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.