Atlanta – Georgia’s music industry advocates attended this year’s convention session. Optimistic lawmakers will renew state tax incentives to lure in music producers and create state offices dedicated to promoting the industry.
But after one commission hearing, nothing happened. The House Creative Arts & Entertainment Commission has approved a bill to establish a statewide music office. But while the tax incentives bill didn’t even get a committee vote, it didn’t make it to the House of Representatives.
“Nobody wanted to talk about the tax credit,” said Rep. R-Dalton Casey Carpenter, the main sponsor of the tax incentives bill.
Both bills are the result of a joint House and Senate study committee that met last year to find ways to grow Georgia’s music industry.
The commission recommended that lawmakers update existing music industry tax credits. This was due to expire at the end of the year. At 30% to 35% of the cost of producing music, he lowers the spending threshold required for a live show or music recording producer. To qualify for tax credits.
The commission also created a separate statewide music office from the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Office of Film, Music, and Entertainment after hearing testimony from members about the success of state music offices in Texas. I proposed to
The film station has had great success making Georgia a major hub for film and television production, but not so much in the music industry, according to Georgia Music, the state’s leading music industry advocacy group.・Mala Sharma, President of Partners, said. .
“We lost billions by allowing other states to take our studios and artists,” she said.
At a Creative Arts and Entertainment Committee hearing in February, Rep. Tyler Paul Smith of R-Bremen said that if Georgia is to make the most of its rich musical history, an independent music agency is needed. said to be essential.
“House Bill 549 will help Georgia’s music industry grow, thrive, and compete with music states such as California, Texas, Tennessee, and New York by establishing a single central point of contact for music in the state. We will provide it,” said Smith, the bill’s main sponsor.
But in an April 25 interview, Smith told Capitol Beat that his bills were hit by headwinds.
“There have been some discussions that this would have already been covered in the film. [office],” He said.
“I hope we can have a conversation [before the 2024 session] Because what they did in Texas shows that the model works,” Carpenter added.
Meanwhile, Carpenter’s tax benefit bill – House Bill 393 – fell victim to poor timing. Lawmakers were in no mood to consider tax credit legislation during this year’s session, as the newly formed legislative commission is about to embark on a cost-benefit review of all state tax credits on the books.
Sharma said her group will work to build support for the law next year.
“We have to invest in music alongside movies and digital entertainment,” she said. “Music is economic development.”
