Inside Nashville Music

Music Business

Labels, publishing, management, rights, deals and the business behind an evolving music industry.

Latest

Nashville music district and skyline

Nashville Is Helping Shape What Comes Next In Music

How Music City Is Shaping What Comes Next for the Music Industry

Artists and guests gathered at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.

The 2026 VMAs Put Music Video Storytelling Back in Focus

Madonna’s seven wins led the 2026 VMAs, while Taylor Swift’s directing honor and Video of the Year win highlighted the continuing importance of visual storytelling.

Original artist performing live as an attentive audience discovers the music.

Maybe the Algorithm Was Never A&R

Views and streams can show where music is reaching people. Live performance and lasting fan connection may reveal more about an artist’s potential.

Independent artist performing for an engaged audience as streaming platforms and direct fan relationships reshape control in the music business.

Music Has Never Been More Accessible. But Who Controls the Relationship?

Digital music has continually expanded access while shifting control toward platforms. In 2026, catalog ownership, superfans and direct artist-fan relationships are putting a new focus on what artists actually control.

Music fans navigating live and digital music experiences as artists compete for attention in an increasingly crowded music industry.

The New Music Economy Is Fighting for Your Attention

Music has never been more accessible, but the explosion of digital content has created a new challenge for artists, labels and marketers: earning enough attention to turn discovery into lasting connection.

Nashville music district representing the city’s expanding role in record labels, music publishing, artists and the global music business.

Nashville’s Music Business Is Getting Bigger

Major corporate combinations, publishing acquisitions, artist deals and investment in Tennessee’s music ecosystem are expanding Nashville’s role in the global music industry. Music City remains a creative center, but the business surrounding the music is becoming an increasingly important part of its story.

Vinyl records, CDs and modern physical music formats representing the continued growth of physical music in 2026.

Physical Music Is Growing Again. And It’s Not Just Vinyl.

Vinyl continues its long-running resurgence, CDs are showing renewed growth and emerging formats are expanding what physical music can be. The latest numbers suggest fans are not abandoning streaming, but they are finding new reasons to own music again.

Music catalog ownership and legacy music rights representing Sony’s reported $600 million Michael Jackson catalog deal.

Michael Jackson’s Music Is Still Worth a Fortune Decades Later

Michael Jackson’s $600 Million Catalog Deal Shows Just How Valuable Music Ownership Has Become