US House Passes American Music Tourism Act

The US House of Representatives has passed the American Music Tourism Act, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature. The legislation, passed by voice vote on September 15, directs the federal government to promote travel to US music destinations and events.

It would formally add music to the tourism-promotion responsibilities of the Commerce Department, which already handles conferences, cultural heritage sites, and sports under the existing Visit America Act. The bill now awaits the President's approval after being enrolled for presentation.

New Duties for Commerce

The Act tasks the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism with identifying important US music tourism locations and events. The official must then promote both domestic and international travel to those sites.

Also, the bill expands the Assistant Secretary's international mandate. Currently focused on increasing business travel, the revised provision will cover international business and leisure travel. It also upgrades the existing sports mandate from facilitating events to actively promoting international travel and tourism for them.

Defining Music Tourism

For the first time, federal law would define music tourism. The definition includes travel to museums, studios, and "venues of all sizes." It also covers travel to festivals, concerts, and other live musical performances or music-related special events.

Within one year of becoming law, and every two years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary must report to Congress on activities, findings, achievements, and vulnerabilities related to these travel and tourism goals.

Legislative Journey and Support

The bill's journey through Congress took more than two years. Representative Diana Harshbarger, a Tennessee Republican, introduced the House version, H.R. 617, on January 22, 2025, with California Democrat Nanette Barragán as co-lead. The House passed it by voice vote on April 28, 2025.

Senators Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, and John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat, introduced the Senate version, S. 195, on the same January date. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent on May 14, 2025. The House then waited 16 months before adopting the Senate's text this week.

An earlier version, S. 4212, cleared the Senate in the previous Congress on December 5, 2024, but was never taken up by the House.

"After more than two years of work, our bipartisan American Music Tourism Act is officially headed to President Trump’s desk," said Representative Harshbarger. She highlighted the importance of music tourism to her Tennessee district, home to Dollywood and the Birthplace of Country Music in Bristol.

Senator Blackburn echoed this, stating, The Volunteer State is home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to experience, from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge. She called the bill a way to ensure fans continue to celebrate our state’s rich history of music for generations to come.

Cost and Economic Impact

Proponents emphasize the bill's low cost. Representative Harshbarger's office stated it will not cost any additional taxpayer dollars to implement. A Congressional Budget Office estimate from March 2025 put the implementation cost at less than $500,000 over the 2025-2030 period, with spending subject to appropriations. The CBO noted the Assistant Secretary had received $3.5 million in 2024 to carry out the Visit America Act.

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), which endorsed the legislation, welcomed the vote. Executive Director Stephen Parker called independent venues and festivals the lifeblood of local communities, not just as cultural hubs but as powerful engines of economic activity.

The American Music Tourism Act is a jobs bill, Parker said. We are thrilled the House and Senate have prioritized driving domestic and foreign visitors to the nation’s music attractions and independent stages.

NIVA cites significant economic figures from its June 2025 study, The State of Live. The association says independent stages account for 9.2% of total US travel and tourism revenue and generate $10.62 billion in off-site tourism spending. The study put the sector's total 2024 economic output at $153.1 billion, with a direct contribution to US GDP of $86.2 billion.

The association stated it is ready to work with the US Department of Commerce on delivering the Act's goals once it becomes law.