title
An ordinance amending Chapter 2.147 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws relative to the Nashville Entertainment Commission.
body
WHEREAS, the Office of Music, Film and Entertainment (“Office of Entertainment”) was created in 2022, and the Music, Film and Entertainment Commission (“the Commission”) was created in 2023 to address the growing creative needs in Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Commission suggested additional recommendations to improve its operations and asked for amendments to Substitute Ordinance No. BL2022-1631 to streamline the processes and the efficacy of both entities to maintain future consistency for the office and personnel; and
WHEREAS, the suggested recommendations were sent to a mayoral working group, and without informing the Commission, the working group made commission structure recommendations that were not in line with the original function and purpose of the Commission, including transferring control of the hiring process of the executive director from the Commission to the Mayor’s Office; and
WHEREAS, in order to move the commission’s work forward, a compromise was agreed to where the Office of Entertainment was removed from the Mayor’s Office and the commission would collaborate with the Department of Human Resources to interview, select, and send the candidates to the Mayor to interview and hire; and,
WHEREAS, in February of 2026, the hiring process was finally completed and yielded two candidates sent to the Mayor to interview and hire. However, after completing the interviews, the Mayor defunded the Nashville Office of Entertainment in his recommended operating budget instead of announcing its new executive director; and
WHEREAS, the Commission and the Office of Entertainment have been repeatedly devalued by this mayoral administration over the last three years and deserve to be able to complete the functions intended without impediment. These commissioners are the experts in their field, not the Mayor’s Office; and
WHEREAS, there is a candidate ready to begin this position as a result of the recent hiring process, and the commission could make the announcement immediately once the office is funded; and
WHEREAS, this office was never intended to be controlled by any mayoral administration because the issues that are occurring now and that have occurred in past attempts always led to failure; and
WHEREAS, in order to be successful, this office needs to live outside of the Mayor’s Office so that the commission and our commissioners can thrive as intended. There are no staffing issues as the re-funded budget of $300,000 will cover the cost of the executive director, one coordinator and other priorities needed to open the office.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Section 2.147.050.C of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it as follows:
C. Recruit and hire the executive director who shall serve as the executive director of the commission and of the office of entertainment.
Section 2. That Section 2.147.065 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws is hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it as follows:
2.147.065 - Staffing.
The work of the commission and of the office of entertainment shall be managed by an executive director. The executive director of the commission shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the commission. The commission will work in conjunction with the department of human resources on application and selection process. The commission will conduct interviews for the hiring of an executive director.
Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance amends Chapter 2.147 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws regarding the Nashville Entertainment Commission (“the Commission”).
The bill would change the organization of the Nashville Entertainment Commission and the selection of its executive director. Current law provides for the Mayor to hire the executive director from a set of candidates recommended by the Commission. The Commission has the explicit duty to select candidates for executive director to be presented to the mayor and may work with the Department of Human Resources to assist with candidate recruitment. The executive director and any staff would be organized with the Commission.
The ordinance would provide for the executive director to be appointed Commission with no input from the Mayor. The Commission would have the duty to recruit and hire the executive director. The commission would work with the Department of Human Resources on application and selection process. The commission will conduct interviews for the hiring of an executive director.
Provisions of this bill directly conflict with Ordinance No. BL2026-1432, which is also on second reading at the July 7, 2026, meeting. Ordinance No. BL2026-1431 would allow the Mayor to hire the executive director with consultation from the Commission and provide that the executive director and any staff be housed with the Mayor’s Office. Ordinance No. BL2026-1432 would allow the Commission to hire the executive director and organize the executive director and staff under them.
Substitute Ordinance No. BL2026-1377, the Chair’s Substitute Operating Budget, allocated $300,000 for “Music and Entertainment Economic Development and Film Initiatives.” The Director of Finance is authorized to allocate and transfer the appropriation once a law that “modifies the organizational placement of the Nashville Office of Entertainment” is enacted.