Birthplace of Country Music Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC SEEKS TO PERPETUATE, PROMOTE, AND CELEBRATE BRISTOLS RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE; TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE REGARDING THE HISTORY, IMPACT AND LEGACY OF THE 1927 BRISTOL SESSIONS; AND TO CREATE RECOGNITION, OPPORTUNITIES, AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES. HERITAGE, IMPACT AND LEGACY OF THE 1927 BRISTOL SESSIONS; AND TO CREATE RECOGNITION, OPPORTUNITIES, AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $4.1 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 77%
- Employees
- 27
- Volunteers
- 740
- Highest pay
- $53,045, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 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
10 of 10Gave 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
- $2.0 million spent. THE BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC THROUGH ITS MUSEUM LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN BRISTOL VA, SEEKS TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY, IMPACT, AND LEGACY OF THE 1927 BRISTOL SESSIONS - ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL COMMERCIAL RECORDING SESSIONS IN AMERICAN MUSIC HISTORY - THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, ENGAGING, AND FUN EXPERIENCES IN OUR INTERACTIVE MUSEUM. THE 1927 SESSIONS WERE RECORDED IN BRISTOL, AND IS RECOGNIZED BY CONGRESS AND THE SENATE AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF COUNTRY MUSIC. OUR MUSEUM CELEBRATES, AND EDUCATES THIS HISTORY.
- $1.8 million spent. THE BRISTOL RHYTHM & ROOTS REUNION MUSIC FESTIVAL IS PRODUCED TO PROMOTE AND CELEBRATE BRISTOLS MUSIC HERITAGE, ENTERTAIN AND DELIGHT THOSE ATTENDING, AND BRING RECOGNITION AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO BCM AND TO OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES.
- $453,638 spent. RADIO BRISTOL EXISTS TO EDUCATE AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE REGARDING BRISTOLS RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE, TO PROMOTE BRISTOL AND THE MUSEUM, AND THE ACTIVITIES AND ELEMENTS OF BCM OF WHICH WE ARE A PART; TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR REGIONAL AND UNDER-REPRESENTED ARTISTS; AND TO ENTERTAIN OUR LISTENERS, LIVE AUDIENCES, AND VISITORS WITH QUALITY ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.
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 March 1996.
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.