Blackburn Bill to Support Music Tourism Heads to President Trump’s Desk

Blackburn Bill to Support Music Tourism Heads to President Trump’s Desk September 16, 2026 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) released the following statements after the U.S. House of Representatives passed their bipartisan legislation, American Music Tourism Act, to support music tourism in Tennessee and across the country: “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,” said Senator Blackburn. “Music tourism has such a positive impact on Tennessee’s economy, and we need to ensure that fans from all over the world continue to celebrate our state’s rich history of music for generations to come. The American Music Tourism Act will promote and support the fast-growing tourism industry, and I am pleased it is heading to President Trump’s desk.” “From Red Rocks to The Mish, Colorado is fortunate to have so many outstanding music venues that bring culture, tourism, and economic opportunity to our communities,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “The American Music Tourism Act will help bring even more visitors to venues in Colorado and across the country. We’re glad to see it pass the House and urge the President to sign it into law.” The American Music Tourism Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.). BACKGROUND Music tourism – both the act of visiting sites important to the history of American music culture and the act of traveling for concerts and music festivals – is a vital industry for American culture and an economic driver for our communities. 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, which boasts one of world’s largest music industries that generates over $43 billion in revenue each year, is one of the main beneficiaries of this international interest in music tourism. The Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism is uniquely positioned to identify and promote sites of musical significance. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TOURISM ACT The American Music Tourism Act would leverage the existing tourism framework within the Department of Commerce to highlight and promote music tourism in the United States. Specifically, this bill would require: The Assistant Secretary to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors; and A report to Congress on the successes and vulnerabilities of the Assistant Secretary’s goals to increase travel and tourism. Click here for bill text. RELATED Blackburn, Hickenlooper Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase Music Tourism In U.S. Blackburn Applauds Senate’s Unanimous Passage of Her Resolution Honoring 100 Years of the Grand Ole Opry https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/9/blackburn-bill-to-support-music-tourism-heads-to-president-trump-s-desk