SB396 & HB549 Georgia Music Office Bill

GEORGIA STATE-WIDE MUSIC OFFICE

AN ACT

To amend Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to enact the "Georgia State-wide Music Office Act"; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to create the Georgia State-wide Music Office; to provide for administration of the office; to provide for duties of the office; to create the Georgia Music Advisory Council; to provide for membership, terms, and filling of vacancies; to provide for administration of the council; to provide for duties of the council; to provide for the adoption and promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for appropriations contingency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes

Both bills are bipartisan. SB396 was introduced on 1/24/24 to establish a Statewide Music Office. HB549 bill was introduced last session, but didn’t make it to the floor for a vote. States such as Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas have all seen growth in both investments and jobs through the work of their music offices.

Over the past year we have had more support and strategy around music education, tourism, and music festivals in several Georgia cities such as Athens, Augusta, Blue Ridge, Braselton, Columbus, Macon, and Savannah.

Lamb Management & Consulting is in full support of this bill.

GA HB 549 - The Georgia Statewide Music Office Act

AN ACT To amend Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to enact the "Georgia State-wide Music Office Act"; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to create the Georgia State-wide Music Office; to provide for administration of the office; to provide for duties of the office; to create the Georgia Music Advisory Council; to provide for membership, terms, and filling of vacancies; to provide for administration of the council; to provide for duties of the council; to provide for the adoption and promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for appropriations contingency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 549 is one of two bills that were the product of a joint House-Senate study committee that met to look for ways to grow Georgia’s music industry.

The committee suggested creating a statewide music office totally separate from the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Film, Music, and Entertainment office, after hearing testimonies on the success of music offices in other state, like Texas.

The Film and Entertainment office has been extremely successful for TV and film productions here in Georgia, but not so much for the music industry. As a result, Georgia is losing a lot of money by losing artis, studios, and record labels to other states. We really need to have one central office dedicated to music only in our state.

Georgia Lawmakers discussing tax incentives for music industry

by: Archith Seshadri

Posted: Feb 8, 2023 /Updated: Feb 8, 2023

ATLANTA (WSAV) — State lawmakers say they had a joint study committee with the house and senate around the state including Macon, Athens and Atlanta to hear from organizations and agencies about the music industry.

“The same way we are Hollywood of the South we have to better as far as music is concerned.  We see that kind of credit helps those type of industries,” said State Sen. Harold Jones (D-Augusta)

Governor Kemp says – for the fiscal year 2022 – Georgia saw a record-breaking $4.4 billion being spent in the entertainment industry with more than 400 productions filmed here.

State Rep. Dexter Sharper (D-Valdosta) said, “When you have music, you have scores. We want to incentivize people all across the country to come to Georgia. Specifically scores for music it takes a larger venue for when they are practicing for theater.”

State Rep. Teri Anulewicz (D-Smyrna) says its time to talk about giving the music industry the same tax credits as the film industry. 

I think it only makes sense that we have a serious conversation about the same tax credits that the film industry gets to the music industry,”  The music industry is the foundation of Georgia’s creative arts. Music has so much history and it’s important that those discussions on how to support the music industry.”

Lawmakers say better tax incentives for the music industry could create more jobs and prevent studios and record labels from venturing to other states.

“They can see the film credits work. They can see the music credits work. You are competing against states and will lose the industry,” said State Sen. Jones. 

State Rep. Anulewicz says it’s important to consider Georgia’s music history. 

“Some of the stadium filling bands come to mind and a lot of music history and heritage came out of Georgia.

Today marked day 15 of the 40 day legislative session under the gold dome with lawmakers expected to wrap up on March 29 and ratify a state budget with a bulk of the money allocated towards education, healthcare and public safety.

GA HB 508 - Commercial recordings; musical performances; audiovisual works; and provides consumer and artist protection.

Georgia HB 508 - A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide protections for commercial recordings, musical performances, and audiovisual works; to prohibit the deceptive practice of musical performance groups advertising and appearing as the recording group without the recording group's permission or denoting that it is a salute or tribute performance; to provide for definitions; to specify violations; to require certain websites or online services to properly identify third-party commercial recordings or audiovisual works; to provide for definitions; to provide for civil and criminal penalties and causes of action; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 508 is two bills in one as it offers protection for both consumers and the artists. This bill has passed the House and is moving to the Senate. Stay tuned for further updates.

Lamb Management & Consulting supports GA HB 508.

GA HB1330 - Georgia Music and Theatre Jobs Recovery Act

GA HB 1330 - A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits from state income tax, so as to provide that all expenditures of a production company's state certified productions may be combined to meet spending thresholds; to lower spending thresholds; to increase the value of the tax credit; to provide for transferability of the tax credit; to provide for conditions and limitations; to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Back in May 2017, Governor Deal, signed the Georgia Music Investment Act (GMIA). This bill was based on, and similar to the film industry’s tax credit bill, only this one was for the music industry only. The goal of GMIA is to encourage the growth of Georgia’s music industry, and to create and sustain job growth.

HB 1330 is an amendment bill and should hopefully bring the music tax credits offered in GMIA, in alignment with the current credits being offered to the film/TV industry. These amendments will also make Georgia more competitive with other states such as Tennessee, Maryland, New York, and Louisiana that also offer music tax credits.

HB 1330 increases the base tax credit from 15% to 30% for all three components of the bill, which are:

1) Recorded music in studios - Studio owners.

2) Tour origination and rehearsals. The goal is to attract big tours to rehearse and originate their tours here in the state. This component of HB 1330 has huge economic benefits.

3) Recorded music that is scored for film/TV, orchestras & symphonies, and video games.

Lamb Management & Consulting supports HB 1330.