[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6120367,"mediaKeyId","2708120-bfb96cce9c6c876d8cd0b86b66ea3f63","parentId",2708120,"title","Council committee adopts substitute for Music, Entertainment and Film Commission after heated debate over hiring authority","audioSeconds",2338,"startMs",1690000,"endMs",4028000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2708120-bfb96cce9c6c876d8cd0b86b66ea3f63&start=1690&end=4028","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2708120-bfb96cce9c6c876d8cd0b86b66ea3f63/thumbnail_1690000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120367/Tennessee/Council-committee-adopts-substitute-for-Music-Entertainment-and-Film-Commission-after-heated-debate-over-hiring-authority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120367-deb74e5be9279fef13fbc81936f41250/orig.mp4?Expires=1770793929&Signature=hfTSILbK2s~QjlyYEyvIFIjDvEeJnlxk~uJHwgUMrWHFzBJ0ytUbnYqYYzLjBa1rif9M~Bltz4sSaLecz~mBBu~ucKLVwO4j5WTYC7yp4fjyIjm~wQR9-yBTAa5Cmwt4tB8Atw2xUGEz535OHJP3xpCxDakHh852wvOzh6rBu2fwmgFUa6-XNPsCYyhIcdvoe9moLWM7ad0m6Dy9idOekzOiR0OkM73AJybgyEZbM87bbZd5-MWT2VpEJgamhdd6aqumu5zGxC7stEcOIJDdsRrOfxTa6OXvBusGrdEbeHrUbq5EJehP0MLutLnwse0WlFY-jmD8qTQe77ubQHFIcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nashville, TN","date","2025-03-19T10:28:25Z","article","The Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee on March 18 approved a substitute to an ordinance that changes the Nashville Music, Entertainment and Film Commission’s structure and hiring process and then passed the bill as substituted.

\"I love the sponsor,\" Council Member Stiles said in presenting her substitute, \"I do not support her bill at all, hence the substitute.\" Stiles argued the commission and local creative-industry members should retain the hiring authority for the executive director and that removing that authority would protect continuity across mayoral administrations.

Commission members of the commission and cultural stakeholders attended the meeting to urge the committee not to shift hiring authority to the mayor. Max Butler, chair of the commission, told the committee he and other commissioners were frustrated by repeated procedural changes and described the process as disrespectful. \"I'm so sick of this and talking about this. I've been doing this for years, and my time has been wasted,\" Butler said.

Council and administration officials described a different view. Dave Rosenberg of the mayor's office said the version filed by Council Member Sepulveda would allow \"the immediate swift hiring of an executive director,\" while the substitute, he said, would make the hiring process slower because it would be managed by a commission through publicly noticed meetings.

Human resources and Metro staff raised practical concerns about a stand-alone \"department of one.\" Shannon Hall, identified at the meeting as a director in the administration, said that historically an office of one has spent much of its time on administrative support rather than programmatic work and recommended using existing HR and finance structures to allow the executive director to focus on programmatic duties.

Council Member Stiles said the commission already has a large applicant pool for the executive director role; she said the commission had received about 117 applications.

After a floor vote on the substitute, the committee recorded 4 in favor, 2 against and 1 present not voting; the committee then voted the bill as substituted by the same margin, adopting the ordinance as substituted.

Discussion: Commissioners said the 2019–2023 effort to create an independent office responded to industry concerns about changing mayoral priorities; commissioners argued the commission members, who come from the music and film industry, are best placed to assess candidates. Sponsors and administration staff said placing the office within the mayor's structure would enable faster hiring and cross-department coordination.

The committee did not enact any immediate administrative appointments at the meeting; the substitute preserves the commission’s hiring role as presented in the substitute and will govern the hiring process as the commission proceeds to screen candidates.

