President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) into law to promote music tourism across the United States, including Tennessee’s historic music destinations.
Blackburn’s American Music Tourism Act, filed as S. 195, will direct the U.S. Department of Commerce to identify and promote locations and events important to music tourism, with the goal of increasing domestic and international travel to those destinations.
“The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic landmarks for tourists to experience – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,” Blackburn said in a statement last week.
“Music tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee’s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world continue to celebrate our state’s rich history of music for generations to come,” she added. “The American Music Tourism Act will promote and support the fast-growing tourism industry, and I am pleased it has been signed into law by President Trump.”
Under the legislation, the assistant secretary of commerce for travel and tourism must identify music-related attractions and events and facilitate travel to them. The law covers historic and modern music attractions, including museums, recording studios, venues, and other sites, as well as concerts, festivals, and other live musical performances.
The legislation also requires the assistant secretary to submit a report to congressional committees within one year of enactment and every two years thereafter. The reports must detail activities, findings, achievements, and vulnerabilities related to the department’s domestic and international travel and tourism goals.
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) led the bipartisan measure alongside Blackburn. U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ted Budd (R-NC) also sponsored the bill.
Companion legislation in the U.S. House was led by U.S. Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) and Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44).
According to Blackburn’s office, the music tourism market is projected to generate $11.3 billion in revenue by 2032. The U.S. music industry generates more than $43 billion annually.
The American Music Tourism Act received endorsements from many prominent music industry organizations, including the National Independent Venue Association, Nashville Songwriters Association International, the Recording Academy, the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, National Music Publishers Association, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Broadcast Music, Inc., the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Memphis Tourism, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Recording Industry Association of America, Overton Park Shell, Society of Composers and Lyricists, and Global Music Rights.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
