Tennessee’s Music Ecosystem Support: The Tennessee Music Office plays a key role in supporting independent venues and addressing policy concerns. Current initiatives include highlighting what defines a “music city,” promoting mental health resources for industry professionals, and exploring strategies to strengthen local music economies.
Economic Development and Music Initiatives: The Department of Economic and Community Development focuses on three pillars:
• Traditional Economic Development: Recruiting companies such as Rock Nashville.
• Creative Support: Providing job boards and grant funding for artists and venues.
• Music-Driven Tourism: Studying regional music ecosystems and partnering with programs like Make Music Day and the Levitt Foundation to bring free concerts to communities.
Rock Nashville: Music Industry Hub: Rock Nashville, opening January 14, will offer rehearsal spaces and training opportunities for musicians and industry professionals. The facility includes 13 rehearsal spaces acquired from SoundCheck and two large spaces for core programming. Plans include developing a curriculum with the local Board of Regents and Nashville public schools to create apprenticeship programs for careers such as tour management, lighting design, and music direction—addressing the shortage of skilled professionals in the touring industry.
Music Industry Mental Health Challenges: Mental health and addiction risks remain significant for musicians and crew members, particularly those impacted by touring and isolation. Industry studies increasingly examine the full music ecosystem, including songwriters and film music usage. One Nashville initiative resulting from such studies provided free parking for artists.
Tennessee Music Venue Support Initiative: Independent venues face challenges such as thin margins, competition from secondary ticket markets, and infrastructure needs. A pilot grant program seeks $2 million in state funding for non-revenue-generating improvements, with discussions underway about recurring funding mechanisms to sustain the industry.
Music Programs Expansion in Tennessee: Plans for the Tennessee Music Cohort include enrolling 50–60 communities, supported by a newly formed music advisory council. The program will feature quarterly meetings and an annual convention to foster collaboration and industry growth.
Jimmy is a native Nashvillian and a seasoned veteran of the music industry. After attending the University of Tennessee, he started his music business journey in Nashville as a field marketing rep for Sony Music. His career led him to stints in Atlanta and Minneapolis and finally back home in 1995 where he has been ever since. Jimmy has held various positions within Sony Music ranging from sales, marketing, radio promotion and distribution. He left Sony in December of 2019 after 30 years. He spent 2 years in artist management before coming on board as the Director of Business Development for the Tennessee Entertainment Commission. Jimmy resides in Franklin, TN with his wife Molly. They have 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren.
