Approximately 100 enthusiastic Music Row supporters gathered at a public meeting hosted by the National Trust and the Music Industry Coalition on April 2 to learn more about historic research study that will tell Music Row’s story and guide plans for its future.

The National Trust will lead the study, working with local partners, government agencies and preservation consultants, to create a comprehensive Multiple Property Documentation Form that will allow for individual properties to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The project will also collect oral histories from artists, musicians, songwriters, publicists, publishers and others about their memories and experiences on Music Row.

The final historical document will create a master inventory of historic music-related properties and will provide the foundation for a new Music Row Design Plan. The National Trust will work with the Metro Planning Department and other partners in the coming months to create the plan which will guide Music Row’s future development.

The evening concluded with an outpouring of offers from supporters volunteering to help with research, to provide historical information and to participate in the oral history collection.

Speakers at the meeting included Carolyn Brackett and Alicia Leuba (pictured) with the National Trust; Mike Kopp, chair of Music Industry Coalition; John Dotson, vice chair of the Music Industry Coalition and founder of the newly formed Music Row Neighborhood Association; Tim Walker, Metro Nashville Historical Commission executive director and Doug Sloan, Metro Planning Department deputy director.

Carolyn Brackett was interviewed by Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 on the spate of recent demolitions and the importance of saving Music Row.