Tourism commission recommends $75,000 bed‑tax grant to Arizona Music Fest

The Tourism Development Commission voted to recommend a $75,000 bed‑tax grant to Arizona Music Fest on Sept. 16, saying the seasonal concert series draws tourists to North Scottsdale and supports local vendors. Alan Napplin, executive producing director and chief executive officer of Arizona Music Fest, told commissioners the organization drew a record 50,613 concert attendees last season and that expanded marketing funded by the TDC last year helped bring more visitors to shows. “Music Fest attracted a record 50,613 concert attendees,” Napplin said in his presentation. Napplin described the festival as a 50‑concert season that runs during the city’s peak tourism months and said 23 percent of last season’s attendees were from outside Arizona, with about 6 percent from Canada. He said Music Fest books artists and their guest artists into local hotels and anticipates roughly 534 hotel room nights for guest artists this season; the organization also highlighted ancillary spending that benefits restaurants, security and staging vendors. Commissioners discussed the TDC funding criteria, including consecutive‑day requirements and worksheet limits noted by staff. A motion to award the full $75,000 requested by Music Fest was moved, seconded and carried (voice vote: all in favor). The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final approval and contract negotiation. No amendments to the requested amount were made at the meeting.