The state of Nashville’s independent music venues

The This Is Nashville team is out for the Thanksgiving holiday. We are rebroadcasting an episode about Nashville's indie venues, which first aired in June.  Nashville’s independent music venues have long been a proving ground for up-and-coming artists. They’re also increasingly under threat as development and gentrification continue to put pressure on property values. Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom and the High Watt have closed, and Exit/In recently announced that it will close and reopen under new management after Thanksgiving.  The city is waking up to the problem. Mayor John Cooper declared the week before Memorial Day weekend to be “Music Venue Independence Week.” What makes these spaces so vital to the life and culture of Music City, and what do we risk losing if they continue to shut down — or are replaced by corporate venues? We’ll look at some of the history, the daunting circumstances of the present and what, if anything, can be done in the future to preserve this slice of Nashville’s cultural landscape. But first, WPLN health care reporter Blake Farmer has an update about the flu season. Guests: Chris Cobb, owner of Exit/In and president of Music Venue Alliance Nashville Jeff Syracuse, Metro Council member, District 15 Kathryn Edwards, co-owner of DRKMTTR and musician Mel Bryant, musician Ariel Bui, musician Previous WPLN coverage: Exit/In, Midtown music venue beloved by locals, will close Nov. 24 ‘Growth is not always progress’: What Mercy Lounge’s closure says about the health of Nashville’s independent music venues WNXP: In the Scene: On the complexities of emo nostalgia & creating a sustainable and equitable music ecosystem