Ending: The ordinance as substituted now moves forward with committee approval; staff and commissioners said they will continue candidate screening and will return materials or requests to the committee or council as required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/18/25 Metropolitan Council Committee: Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment","oneSentenceSummary","The Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee on March 18 approved a substitute and then passed an ordinance changing the Music, Entertainment and Film Commission’s structure and hiring process after a contentious debate over whether hiring authority should rest with the mayor or the commission.","taxTitle","Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee Meetings, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee","taxId",73000,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120372,"Nashville Municipal Auditorium seeks $4 million roof and operations increases as events surge",537,179000,716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2708120-bfb96cce9c6c876d8cd0b86b66ea3f63&start=179&end=716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2708120-bfb96cce9c6c876d8cd0b86b66ea3f63/thumbnail_179000.jpg","/articles/6120372/Tennessee/Nashville-Municipal-Auditorium-seeks-4-million-roof-and-operations-increases-as-events-surge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120372-fbf1fb95cc71c15c592d448d99f5c367/orig.mp4?Expires=1770793929&Signature=EMii7ntCFmocOzhLgL199SqOTprlrVwokmVkc8vwj54nz8KS~UfzGiYK-xNIffziSSEmJuChtxfbt95iNOkmKJlNVneqH2Ug1Nt3XUYihGHhPT1fYLZP2ctGJP-pRB9qz5QV1qwyUlCJQRMXlGMO8qq1dVU3kbXkMQQPDxvMVuBMpLoB4pt1mYl-LzOoxFJhR22MvKv6ko6OvaRhs5t7WE-yo5s~WYWxG2U-e5KKMA7RQSwY91M8SwsMJo5lU8EIv9~tsUOABtBGmb28BYhrKE6SktpbaVv7XCeWf95o1q-K5~089BqdkL~1I013QWI8FcXQGHMyfMs6rgNjlOXWCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nashville Municipal Auditorium asked the Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee on March 18 for targeted FY26 budget increases to support rising event volume and to replace the venue's aging roof.

\"It's been my pleasure to have served there so far,\" said Nancy Van Reese, a commissioner on the Nashville Municipal Auditorium commission, introducing staff who presented a financial and operations update. The auditorium's staff said event days and revenue have risen and that the facility needs capital and operating support to avoid service disruptions.

The commission highlighted several specific requests. Staff proposed a $4,000,000 capital improvement to replace the auditorium's original roof (the staff submission described the dome as last re‑roofed about 30 years ago) and requested operating increases including $100,000 for maintenance, $20,000 for water utilities, $270,000 for temporary services (stagehands, security, EMTs, janitorial and crowd control), $30,000 to upgrade office software and supplies, and $30,000 for expanded marketing.

\"The municipal auditorium has experienced a highly successful year,\" said Darren Howard, a member of the auditorium staff. Howard said fiscal year 2025 showed growth in booked events (91 event days, a 46% increase from FY23) and that the venue expects revenue to continue rising. He told the committee the Live Nation preferred-promoter agreement guarantees $500,000 and staff project an additional $2,100,000 from Fidelity rentals and new partnerships, including a lease renewal with the Musicians Hall of Fame and a multi-year agreement with Athletes Unlimited.

Howard also described proposed changes to rental rates and fees, including a new all-inclusive filming day rate of $6,500 and a revised structure for ancillary fees and an administrative fee intended to capture staffing costs for events. He said a FY24 fee study placed the auditorium’s pricing “in the middle” of comparable public and private venues and that the new structure aims to boost ancillary revenue while keeping base rental rates competitive.

Howard attributed part of the venue’s stronger results to new promoters and to the arrival of Athletes Unlimited, which he said returned for an additional season. He provided performance metrics for that partnership: a 96% increase in TV viewership, an 89% increase in attendance, a 151% increase in merchandise sales and a 106% increase in online engagement during the inaugural seasons in Nashville.

Commissioners and council members pressed staff on triage priorities and operational details. Council Member Stiles asked staff to identify the top three needs; Howard and Van Reese said the roof replacement, temporary services and maintenance were the highest priorities. Stiles also asked why the auditorium would not simply raise rent: staff said they were keeping basic daily rental fees competitive and were instead targeting ancillary fees and administrative charges to capture previously unrecovered costs.

Linda Chambers, president and chief executive of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, attended and invited committee members to visit the museum; staff said the museum’s lease renewal would be presented to committee and council for approval in an upcoming meeting.

