Nashville is rightfully known as “Music City.” With a booming music scene, record labels, song publishing companies and much more, creative types from near and far migrate to this scene aspiring to start their career. With so much going on, it’s often hard to know where to start. In an effort to assist this “creative class,” the Nashville Chamber has compiled this list of resources to help point you in the right direction.
MusicStartsHere.org is Nashville's community, city and industry sponsored initiative designed to help artists, songwriters, musicians, technicians and industry professionals ("Musers") simplify and streamline the craft and business of making music in and through Music City.
Nashville Songwriters Association International consists of a body of creative minds, including songwriters from all genres of music, professional and amateur, who are committed to protecting the rights and future of the profession of songwriting and to educate, elevate and celebrate the songwriter and act as a unifying force within the music community and the community at large.
The Country Music Association is dedicated to bringing the poetry and emotion of country music to the world. They continue the tradition of leadership and professionalism, promoting the music, and recognizing excellence in all its forms. While fostering a spirit of community and sharing, they respect and encourage creativity and the unique contributions of all.
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip-hop, southern gospel, country, and more.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 380,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a board of directors elected by and from the membership.
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed. Formed in 1939 as a non-profit-making performing rights organization, BMI was the first to offer representation to songwriters of blues, country, jazz, R&B, gospel, folk, Latin and, ultimately, rock & roll.
SESAC, Inc. is a performing rights organization with headquarters in Nashville and offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London. They represent songwriters and publishers and their right to be compensated for having their music performed in public.
Leadership Music is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization established in 1989. It is a selection-based program whose mission is to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented community of music industry professionals.
The Bluebird Cafe is one of the world's preeminent listening rooms. The venue has gained worldwide recognition as a songwriter's performance space where the "heroes behind the hits" perform their own songs. A typical nightly performance consists of three or four songwriters seated in the center of the room, taking turns playing their songs and accompanying each other instrumentally and with harmony vocals. It is an experience that few forget, and one that reflects why Nashville is known as Music City.