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January 26, 2025 | Tom Ballard

Results of Northeast TN Music Census released

A Summit on February 6 will be followed by four local meetings that day and the next.

The Northeast Tennessee Music Census, a regional community-led partnership with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission (TEC), has released its 2024 findings (click here for the report) highlighting the region’s $75.9 million annual music economy and insights into its ecosystem across eight counties including both Bristols.

As reported mid-year of 2024, residents who worked in the music industry in the eight-county area were encouraged to share their thoughts through a survey, A total of 1,213 responses were collected from people 18 years or older and living in the Northeast Tennessee Region.

Now, as the old saying goes, the hard work begins.

To foster collaboration and shape the future of regional music, local residents are encouraged to join a Community Summit that is free and open to the public. It will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. EST on February 6 at the Dobyns-Bennett Instrumental Music Building in Kingsport, followed by four regional Community Roundtable Discussions happening that day and the next. The Community Summit will provide an overview of the NETN Music Census findings, share key insights, and outline the vision for addressing the region’s music ecosystem needs.

The Summit will then kick off a series of Community Roundtable Discussions to further shape and interpret the findings and next steps. RSVPs are encouraged but not required. Those are as follows:

  1. Kingsport: Thursday, February 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EST at Create Appalachia, 225 West Center Street;
  2. Bristol: Also Thursday, February 6, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. EST at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum’s Learning Center, 101 Country Music Way
  3. Johnson City: Friday, February 7, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. EST at the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, 602 Sevier Street, Suite 101; and
  4. Greeneville: Also Friday, February 7, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EST at the Niswonger Foundation, 223 North Main Street.

“Tennessee’s music and entertainment industry is a major driver of the state’s economy, contributing $6.4 billion to our annual GDP, so we are proud to partner with TDTD, ETSU, and TEC to bring a better understanding and support of Northeast Tennessee’s music ecosystem,” said Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. “I believe the data and information gathered through the Northeast Tennessee Music Census will be a critical component in strengthening the local music scene across this region and is something we hope to replicate statewide.”

Key Findings: 

  1. Economic Impact: The Census revealed that total annual economic activity from music earnings in the region amounts to $75.9 million, with music contributing significantly to local culture and commerce.
  2. Ecosystem Composition: Music creatives make up 78 percent of the ecosystem, with venues and industry professionals comprising 11 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
  3. Music Localism/Community Advocacy: Strong interest was shown in forming a Northeast Tennessee community-based collaborative to pull together the region and collectively advocate for and develop music as an economic and cultural force.
  4. Career Concerns: Rising costs of living and stagnant pay rates are among the top challenges facing music professionals in Northeast Tennessee.
  5. Venue Insights: Small venues dominate the scene, hosting over 1,590 live events annually. However, regulatory hurdles and limited support for diverse genres pose challenges for growth. There is a need to increase the number of performances at existing venues and also to expand genre diversity.
  6. High Levels of Experience but Low Entry of New Talent: A large proportion of respondents have more than 10 years of experience, indicating a highly seasoned community with few new entrants into the industry.
  7. Industry Services: Many music creatives manage their own booking, publicity, and merchandise, indicating a lack of accessible industry services in the area.
  8. Community Needs: Respondents emphasized the need for communal spaces to collaborate musically and access to audience development tools like local media and gig calendars.


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