Memphis's Music Impact

Memphis’s Music Legacy: A Key to Boosting Our City’s Economy and Culture

by: Donovan Jackson

Memphis: The Birthplace of Blues, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Soul

-Memphis is home to iconic artists like Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Otis Redding. -The city's cultural history shaped genres that have a global influence today. -Music is an integral part of Memphis's identity. -Despite this incredible legacy, our city has not yet fully taken advantage of its potential as a music tourism hub in the way other cities have.

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Why Music Tourism?

How Music Tourism Can Drive Memphis’s Economy

Music tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the U.S. Cities like Nashville have successfully turned music into a central driver of tourism. Memphis has the potential to do the same by leveraging its musical heritage.

Current Music Attractions in Memphis

• Memphis already boasts attractions like Graceland, Sun Studio, and Beale Street.
• These sites draw millions of visitors each year, but they can be expanded to increase tourism.

Graceland, Beale Street, and More

How Memphis can enhance its economy and culture?

Expanding Music Festivals and Events

Supporting Local Musicians and Venues

Promoting Memphis as a Global Music Hub

Investing in Music Education

Expanding Music Festivals and Events

- Expand events like Beale Street Music Festival and Memphis in May. - Create new festivals focusing on Memphis genres (blues, soul, gospel, hip-hop). - Hold events year-round to make Memphis a music destination.

Supporting Local Musicians and Venues

Investing in Local Talent and Music Venues

Small venues and local artists are the heart of Memphis’s music scene.Invest in local venues, provide grants for musicians, and build infrastructure for live music. Local talent can drive both the music scene and tourism.

Promoting Memphis as a Global Music Hub

Market Memphis as a music hub where the past (Elvis, Stax, Sun Studio) meets the present (Glorilla, Three 6 Mafia).Create a unified campaign that highlights Memphis's history and modern influence.

Investing in Music Education

Developing the Next Generation of Memphis Musicians

• -Invest in music schools, programs, and partnerships with universities.

• Create opportunities for young musicians to perform and develop in Memphis.

• Attract Students and Educators from around the world.

Balancing Memphis’s Legacy with Other Music Cities

• Memphis’s musical identity is unique and valuable, without diminishing other cities' contributions (New Orleans, Chicago).

• Memphis should highlight its contributions, not compete with other music cities.

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Counter Argument

While I believe that Memphis could advance in the aspect of tourism, many believe that Memphis is overally concentrated on Music and its history. They believe that they there are far more important aspects that can support the city economically.

CALL TO ACTION

Invest in Memphis’s Music Tourism Now

• Now is the time to capitalize on Memphis’s music legacy.
• Memphis can become a premier music destination with the right investment.
• Let’s work together to make it happen.

THANK YOU!

Question and Concerns...

Work Cited

Dickerson, James L. The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: Music, Race, and the Memphis Sound. 1998.

Gordon, Robert. It Came from Memphis. Vintage, 1995.

“The Economic Impact of Music Tourism.” Americans for the Arts, 2019, www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/reports-and-data/research-studies-reports/field-reports/music-tourism.

"Beale Street Music Festival.” Memphis in May, www.memphisinmay.org.

Gosa, Travis H. Hip-Hop in the South: The Evolution of Southern Rap. 2013.