Music- it’s in our bones. From B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Justin Timberlake and GloRilla. Memphis music spreads across genres and generations. Home of the Blues. The Birthplace of Rock n’ Roll. Memphis made its name worldwide.
And again, Memphis music is making its name worldwide, but this time it looks a little different.
Recently, the City of Memphis, the Greater Memphis Chamber, and ARTSmemphis enlisted the help of Sound Diplomacy, a UK-based music consulting group, to conduct a research study on the state of music in Memphis.
The report laid out the facts about our music ecosystem. But what’s even more interesting is the recommendation on ways to improve our music industry and position us for the future of music. The Memphis Music Strategy Report detailed key components to attain, attract, and retain musicians, increase our live music participation, and ultimately build infrastructure for Memphis Musicians.
After the release, the Memphis Music Strategy was nominated for “Best Music Tourism Initiative” at the 2025 Music Cities Awards.
“The report is not about preserving Memphis’ music legacy, it is about growing it. We are focused on expanding opportunities, attracting new industry partners, and making Memphis a place where music careers can flourish,” said Tecora Murray, Executive Director of the Greater Memphis Economic Research Group.
The nomination places Memphis among global leaders using music to transform cities, with the Chamber competing alongside “KOLFEST” Public Fund (Kyrgyzstan) and Queensland Music Festival (Australia) in its category.
The 2025 Music Cities Awards received a record 365 applications across 11 categories, representing 51 countries from 6 continents.
The recognition through this nomination alone signifies a strong nod to the future of Memphis music and we are here for it.
One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers.
