State Lawmakers Looking to Lure More Music Business
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives has set up a committee to look into bringing more music to Georgia, and the hope is that jobs will follow.
It seems only natural to State Rep. Ben Harbin (R-Evans), as Georgia has a rich musical history and thriving music culture. So Harbin spurred the creation of the new House Music Industry Study Committee during the 2013 legislative session and now serves as its chair.
“We’ve got the film industry: we’re third in the country in filming for movies,” says Harbin. “But a lot of the soundtracks and the music that is in those movies is being produced in Los Angeles. So there’s an opportunity here, and we think that it’s something we think we can turn into jobs.”
The committee is looking toward creating permanent jobs which means focusing on music production and music tourism.
Georgia’s burgeoning film business is thanks, in large part, to generous state tax credits. Harbin says he does not know yet whether that will be the carrot to lure more music business here.
“If we do go down the tax incentive route, we’ve got to know what those costs are up front,” says Harbin. “And it it’s too much, we may decide there are other things we can do in the short term to bring the jobs in. Then that’s something we may look at down the road.”
Harbin says the committee plans to meet for the first time this summer.
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