Music City Center

You are standing in the Music City Center, which is appropriately named because it’s at the center of Music City. This huge building was finished in 2013, and it cost a lot of money—$623 million to be exact. It was built because companies and organizations wanted to hold conventions in Nashville, and what better place to hold a convention—but there wasn’t a building big enough. This building can hold up to 70,000 people and has a green garden roof that covers four acres. The Grand Ballroom was built to look like a guitar—which is totally appropriate. Inside are 100 pieces of art and displays.

All around the Music City Center are sites connected to our musical past and present, including the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, the Bridgestone Arena, the Music City Walk of Fame Park, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and Broadway’s “Honky Tonk Row.”

On the first floor of the Music City Center is the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery. Each year a new class is inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the gallery exhibit features interactive digital touch screens that allow visitors to access songs, videos, lyrics, images, and other information about the history of Nashville songs and songwriters. When you visit the Songwriters Hall of Fame, you can rock in the rocking chairs as you listen to hit songs and the artists who recorded them. Complimentary tours of Music City Center are offered twice a week and last approximately one hour. See the information desk for details.

Now as you leave the Music City Center you’ll see a sign for a street that begins with the letter “D.” If you pronounce it “Demon—brew-in” folks in Nashville will know you’re from out of town. Here it’s pronounced Demonbreun and it’s named after one of the early settlers of Nashville. Walk out the Demonbreun Street exit, down the steps and towards the Country Music Hall of Fame®. Notice the names of songs and legends on the steps. If you want to know more about the Music City Center you can take the Broadway Architecture or Family Fun tours.

As you walk down Demonbreun Street toward the river, you’ll see our next stop, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, two blocks down on your right. On your left is the Music City Walk of Fame, which will be the last stop on our tour.