President Donald Trump has signed a new music tourism bill into law.
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., partnered on the bipartisan bill earlier this year: The American Music Tourism Act.
On Friday, Oct. 9, Trump signed the legislation, which will "require the Assistant Secretary to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors," and a subsequent report to Congress on the plan's successes and vulnerabilities.
“The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic landmarks for tourists to experience – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge,” Sen. Blackburn said in a press release.
“Music tourism has such a positive
impact on Tennessee’s economy," she said, adding we need to ensure that fans from all over the world continue to celebrate our state’s rich history for generations to come.
"The American Music Tourism Act will promote and support the fast-growing tourism industry, and I am pleased it has been signed into law by President Trump.”
Trump signed the bill only a day before he held a midterm rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Oct. 10, to "supercharge" his base in the Volunteer State.
“I don’t actually have to be in Tennessee, because Bill Hagerty’s going to win. Marsha is going to win,” Trump said at the rally, weighing in on the upcoming November elections. Blackburn made an appearance at the rally.
“So what the hell am I doing in Tennessee?” Trump said, adding that he wanted “to reward” his faithful supporters here.
“Sometimes it’s nice to go to a place where you don’t have to be but you’re there to say thank you to the great people that elected you three separate times."
While Trump has not spoken at length about Nashville's music industry, or Tennessee's status as a music tourism capital, he has expressed support for individual country music artists in town and praised the country music genre. He is especially friendly with Nashville musicians like Kid Rock and Warren Zeiders.
What will The American Music Tourism Act do?
Music tourism has emerged as a top travel trend, with the market forecasted to reach $11.3 billion in revenue by 2032.
The United States boasts one of the world’s largest music industries, generating more than $43 billion in revenue each year. In Nashville specifically, live music is the primary engine of the city's tourism economy, which generated a record $11.6 billion in visitor spending in 2025, according to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
The new American Music Tourism Act directs the Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) to promote domestic and international travel to U.S. music attractions.
This includes music festivals, concert venues, historic landmarks, museums, recording studios, and other aspects of local music economies.
The act also directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to implement plans supporting music tourism, with a specific focus on rural and cultural heritage areas.
Afterward, the NTTO must submit a report detailing its activities and findings to Congress within one year, then every two years thereafter.
“The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is elated that the American Music Tourism Act has been enacted," said Bart Herbison, the executive director of NSAI, which was one of the many local organizations backing the national legislation.
"As the owner of an iconic music venue, The Bluebird Café, we acutely understand the economic and social impact of music tourism," he said, adding that this law will help the music tourism industry thrive.
Bob Raines, executive director of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, described the new law as "a major win for Tennessee and for music communities nationwide."
This comes after, according to press statements from Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., Nashville hosted more tourists during CMA Fest and the musical Independence Day celebration than ever before. CMA Fest 2026 generated a record $93 million in estimated visitor spending, up from the previous year’s $86 million, while visitor spending reached a record $31.6 million the first weekend of July. The press statement said that roughly 65.5% of survey respondents said the patriotic music and festivities, including performances by The All-American Rejects, Brothers Osborne, Lauren Daigle and NE-YO, were their primary motivation for traveling to Music City.
"This legislation strengthens our ability to showcase Tennessee’s iconic music destinations and drive economic growth through increased tourism," Raines said.
Audrey Gibbs is a music and culture reporter at The Tennessean. You can reach her at agibbs@tennessean.com or on Instagram at @audreyraegibbs.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trump signs new music tourism law. Here's how it impacts Nashville
