By Chris Salvemini – 05/16/25 5:50 PM EST
WASHINGTON — A bill aimed at identifying and supporting ways to increase music-related tourism across the country passed the United States Senate Wednesday.
It is named the “American Music Tourism Act of 2025” and was introduced by two lawmakers from Tennessee — Republican Representative Diana Harshbarger and Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn. According to a release from Harshbarger, Democratic Representative Nanette Díaz Barragán is also co-leading the bill.
It tells the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to help facilitate incentives and conferences to boost music-related tourism in the country. It also specifically tells the secretary to emphasize “rural and other destinations” that are “rich in cultural heritage or ecological tourism” for international meetings, conferences or exhibitions.
The secretary would also be tasked with identifying locations and events across the country that are important to music-related tourism and promoting them. Leaders would then need to report on those initiatives.
Tennessee was one of the first states in the country to pass legislation aimed at protecting artists, songwriters and performers from generative artificial intelligence technology. Supporters of that bill said its goal was to make sure artificially intelligent tools could not replicate artists’ voices without their consent.
It’s a state with several music-themed attractions, including the annual Big Ears festival in Knoxville and Nashville’s reputation as a place for country music artists and pop idols to find their start and build careers. The city also has several historic music venues, including the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry.