What it is:
The Tennessee Live Music and Performance Venue Fund is a newly created statewide grant program designed to invest in and preserve the future of our live music and performance ecosystem—across venues, promoters, and performers.

When it was created:
The fund was officially signed into law July 1st, 2024, after passing the Tennessee General Assembly with near unanimous support.

Where it’s housed:
The Fund is currently set to be administered by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, which operates under the TN Department of Economic and Community Development.

Its purpose:
The fund aims to invest in a live music sector which is vital to the state’s economy and brand, but facing unprecedented costs amidst rising real estate costs, pandemic-related hardships, and competition from large corporate operators.

Who will receive grants:
Once funded, the Tennessee Live Music Fund will issue targeted grants to independent:

• Live music and performance venues

• Promoters

• Performers

These are legally defined in Tennessee as:

"Live music and performance venue" means an establishment, permanent or temporary, where live music and performance programming is the principal function of the business, and where the venue or promoter clearly establishes the ability of a performer to receive payment for work by percentage of sales, guarantee, or other mutually beneficial formal agreement for every performance that has at least five (5) of the following attributes:

(A) A defined performance and audience space;

(B) A mixing desk, public address system, and lighting rig; (C) Back line;
(D) At least two (2) of the following:

(i) Sound engineer;
(ii) Booker;
(iii) Promoter;
(iv) Stage manager; or 

(v) Security personnel;

(E) The establishment applies a cover charge for live music or performances through ticketing or front door entrance fee;

(F) The establishment markets specific acts through show listings in printed and electronic publications;

(G) The hours of operation coincide with performance times; and

(H) The establishment holds at least five (5) scheduled performances per calendar week;

"Performer" means a musician, singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, comedian, puppeteer, or poet;

"Promoter" means an individual or entity that books and presents performing artists primarily in live music and performance venues or at festivals and pays fees to those performers based on selling tickets to the public or other comparable means.

What amount will these grant awards be?

Grant award amounts are still being determined by the TN Entertainment Commission, and will likely depend on the extent of available funds. Similar funds in other states (like Texas) range from $15,000-$100,000 in grant size.

How will this fund actually get funded?

The Live Music Fund is able to receive both public and private dollars. Our hope is that with the right advocacy and coalition building, the state will be inspired to appropriate dollars in next year’s budget to fund a pilot of this program, while a longer term public/private funding solution is pursued.