A $75.9M regional industry, measured on purpose.
Every claim on this site traces back to the 2024 Northeast Tennessee Music Census: 1,213 creatives, venue operators, and industry workers surveyed across the region's eight counties by Sound Music Cities, from Austin, TX, sponsored by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission.
The floor, not the ceiling.
This counts only today's activity, with no shared infrastructure, tourism programming, or career pathway yet in place.
1,590 shows a year, mostly on small stages.
Live music venues make up 20% of Venue/Presenter respondents, followed by festivals and PAC/Theater venues at 11% each. Most stages seat fewer than 100 people, and 76% can move outdoors when they need to.
are dedicated live music venues, the single largest category in the region.
operate as nonprofits, the most common ownership structure among regional venues.
of Venue/Presenter respondents identify as female, a sector led by women.
of headliner slots go to local talent at every show, with real room to grow.
The demand signals behind every AMC decision.
Artists and creatives make up 78.5% of the census-measured ecosystem, venues and presenters 11%, and industry and support services 10.5%. Here's what they said they need.
say their top need is a place to connect and collaborate.
want a community-based, collaborative approach, not a government-led one.
rely on DIY learning today, a clear gap in professional resources.
of artists have never received financial help. Awareness is the top barrier.
Curious how we got here?
The full story lives on our What We're Doing page: the partners, the mandate, and the people building it.