American Music Tourism Act Clears Congress, Heads to President

The US House of Representatives has passed the American Music Tourism Act, which has now been sent to the President for signature.

Why it matters:

• The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism will be required to identify the locations and events across the US that matter most to music tourism, and promote domestic and international travel to them.

• The legislation covers travel to music festivals, concerts, live musical performances, venues of all sizes – from independent rooms to arenas – as well as museums, studios, and historic sites.

Industry support:

• The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has voiced its support of the legislation.

• NIVA’s recent economic study of the independent live sector, State of Live, found that independent venues, festivals, and promoters “are a tourism powerhouse,” with independent stages accounting for roughly 9.2% of total US travel and tourism revenue.

• This translates to more than $10.62 billion in annual visitor spending on lodging, dining, shopping, and local transportation.

What they said:

• Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA: “Independent venues and festivals are the lifeblood of local communities, not just as cultural hubs but as powerful engines of economic activity. Fans travel for them. They book hotels, fill restaurants, and shop on Main Street because a show is happening that night. The American Music Tourism Act is a jobs bill. We are thrilled the House and Senate have prioritized driving domestic and foreign visitors to the nation’s music attractions and independent stages. Now, we encourage the President to sign it and give the country its first national strategy for music tourism. It is a bipartisan policy that treats live music as the economic asset it already is.”