The Protomen at Eastside Bowl, 4/27/2024
Two initiatives focused on Nashville’s ecosystem of music communities have released data on their efforts this week.
Between March 1 and April 1, the Greater Nashville Music Census collected responses from individuals involved in myriad aspects of the music industry. The census program was developed by Austin, Texas, consultancy firm Sound Music Cities and has been conducted in an array of communities nationwide, including New Orleans, Minneapolis and Chattanooga.
In preliminary findings released from the Nashville census, Music City leads participating municipalities in several categories, including the number of events per venue in a given year and the average amount of income respondents receive from music. In addition, the Nashville study set a new record for the number of respondents with 4,265. Organizers also shared respondents’ top concern: parking.
“From incredibly expensive private lots and garages to new street parking policies that actively work against musicians, venues and fans, participants voiced their concerns loud and clear,” Music Venue Alliance Nashville's Chris Cobb told The Tennessean's Audrey Gibbs.
There will be a special event in early September to mark the release of the census’s findings in full, which will then be housed in a public data dashboard. Several other events around the city are also in the works, billed as a community engagement “tour.”
In 2021, in an effort spearheaded by then-councilmember Jeff Syracuse, the Metro Council adopted a resolution to commission a study of Nashville’s independent music venues. Throughout 2023, VibeLab, The Culture Shift Team and the University of Pennsylvania’s PennPraxis carried out the Nashville Independent Venues Study, which released its full report this week.
“By blending data analysis with community consultation, we detail the challenges venues face — things like real estate pressure, costs, and corporatization in the events industry,” PennPraxis’ Michael Fichman says in a release. “We have developed a set of targeted recommendations for Metro government, communities and civic organizations to help them protect and foster small, independent and community-focused music spaces.”
The release (which refers to independent music venues throughout as “IMVs”) notes that the report identifies a broad range of potential actions that the Metro government could take to help sustain independent venues, both on its own and in partnership with private entities. Key findings included an eye-popping measurement of venue density: Relative to our size, we have a greater concentration of music venues than New York City or Tokyo. Our independent music venues also tend to be located farther from downtown than music venues that are not independently owned or operated — which isn’t all bad, since they’re closer to various communities — but independent venues also tend to be on property with lower average assessed value, which makes it tougher to stay ahead of rising real estate prices.
Five main themes emerged in the research:
- Support live music through civic leadership and a “whole of government” approach. With Metro’s Office of Nightlife as a central actor, coordinate Metro government offices with one another and with a “music coalition” of dedicated civic leaders. Bolster government capacity, strategy, and data practices to more effectively support IMVs.
- Use policy, regulatory and development tools to support venues: Launch an independent music venue land trust and legacy business program, and use land-use regulations to create more space for music venues.
- Reduce challenges and costs of starting and operating new venues. Foster the next generation of IMV operators, initiate space “matchmaking” between prospective operators and real estate partners, provide financial support for venues, and simplify permitting processes.
- Make urban mobility work for live music venues, workers and patrons: Improve urban mobility options, and pilot projects and experiments to benefit venues.
- Extend music-related investments to more genres and more neighborhoods through events, marketing, funding and policy investment in IMV-rich areas outside downtown. Prioritize independent operators in Metro spaces and events.
Census organizers have said their effort was intended to complement the Independent Venues Study. Even without the complete information from the census, it’s clear that both projects agree that mobility and transportation — a central theme for Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s administration — play a big role. In a couple of months, we’ll see what the census has to say about topics like the impact of real estate and other economic pressures on music communities. Then it’ll be up to Metro to decide how to act on the recommendations.
“The [Nashville Independent Venues Study] features some fantastic data that confirms the crisis our independent venues continue to face, while highlighting the vital role we play within the Nashville music ecosystem, and city as a whole,” reads a statement from MVAN. “It also features a menu of recommendations, from bold to simple, that we are excited to explore with partners at both the public and private level. Once combined with the Greater Nashville Music Census and the Chamber’s Music Industry Report, we will be equipped with all the necessary tools to address this crisis head on as a city, industry and community.”
