Gear up for these spectacular events to start spring off right in Music City. April comes alive with concerts, festivals, awards shows, a marathon and more! We're starting with the Awesome April Kickoff Concert/103.3 WKDF Birthday Bash on April 1 featuring Taylor Swift, Clay Walker, Trent Tomlinson, Jason Michael Carroll, Eric Church and more performing live at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. On April 16, country music's only fan-voted awards show, CMT Music Awards, is back for its sixth year with Jeff Foxworthy returning as its humorous host. Stars set to perform include Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Sugarland and Dierks Bentley. The Nashville Film Festival (April 19 - 26) and Vanderbilt University's Rites of Spring Music Festival (April 20 - 21) bring a variety of artists, including independent filmmakers and musicians. The Music City Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony is set for April 22 and promises to be another star-filled event. On April 25, the best in gospel and contemporary Christian music will receive awards at the Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. Stars set to host the show include Natalie Grant, Donnie McClurkin and Brian Littrell. And bringing April across the finish line is the Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon set for April 28. Participants will be entertained along the way as fifty bands play live on stages throughout the 26.2 mile course. This city-wide event brings thousands of people downtown for a celebratory post-race concert featuring country sensation Sara Evans as this year's headliner. Awesome April continues to grow each year with increased visitation and this year should follow suit. 
 The marketing team at the Convention & Visitors Bureau has been busy with several new marketing initiatives. The strategic materials created continue to hit home and expand the Music City brand. Items include:
 Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the 25th Anniversary of the Bluebird Cafe, and the 15th Anniversary of Tin Pan South 2007 is a year for successful songwriters, aspiring songwriters and anyone who appreciates this gifted craft, to come together in Music City and celebrate! This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the 25th Anniversary of the Bluebird Cafe, and the 15th Anniversary of Tin Pan South. Established in 1967, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world's largest not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to serving songwriters of all genres of music. They host America's largest music festival dedicated to songs and songwriters-Tin Pan South. The festival serves as a legislative fundraiser in support of NSAI's efforts in Congress, whose success is evident in the recent passing of the Songwriters Capital Gains Tax Equity Act. The festival is set for March 27 - 31 and promises to be another fantastic event with performers like Vertical Horizon's Matt Scannell, Rodney Crowell, John Rich, Kix Brooks, Richie Sambora and Kenny Loggins already announced. Sure to be a big part of the action is Music City's legendary Bluebird Cafe, the little listening room that's gained a worldwide reputation for presenting the best original country and acoustic music seven nights a week. The first club to host an "in-the-round" session, the Bluebird will feature nightly performances during Tin Pan South with acts like Ricky and Micol Davis of Blue Mother Tupelo, Mac Davis, Bobby Braddock, Pat Alger, Kevin Welch, Mike Reid, Marcus Hummon and Lari White already in the lineup. Bluebird will celebrate their 25th anniversary in June this year. |
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Industry Indicators January hotel occupancy was 51.1%, a decrease of 2.3% compared to January 2006  December hotel tax collections was $2,006,353, an increase of 21.2% compared to December 2005 2006 Total Year tax collections was $24,201,000, an increase of 12.9% compared to 2005 |
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• Hosted the TN Motorcoach Assn. Annual Meeting in January. During this convention, the CVB made contact with 24 clients which produced eight leads for Nashville. • Hosting the American Bus Assn. last year is still paying dividends for Music City. The CVB sales team just returned from this years' ABA Annual Marketplace and all the attendees were still singing Nashville's praises. During the meeting, we had 94 appointments which produced 77 leads. We also attended a client dinner that was hosted by the TN State Dept. of Tourism which had over 140 tour operators in attendance. • Created a new website that embraces and enhances the Music City brand. • Hosted "Heroes Behind the Hits" show at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts on February 18th, which will be broadcast to millions on XM satellite radio in April and will help promote the Frist's Matisse exhibit. • Attended a total of six tradeshows and conventions in January including Professional Convention Management Association, Receptive Services Association, Meeting Professionals International and Religious Conference Managers Association. During these events, the sales team made 421 quality contacts which resulted in 117 leads for Nashville. The leads represent over 80,000 roomnights for Nashville hotels. • Remodeled (slightly) the Gaylord Entertainment Center Visitor Information Center, adding coffee kiosks, bistro tables, new displays, WiFi capabilities and music to improve the atmosphere for visitors arriving in town. • Upgraded 14 NCVB member businesses to levels with increased benefits. |
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 March 6 - Art is Good Business: A Networking Luncheon Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Laura Turner Concert Hall 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. In partnership with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, join us in welcoming Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. Lynch will discuss how the arts contribute to economic development, shape cultural identity and create greater civic involvement - all essential to Nashville's vitality and quality of life. Register at www.nashvillechamber.com and click on the Events Calendar. You can attend the event at the $35 member rate by indicating you are an NCVB member in the registration form. March 13 - Creating Applause, Customer Service Training for Your Staff Nashville CVB Boardroom 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Register here: Fatima@visitmusiccity.com March 21 - Membership Advisory Board, Phone Blitz and meeting Nashville CVB Boardroom 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. April 5 - New Member Orientation Nashville CVB Boardroom 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Register here: Fatima@visitmusiccity.com Upcoming events include our Spring Membership Networking meeting and Music City AM/PM. More details to follow. Member Referrals: Please email Melinda Judd if you know a company that would benefit from an NCVB Membership. We will be happy to contact them. Melinda Judd, VP of Membership (615) 259-4751 / Melinda@visitmusiccity.com Fatima Thompson, Member Servicesr (615) 259-4744 / Fatima@visitmusiccity.com View the list of NCVB Members.   The "Hit of the Month" is a discounted featured product at the Visitor Information Center. For the month of March, enjoy beautiful music- themed, painted ceramic art pieces from Rhapsody Cafe. Items include magnets, candle holders, salad bowls, mugs, serving platters and much more. All Rhapsody Cafe items discounted 20% off their regular price. Prices range from $12.99 - $49.99. The gift shop at the Visitor Information Center is located on the ground floor of One Nashville Place at the corner of 4th and Commerce. While you're here, check out our wide variety of additional Music City items. (Promotion not valid with any other discount or coupon.) |
  If you have live music in your venue at least 4 days a week, then make sure our visitors know. Call Allie Hardee at (615) 259-4734 or email her at allie@visitmusiccity.com to order your guitar pick sign today. |
  15th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, March 27-31stTin Pan South is America's largest music festival dedicated to songs and songwriters. Each year, in late March/early April, several hundred songwriters perform approximately 100 shows over the course of the week. For five days and nights the festival encompasses Nashville venues, elevating songwriters and the contribution they make to the city and to the world of music. This event, produced by NSAI, personifies our Music City brand and continues to bring positive recognition to Nashville's diverse music culture. |