Music City Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Enhance the music environment of Nashville and lessen the burden on government by producing music related events and other related services for the general public, and providing event related supplies and services to the Metro Government of Nashville.
- Income
- $11.1 million
- Spending
- $11.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 88%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $819,761, board member/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 77% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (7)
- $6.5 million spent. Produced the annual public New Year's Eve event - Nashville's Big Bash, providing free live music and fireworks for the general public to bring the city together and celebrate the transition into the new year.
- $3.9 million spent. Produced the annual free public July 4th concert and fireworks display on behalf of the city of Nashville at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville.
- $284,372 spent. On behalf of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville, produced multiple live music entertainment events that were free and open to the public to bring together the citizens of the city to celebrate the South Eastern Conference men's basketball tournament that was being held in Nashville.
- $202,757 spent. Provided physical site maintenance and new induction ceremonies for the Music City Walk of Fame, which memorializes and celebrates individuals and groups that have made a significant impact on the music industry and culture of the city.
- $2,652 spent. Provided communications services and other event production assistance to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville.
- $21,444 spent. Provided funding support to restore and maintain the historic building currently housing the Pride of TN Elks Lodge. The building was the former home to Club Baron, a prominent music venue during the mid-20th century where many future minority musical superstars performed early in their careers along the famous "Chitlin Circuit."
- $13,000 spent. In partnership with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.'s Dine Nashville program, the organization provided grant funding to two local charities whose focus is on providing support to employees in the hospitality industry who are undergoing financial hardship. The employees form the backbone of the 2nd largest industry in Nashville.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2006.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.