Top 10 Reasons NOT to Invest in Nashville 1. Like L.A., you’re a very small fish in a very big pond. More artists are discovered outside of Nashville, especially when you’re a big fish in a small pond. More opportunities exist outside Nashville; music, film and otherwise. 2. The average artist produces thirty times more records/published work outside Nashville. 3. Songwriting syndicates dilute your publishing rights by tethering you to several writers. 4. Engineering and musician costs are 300% cheaper outside Nashville. 5. The average gig pays 400% more outside of Nashville. 6. Most venues are “pay to play” schemes, forcing you to purchase tickets to sell in advance. 7. Showcase Schemes… when a writer or producer sell themselves through you and other artists under their umbrella via showcase and, in most cases, require you to pay for your role in the showcase. 8. The average musician plays cover music day and night in Nashville honky tonks. 9. Original artists, big and small, typically audition musicians in Nashville for touring everywhere but Nashville. It’s a farmer’s market for musicians, though more touring artists hire musicians outside Nashville. 10. Memphis and Nashville recently ranked among the highest in crime and lowest in opportunity.