year. But—it does say the fund can receive donations and grants from both individual donors and the private sector.
Who collaborated to create the live music fund bill?
The Music Venue Alliance Nashville, National Independent Venue Association and Broadway Entertainment Association worked together to bring the bill before legislators.
“We are truly excited by the unanimous and bipartisan support for our independent venues,” said Chris Cobb, the Board President of the Music Venue Alliance Nashville.
“It has become increasingly difficult to own, operate, or grow an independent venue in today’s climate, and a fund like this will be a difference maker to ensure that independent venues across Tennessee not only survive, but thrive,” he said.
The fund will be administered by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, an office under the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Does a live music fund exist in any other states?
Tennessee will potentially become the second state to set up a live music fund.
Texas is the only state that uses a live music fund. In 2023, Texas provided over 650 micro grants to individual performers and creatives by using a similar fund.
They were able to fund a historic independent venue, The Hole in the Wall in Austin, TX, through a grant that let the venue secure a 20-year lease extension.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee live music fund one signature away from being established
