The Region's Music, Working for the Region
The Appalachian Music Collective turns one of the world's richest musical traditions into jobs, tourism, and opportunity.
Led by the Research Corporation and the ETSU Department of Appalachian Studies, the Appalachian Music Collective connects artists, venues, and industry leaders across the region. It grew out of the Northeast Tennessee Music Census, conducted in partnership with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission in the Governor's office, and was formed in 2026 to act on the opportunities the census identified.
Why it matters
One tradition, working for the region
The Appalachian Music Collective turns one of the world's richest musical traditions into jobs, tourism, and opportunity, connecting artists, venues, and industry partners across four states.
The Northeast Tennessee Music Census
The Appalachian Music Collective is built on the Northeast Tennessee Music Census, the region's most complete picture of its working music economy. The census was conducted by Sound Music Cities of Austin, Texas, and sponsored by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission. Its findings are the foundation for a regional advocacy organization bringing together Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky.
What the AMC does
- Business development and entrepreneurial resources for working musicians
- Advocacy that cuts regulatory confusion for venues and presenters
- A peer network that strengthens careers across the region
- Turning census data into action for the creative economy
The state is on board
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee appointed AMC founder Dr. Stephen Marshall and his Department of Appalachian Studies partner, Ron Roach, to the Tennessee Music Advisory Council, a state body focused on using music as an economic, tourism, and workforce driver across Tennessee. The appointments signal that state leadership treats the creative economy as a serious pillar of regional development, with the Appalachian Music Collective helping carve the path.
In good company
The following orgs were part of the NETN Census.
Make the music economy work
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