Pictured: GRAMMY Award-winning American Roots performer, Allison Russell, and her bandmates on stage at the Ryman Auditorium.
Nashville, TN (Sept 12th, 2024) – Today the coalition behind the Greater Nashville Music Census officially released the data, key findings, and opportunities discovered in its record setting survey.
The data will now remain publicly viewable in several formats, including an interactive dashboard, summary video, detailed report, and social media infographics. To make the information more digestible, the key findings were broken down into 5 overall “headlines” that feature their own set of data and opportunities. These include:
- Nashville is Like No Other; a highlight of all the records set in the survey and the numbers that illustrate the unparalleled opportunities for the music community in Nashville.
- (All) Music City; a dive into the detailed demographics gathered by census. From genre to gender, and income to race.
- unAFfordable; an exploration of how Nashville’s current affordability crisis is specifically affecting the music ecosystem.
- A Seat at the Table; a spotlight on the overall lack of music friendly policies and representation within Metro government relative to size and economic impact of the music community.
- Out of Harmony; exploring the tone captured in the qualitative comments submitted throughout the survey, and how they reflect a community that feels left behind amidst Nashville’s growth.
“The overwhelming and robust amount of data collected in the census creates an invaluable asset for our community moving forward,” says Kelly Walberg, VP of Communications for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “The first five headlines simply scratch the surface of all the stories this data can and will tell us. It belongs to the community now, and we encourage everyone to explore it and make the most of it.”
While each “headline” provides its own set of opportunities, the results also present an overall group of solutions recommended for prioritization, both short and long term:
1. Prioritizing music friendly policies. Short-term examples include: solution to parking problems for musicians, potential tax incentives, and more affordable housing for creatives. Long term, how does the music community factor into Nashville’s strategic planning and growth?
2. Investment in new TN Live Music Fund. The recent creation of the first statewide fund in the country presents an incredible opportunity to offset rising costs of living and doing business through grants. Both private and public dollars are eligible in support of fund.
3. Creation of workforce development program. The opportunities in Nashville are unparalleled, but our industry and universities must work intentionally to make sure the paths are open to all Nashvillians.
4. Strategic cross sector partnerships and coalition development. To further enhance benefits from Nashville’s tourism industry within the diverse local music community, and drive solutions set forth in both music census and Nashville Independent Venues Study.
5. Dedicated Metro funding. Office of Nightlife and Music, Film, & Entertainment Commission both exist, but 80% of census respondents still seek an advocate within local government. Increased funding is needed so both offices can not only exist, but actively serve music community.
“The key findings and takeaways discovered in the data provide our community an incredible opportunity to not only celebrate the greatness of our music scene, but target solutions to cultivate it,” says Chris Cobb, President of the Music Venue Alliance Nashville. “We can’t wait to work with our local government, industry leaders, and music community to turn the data from both the census and Nashville Independent Venues Study into tangible solutions.”
Nashville joined 20 other cities across the US in this data collection initiative led by the Sound Music Cities organization. Nashville’s census was live for one month earlier this year, and collected over 4,200 responses, the most of any city to date.
With the data now officially live and available for public consumption, the coalition behind the census will set forth on a “roll out tour” of the results. Community engagement sessions will be planned throughout the fall with various stakeholders from various parts of the industry, aiming to address specific elements of the data, and plot best paths towards solutions. The first two sessions are scheduled to take place as a panel during AmericanaFest on Friday, September 20, and a webinar hosted by the Arts & Business Council on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
For those interested in learning more, staying involved, or attending/hosting a future community engagement session, visit: musiccitycensus.com.
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About Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) is a nonprofit organization committed to creating a more inclusive and thriving community. It identifies challenges facing the Greater Nashville area and brings together resources and relationships to address them. Through tools for long-term charitable giving, donors help make a lasting difference in and with the communities the organization serves. CFMT administers more than 1,600 charitable funds, manages $700 million in assets, and awards approximately $75 million in grants and scholarships annually.
