Nashville's struggling music scene could hum a happier tune with the introduction of a new bill intended to throw a financial lifeline to small venues across Tennessee. If passed, the legislation, titled HB 2712, would establish a $6 million fund designed to support locations like East Nashville's The 5 Spot, giving artists a stage to belt out their first notes before potentially hitting the big time.
The lifeline is, in part, the brainchild of State Rep. Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville), who was inspired to push the bill by a local musician in his district, as reported by WKRN. Aimed at the "little guys," the fund seeks to not only define what a small venue is by Tennessee code but also to eventually enable these establishments to "to be able to access economic dollars," Garrett told WZTV. The bill is geared towards those non-corporate places where many big-name artists get their start before venturing on to larger venues.
While there's no green in the pot yet for these grants, it's seen as a critical first step, one that reflects similar emergency funding models used successfully during the pandemic. As Travis Collinsworth, owner of The 5 Spot, laid it out to WKRN, "It’s really nice to see that we’re still on the radar after that because things haven’t rebounded. We still are nowhere near where we were pre-COVID levels."
Yet, some lawmakers are proceeding with caution. Rep. Justin Lafferty (R-Knoxville) has concerns about venues cashing in on the funds then selling out to bigger entities — a scenario that would necessitate a "claw back" on investment. This detail will likely be hashed out by the Department of Economic and Community Development as it crafts eligibility rules The final draft will circle back to legislators for a thumbs up, Garrett assured during discussions captured by WZTV.
This initiative is but one piece in Tennessee's larger puzzle to reinvest in public interests as the state comes to grips with its budget ahead of the next fiscal year. According to a briefing with Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson, the state is exhibiting "good conservative management," maintaining expenses well under its revenues, reported by The Tullahoma News. The budget amendment harbors funds for several bills, which includes $33 million allocated for the General Assembly to distribute at their discretion on various pieces of legislation and appropriations — a safety net that might just include the arts.
