Senate Bill to Promote Music Tourism Passes Unanimously

The broadly supported American Music Tourism Act passed in the U.S. Senate unanimously this week. Sponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO), the bipartisan bill, which was first introduced last year and revived in January, aims to further promote travel and tourism to music-related sites and events in the U.S.

According to Future Market Insights, the music tourism market is already valued at $6 billion dollars worldwide, and it is projected to grow to $11 billion by 2032. In a day when superfans are increasingly crossing state and country borders to catch marquee music events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, concerts at The Sphere or Coachella, the American Music Tourism Act plans to fuel that trend even further.

The bill plans to leverage the existing framework within the Department of Commerce to highlight and promote music tourism across the country. More specifically, this bill would require the assistant secretary to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both international and domestic music fans, and to send a report on the plan’s successes and vulnerabilities to Congress.

The AMTA defines music tourism as travel to a state or locality to experience music-related attractions—ranging from historic and contemporary museums, studios and venues of all sizes, to live performances such as concerts and festivals. If enacted, the legislation aims to boost the economic impact of these experiences.

“The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to experience – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,” said Blackburn. “Music tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee’s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world can continue to celebrate our state’s rich history of music for generations to come. The Senate’s passage of the American Music Tourism Act gets us closer to that by promoting and supporting the fast-growing music tourism industry.”

Added Hickenlooper: “Colorado’s vibrant music scene attracts artists and fans from around the world. Our bipartisan bill will help our local music venues thrive and expand.”

The bill is backed by a wide range of organizations, including the Recording Academy, Recording Industry Association of America, Nashville Songwriters Association International, ASCAP, National Music Publishers Association, Society of Composers and Lyricists, Live Nation Entertainment, National Independent Venue Association, BMI, American Alliance of Museums, Airbnb and several institutions such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.

Co-sponsors include Sens. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ted Budd (R-NC).