American Music Tourism Act Introduced in Congress, Backed by Major Industry Organizations
Bipartisan legislation called the American Music Tourism Act has been introduced by Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to boost music tourism across the United States.
Tourists taking selfie together
The bill requires the Commerce Department's assistant secretary for travel and tourism to:
- Develop a comprehensive plan to increase domestic and international music tourism
- Identify important music-related locations and events
- Promote travel to music venues, museums, studios, and historic sites
- Submit annual reports to Congress on achievements and findings
The legislation defines music tourism as traveling to:
- Attend live performances
- Visit historic music-related attractions
- Explore modern-day music venues
- Experience music museums and studios
The bill has gained support from major industry organizations, including:
- The Recording Academy
- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
- National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)
NIVA's executive director Stephen Parker emphasized that independent venues attract investment and visitors, benefiting local businesses and communities from rural areas to urban centers.
The American Music Tourism Act would amend the Visit America Act of 2022, which established the assistant secretary position to support the travel and tourism industry's economic impact on the national economy.
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