Music tourism is now officially part of US federal travel policy. President Donald Trump signed the American Music Tourism Act of 2025, S. 195, into law on October 9, and the bill's Senate sponsors announced it on October 14. The idea is simple: the US Department of Commerce now has to identify the places and events that are "important to music tourism" and promote domestic and international travel to them.
What the law actually does
The act amends the Visit America Act and adds music to the travel-promotion duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism. It also adds a definition of music tourism to federal law. Under that definition, music tourism covers travel to historic or modern-day music attractions, including museums, studios, and "venues of all sizes." It also covers travel to attend a festival, a concert, or another live musical performance or music-related special event.
There is a reporting duty too. Within a year of enactment, and every two years after that, the Assistant Secretary must report to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee on the "activities, findings, achievements, and vulnerabilities" connected to the Visit America Act's travel and tourism goals.
A slow road to the president's desk
Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn and Colorado Democrat John Hickenlooper led it in the Senate, while Tennessee Republican Diana Harshbarger and California Democrat Nanette Barragán led a companion bill, H.R. 617, in the House. The House passed H.R. 617 by voice vote on April 28, 2025, and the Senate approved S. 195 by unanimous consent on May 14, 2025. The House then passed S. 195 by voice vote on September 15, 2026.
The music industry lined up behind it. The Recording Academy, NMPA, BMI, ASCAP, the RIAA, Global Music Rights, and the National Independent Venue Association all endorsed the legislation. "Music doesn't just move us; it moves local economies," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews added: "Songwriters depend on the royalties they earn from live performances of their work, and the American Music Tourism Act will create important new opportunities for music creators all across the country."
Big words, small budget
Before anyone pictures a giant federal marketing push, the numbers are modest. The Congressional Budget Office estimated in February 2025 that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000 over the 2025 to 2030 period, with any spending subject to the availability of appropriations. This is a promotion mandate, not a grant program for venues.
The market it points at is real, though. Blackburn's office says music tourism is forecast to reach $11.3 billion in revenue by 2032, citing research firm Future Market Insights. The current version of that report values the global music tourism market at $6.44 billion in 2024 and projects it to exceed $15.5 billion by 2034. Blackburn name-checked Graceland, the Grand Ole Opry, and Dollywood.
Live music policy is not done in Washington either. Harshbarger and Blackburn are also behind the MAIN Event Ticketing Act, which would amend the BOTS Act. The House version, H.R. 2713, cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee 36 to 0 on September 16, but no floor vote date has been set.
Why independent artists should care
The phrase "venues of all sizes" is the part worth underlining. Small rooms are where most artists build a following, and federal recognition that a small club can be a travel destination is a nice shift in framing. NIVA said in September it was ready to work with the Commerce Department on delivering the act's goals, so independent venues will have a voice in how this plays out.
Of course, nobody books a flight to see an artist they have never heard. Fans travel for music they already love, and that starts with your songs being easy to find on streaming. DistroKid is one simple way to get your releases onto all the major platforms, and you can get 7% off through this DistroKid link (affiliate link).
Which music city, venue, or festival would you happily cross an ocean for?
