Creativity Is Alive and Well
Published May 20, 2008
The music industry plays an important role in economic development, showcasing the area’s creativity.
Whether they fill large performance halls or try out their songs on writers’ nights at one of the many intimate nightclubs in the area, Nashville Cats are key players in the region’s economic growth.
The contributions of these pickers and songwriters are in the creative spirit they have instilled here, according to Janet Miller, chief economic development officer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Much of our economic development success is tied to the fact that we are a creative, entrepreneurial place where people want to be,” she says.
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce uses the city’s musical heritage as a calling card.
“We try to focus as to what truly differentiates this city from the others,” Miller says. “The difference is the creative community and the Music City brand, so we incorporate that theme and spirit into all of our recruitment activities.”
Business owners aren’t the only ones that find Nashville an attractive place to work and live. More and more, young professionals find the city a good place to call home, too.
“Bright young people coming out of school are picking the place that they want to be,” Miller says. “The places [like Nashville] that are attractive are the real creative hotbeds. All companies need creative people.”
The Nashville chamber puts the local brand on display when trying to woo companies to the metro area.
For example, Miller says, guests are often treated to songwriters’ nights at area clubs such as the Bluebird Cafe.
The iconic, 25-year-old listening room – now operated by the Nashville Songwriters Association International – provides the ideal showcase for the city’s musical roots.
Jeff Hite, director of business recruitment for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, says the tunes are just a part of the attraction.
“We’re known as Music City all over the world, but it’s much more than music.”
Miller points out that all types of music, as well as TV and film production, are finding homes here. And the chamber is helping the music community face its future.
“We are keenly interested in the digital and interactive sector,” Miller says. “One of the things we are doing is coproducing, in partnership with Leadership Music, this year’s [2008] Digital Summit. The outside world needs to know that Nashville has an emerging technology scene.”
Kira Florita, executive director of Leadership Music, says the strategic alliance is a good fit.
Her organization’s stated mission “is to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented community of music industry professionals.”
The nonprofit group began staging the Digital Summit in 2005 with a goal of identifying and exploring new technology opportunities, innovations and challenges.
Florita says her challenge was that the event continued to grow beyond the group’s resources, so teaming up with the chamber has been beneficial. She says the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has helped market the summit and recruit speakers and sponsors.
“We want to make sure Nashville continues to have a thriving presence in the digital realm,” she says.
Story by Tim Ghianni
Photo by Wes Aldridge
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