US Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) have introduced a bill to help support music tourism across the country. Dubbed the American Music Tourism Act of 2024, the new legislation would be an amendment to the Visit America Act passed in 2022 and would require the assistant secretary of commerce for travel and tourism to lead a coordinated national effort to revitalize the international tourism following declines from the pandemic.
The US Music Tourism Act of 2024 requires the assistant secretary to identify locations and events in the United States that are important for music tourism and to promote domestic travel and tourism to those locations and events.
“Tennessees know a thing or two about the positive impact music tourism has on the economy and culture,” Senator Blackburn said in a statement. “The Volunteer State is proud to be home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol. This bipartisan legislation promotes the rapidly growing music tourism industry and ensures that fans from around the world can celebrate the rich history of music for generations to come.”
The law classifies music tourism as the act of traveling to a state or locality to visit historic or contemporary music-related attractions, such as museums, studios, venues of all sizes, and other music-related venues. The definition also includes traveling somewhere in the US to attend a music festival, concert or other live musical performance. If passed, the law would boost the financial benefits of music festivals like Tennessee's Bonarroo or California's Stagecoach, as well as music venues from Madison Square Garden in New York to the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.
“Music venues are guardians of our culture. From Red Rocks to the Grand Ole Opry and hundreds of small venues across our country, millions visit Colorado and all of our states to hear world-class musicians and connect with one another,” Sen. Hickenlooper said in a statement. “Our bipartisan American Music Tourism Act will support these venues while helping our music tourism industry grow and expand.”
The bipartisan legislation has been endorsed by the Recording Academy, Nashville Songwriter's Association International, Recording Industry Association of America, Live Nation Entertainment, National Independent Venues Association, Tennessee Department of Tourism Development, Tennessee Entertainment Commission, Memphis Tourism Department of Pigeon Forge Tourism and Overton Park Shell in Memphis.
“The Recording Academy is pleased to support the American Music Tourism Act and applauds Senators Blackburn and Hickenlooper for their continued dedication to uplifting the music community,” said the Recording Academy's head of advocacy and public policy. Todd Dappler in a statement. “Music has long played an important role in our economy and culture. This bill will strengthen the music community's contribution to economic development and increase understanding of music's impact in the U.S. and around the world.”
President of Live Nation's Nashville music and business strategy Sally Williams also expressed her approval of the act, stating, “In Nashville, Memphis, and countless other communities across the country, a vibrant live music scene is an economic magnet that draws fans from around the world. The American Music Tourism Act is an important piece of legislation that will help ensure that live music remains a pillar of American culture and tourism, and we would like to thank the Senator for her leadership on this issue.”
The American Music Tourism Act would build on this existing framework within the Department of Commerce to highlight and promote music tourism in the United States by requiring the Assistant Secretary to submit its findings, accomplishments, and activities to congressional and senate committees within one year of its passage and annually thereafter.
“From rural communities to inner cities, independent venues attract investment and visitors for the artists and professionals who perform and the restaurants, retail and attractions around them,” said the executive director of the National Independent Venue Association. . Steven Parker in an approval. “The American Music Tourism Act finally recognizes music tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and ensures that its development is a national priority. We applaud Senators Marsha Blackburn and John Hickenlooper for aligning the nation's tourism strategy with the venues and festivals across our country that people travel to experience.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/business/touring/american-music-tourism-act-blackburn-hickenlooper-senate-bill-introduced-1235669508/