Commissioners noted that the auditorium’s growth increases wear and tear and that proactive maintenance would avoid costly emergency repairs and event disruptions. Howard said the water and temporary-services increases reflect the higher guest counts and the labor needed to stage larger or more complex events.

The committee did not take a vote on the auditorium's budget requests at this meeting; staff said the requests will be considered during upcoming budget deliberations and that the auditorium would provide the fee-study documentation and the detailed budget packet to the committee.

Ending: The auditorium’s staff left the committee with a request that the committee and council review the FY26 adjustments as part of the municipal budget process. Staff said they will deliver the fee study and the full budget package to the committee folder ahead of budget hearings.","Commissioners and staff told the Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee that event volume at Nashville Municipal Auditorium has grown sharply and asked the committee to support a FY26 package including a $4,000,000 roof replacement, expanded maintenance and higher temporary-services and utilities budgets.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6120362,"Votes at a glance: committee approves commission restructure, greenway easement and four consent resolutions",2590,1566000,4156000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2708120-bfb96cce9c6c876d8cd0b86b66ea3f63&start=1566&end=4156","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2708120-bfb96cce9c6c876d8cd0b86b66ea3f63/thumbnail_1566000.jpg","/articles/6120362/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-approves-commission-restructure-greenway-easement-and-four-consent-resolutions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120362-324d2f5253447b640b2db491956cc603/orig.mp4?Expires=1770793929&Signature=d2SZirSsFU66zJ1TMaHv2qHX53lDcKSKJ8bL~IqGsvauBpOMiLFNB23DwsSAXpPy2FDj31~Umm9lVpxiqd8cr1qKoggOFj5GgRiC-zEhILsyTq0KRyJru8Ew25H4ogCbVnPOJeDaIADK8WxH5R4VC3~kTRqIR-SX-BKZSEMcHjHzYGjSDLaO6huTH7dHzHsrxL8M0QoVV6OEBdDUZeiYvxOicqS1veFmVVQu1PAis0lREzH0zsbBjAVW6bSN7zGUp5JDYHFlkrABUsjzHWN8AB6oQorr6Ll9PGoReDJsXZbvt3Wer9ImfrcpEBR-guTSbQ9UAWwCKGCNaPjt2xiFeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee recorded multiple formal actions on March 18.

• Consent agenda (4 resolutions): The committee approved a consent calendar of four resolutions, read into the record by the chair, that accept grants and agreements for the Nashville Public Library, an in‑kind grant for neighborhood arboretum work, a Centennial Park Conservancy grant for Parthenon staff expenses, and creation of an advisory working group to study youth policy. The chair called for the consent agenda; members responded \"Aye\" and the consent agenda passed without a separate roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

• BL2025-688 (Music, Entertainment and Film Commission): Committee approved a substitute to BL2025-688 and then passed the bill as substituted (4 yes, 2 no, 1 present not voting). The substitute preserves commission hiring authority and reduces membership over time as described in the substitute text. (See separate article for discussion and argument.)

• BL2025-706 (Greenway conservation easements): The committee considered BL2025-706, an ordinance approving two greenway conservation easements between the Metropolitan Government and Rogers Group for greenway improvements. An amendment was filed to include a second legal description that had been omitted from the first package; the committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended by voice vote.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript:
- Consent agenda: passed (voice vote: \"Aye\" recorded; numeric tally not recorded)
- Substitute to BL2025-688: passed 4–2–1 (one present not voting)
- BL2025-688 as substituted: passed 4–2–1 (one present not voting)
- Amendment to BL2025-706: passed (voice vote; numeric tally not recorded)
- BL2025-706 as amended: passed (voice vote; numeric tally not recorded)

Ending: Committee adjourned after the final vote.
","The Arts, Parks, Libraries & Entertainment Committee approved a substitute to restructure the Music, Entertainment and Film Commission, passed a greenway conservation easement ordinance with an amendment, and approved four consent resolutions accepting grants and agreements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council committee adopts substitute for Music, Entertainment and Film Commission after heated debate over hiring authority

Nashville Municipal Auditorium seeks $4 million roof and operations increases as events surge

Votes at a glance: committee approves commission restructure, greenway easement and four consent resolutions