Memphis Standard

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee has reintroduced three bills aimed at supporting the music industry and its stakeholders. The proposed legislation includes the American Music Tourism Act, the Mitigating Automated Internet Networks for Event Ticketing (MAIN) Act, and the Help Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act.

"The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge," stated Senator Blackburn. "These three bills will promote music tourism across the state of Tennessee, better protect consumers and artists from scammers, and provide tax deductions to support independent music creators."

The American Music Tourism Act seeks to leverage existing structures within the Department of Commerce to enhance music tourism in the United States. This bill would require a plan from the Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism to boost both domestic and international music tourism, along with a report on progress made towards these goals. Co-sponsored by Senator Hickenlooper and introduced in the House by Representatives Diana Harshbarger and Nanette Barragán, this legislation has received endorsements from numerous organizations including Live Nation Entertainment and Memphis Tourism.

The MAIN Event Ticketing Act aims to build upon previous legislation signed into law by President Obama that targeted ticket scalping through software use. The new act proposes reporting requirements for online ticket sellers regarding bot attacks, a consumer complaint database shared with state attorneys general, data security measures for ticket sellers, and a report on enforcement efforts. This bill is co-sponsored by Senator Ben Ray Luján.

Lastly, the HITS Act intends to allow independent music creators such as musicians and producers to deduct 100 percent of their recording production expenses in the year they are incurred. Currently, similar deductions are available only for film, television, and theater productions. Co-sponsored by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, this bill has garnered support from entities like Broadcast Music Inc. and Global Music Rights.

These legislative efforts underscore ongoing initiatives to bolster various aspects of the music industry while providing economic benefits for those involved.