Why is Nashville “Music City”?

As visitors come to Nashville, they assume that the reason this is Music City is because of the abundance of live music, especially in the downtown area. There are so many more reasons!

First of all, music starts in Nashville. This is where the songwriters live. This is where the music publishers are. This is where the record labels are located, and the recording studios, and the studio musicians, and the recording engineers. Many of the artists live in and around Nashville. This is where they are raising their families, their kids go to school, they attend church and go to the grocery stores. You would be shocked how many people who live here are involved in the music industry to one degree or another.

Next, if you are involved in any kind of music performance, an entire support industry is here to help you do what you do. You will need buses and trucks to carry your people and gear. You will need sound equipment, lighting of various types, sound engineers and lighting technicians, tour management, background singers, instrumental musicians, and merchandise to sell at your concerts. All of these things and more are found in Music City. There are rehearsal venues, marketing companies, booking agencies, music attorneys, video producers and more, all in the town that bears music’s name.

And don’t forget that the Country Music Association, ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are all located in Nashville. And the Grand Ole Opry—the greatest and longest running country music radio show in history has been running since the 1920s. Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities both have music schools that prepare the next generation of musicians, engineers, and music business people, right here in Music City. And if you are lucky enough to get tickets, you can hear concerts at The Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry House, Bridgestone Arena, Nissan Stadium or Ascend Amphitheater.

So, Nashville is Music City because . . .music is Nashville and Nashville is and always will be Music!