Northeast Tennessee Music Initiative aims to turn region into entertainment hotspot

BRISTOL, Tenn./Va. (WJHL) – Multiple Northeast Tennessee agencies have joined together to launch a new initiative designed to bring musicians and the entire music industry to the region to capitalize economic development.

The Northeast Tennessee Music Initiative was announced at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum Thursday.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC), the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD), the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNDECD) and the East Tennessee State University Research Organization.

According to the state agencies, the initiative aims to bring together local musicians, venues, nonprofits and music industry professionals so they can provide the information needed to turn Northeast Tennessee into a thriving music scene.

The initiative has planned the Northeast Tennessee Music Census , which will take place in May. The census will collect information about the music economy in the area and help the initiative determine how to best move forward.

“We aim to gain a deeper understanding of the strengths, challenges, and opportunities within our music community,” said executive director of advancement for the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Leah Ross.

According to a news release, the Northeast Tennessee Music Initiative is seeking community partners to help survey the area’s “music and live entertainment ecosystem.” Partners include media, music educators, art organizations, civic organizations, companies and the public sector. Those interested in becoming community partners can learn more online.

Leaders want this to be a community-led effort.

“Because in the end, it’s that information that we need,” said executive director of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission Bob Raines. “So, then we can then make informed decisions on how we’re going to move forward with policies or funding to really help our music scene here.”

The census will survey eight counties in Northeast Tennessee: Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington. The City of Bristol, Tennessee will also take part.

TNDECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter was at the Birthplace of Country Music Thursday for the announcement and stressed the importance of Tennessee’s music industry for the state.

“Tennessee’s thriving music and entertainment industry supports more than 61,000 jobs statewide and contributes $6.4 billion to our annual GDP,” McWhorter said. “It’s an honor to take part in announcing the Northeast Tennessee Music Initiative alongside our partners at TDTD, ETSU and TEC, and through this collaboration, we have a unique opportunity to grow and strengthen the music ecosystem across the Tri-Cities and replicate these efforts statewide to spur additional economic growth and tourism.”

The ultimate goal is to promote and foster music as an economic development tool in the region.

“We want to make sure we retain talent and that we attract talent, and we want to attract new businesses to this region,” said Raines. “And music plays a real critical role in doing that.”

The census will be open the entire month of May, collecting data from the community.

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