The only way to visit Music Row's famous RCA Studio B, where Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and Hank Snow once recorded, is to buy your ticket at the Country Music Hall of Fame (i.e. the museum's box office) and either walk or hop on the guided tour bus. The visit takes about an hour and is an additional fee, but comes as part of a package with admission to the Hall of Fame.

RCA Studio B became famous in the 1960s for being a part of what many refer to as the Nashville Sound. According to Chet Atkins, plans for it were drawn up on a napkin by Bill Miltenburg, RCA's chief engineer and recording manager. The area of the studio and control room has a 2nd story containing an echo chamber; also, an addition was built to provide office space and rooms for tape and lacquer mastering. In 1977, the "B" was made available to the Country Music Hall of Fame for tours, and in 1992 it was donated to the same by the late Dan Maddox. Until 2001, it was operated as an individual attraction when the new home for the Hall of Fame was built in downtown Nashville.

Why You Should Visit:
This is a really cool guided tour (about as good as it gets) you can add on to your visit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
See the piano that Elvis recorded on, and antique recording equipment... all having an unique aura about them.
Obviously, you can also learn the process of recording live music and producing records.

Tip:
Tours sell out quickly so make an online reservation early or go first thing in the morning to get a tour time.
Remember to use the facilities inside the Country Music Hall of Fame because you won't find a bathroom at the studio.

Tour Hours:
Daily: 10:30am–2:30pm
Tours depart hourly from the Country Music Hall of Fame

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed. In 2009, BMI collected over $905 million in licensing fees and distributed $788 million in royalties. BMI songwriters create all forms of music in all genres, from mainstream pop and country, to death metal. In the 1930s, radio was coming to prominence as a source of musical entertainment that threatened to weaken record sales and opportunities for "live" acts. The Great Depression was already draining artist revenues from recordings and live performances.

In 1939, ASCAP announced a substantial increase in the revenue share licensees would be required to pay. BMI was founded by the National Association of Broadcasters to provide a lower-cost alternative to ASCAP. As such, BMI created competition in the field of performing rights, providing an alternative source of licensing for all music users. Competing against the strongly established ASCAP, BMI sought out artists that ASCAP tended to overlook or ignore. BMI also purchased the rights to numerous catalogs held by independent publishers or whose ASCAP contracts were about to expire. Also during this time, BMI expanded its repertoire of classical music, and now represents the majority of the members of the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Letters and the winners of 30 Pulitzer Prizes for Music.

Quite the historic (and beautiful) neighborhood, Music Row is also, arguably, among the most famous places in Nashville, if not the entire state of Tennessee. There's not that much to do, per se, on a visit, but well worth a walk to see where the magic happens, as the mix of old restored homes and modern buildings house the majority of the entire country music industry. Many a brave soul tested their luck and abilities here in various forms; some have succeeded, but many have not. It's still one of the best areas in town for spotting those in the former category, so keep your eyes peeled.

Take a few pictures with the guitars and the big microphone, then proceed to check out the variety of entertainment industry ventures – from law firms to music publishers to record labels and studios to marketing and management firms, performing rights organizations, and even companies that press CDs. If it pertains to music, you'll probably find it here.

The apex of the two streets that compose Music Row funnels into Demonbreun, which is a popular spot to eat (and drink) for industry workers and those who want to party more like a local than a tourist.

If you buy only one souvenir while in Nashville, consider doing it here. A historic landmark, Hatch Show Print do all of the show posters for the Grand Ole Opry and are the oldest letterpress poster print shop in the U.S., having been founded in the mid-1800s and now owned by the corporation that runs the Country Music Hall of Fame and the historic RCA Studio B.

Work is still being done in the way it has since the company began – by typesetting each plate and hand-printing each poster, one color at a time. Letterpress printing is how the Gutenberg Bibles were put together, too, but the eye-catching materials produced by Hatch Show have become collectible pieces of art. Reprints of old circus and vaudeville posters, as well as those advertising the Grand Ole Opry, are among the most popular. Search the walls for your favorite artists!

Tip:
Call ahead if interested in a tour or class; you may luck out in terms of timing. Or if you're in the market for actual art, visit the Hatch Gallery across the hall and see large-scale works, as well as art from various affiliated artists.

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9:30am–5pm

Across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, you can experience another of the popular tourist attractions in Nashville, established in 2006 to honor significant contributors the city's musical heritage and significant achievements in the music industry. Each honoree is commemorated with a large stainless steel and terrazzo star embedded in the sidewalk in Walk of Fame Park, which is located between the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Arena and Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Honorees are inducted twice annually, in the spring and fall. The first inductees were Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap, Kenneth Schermerhorn, The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, and Roy Orbison. Look for your favorites, from Kris Kristofferson to Loretta Lynn to Johnny Cash to Elvis Presley to Hank Williams to Eddy Arnold to Little Jimmy Dickens to Ernest Tubb to Kenny Rogers. The walk is free and brings back a lot of memories.

Nashville's most famous music venue, the 3,000-seat Ryman Auditorium was Architectural Digest's "most iconic structure in Tennessee" (2018) as well as being designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001. Known as the "Mother Church of Country Music" since the days of the Grand Ole Opry, the historic venue continues to book some of the best live acts in town, from just about every genre – rock, country, classical, plus comedy and more. Its hall has been praised for among the best acoustics in the world, and musicians love to show that off, often playing a number or two without a mic.

The extensive exhibits inside include photos and memorabilia of such stars as Kitty Wells, Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow, while some of the interactive videos are narrated by Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, and Little Jimmy Dickens. Among the other attractions are life-size bronze statues of Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff; a 100-seat theater experience called Soul of Nashville; and a gift shop with a selection of recordings and souvenir merchandise.

Why You Should Visit:
Fantastic acoustics, historic site and a cozy/intimate setting. No matter who you see here, you'll have a great time.
There are numerous autographed show posters on the top floor as well as costumes and props on the main level.

Tip:
There are two options on tours; self-guided and guided. With the former you can roam about the amphitheater and balcony levels, enjoying the many displays on the auditorium, its history, and the many diverse artists and orators who have visited the stage. If you're really into it, buy the (extra-cost) guided backstage tour tickets, and the guide will take you backstage through many of the dressing rooms, with history about the place and the artists included. Ending up at the side of the stage at the control area where you can grab a pic looking out into the bowl, you are then free to roam around the rest of the place with the other visitors. Pictures are allowed everywhere except in the dressing rooms on the backstage tour.

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am–4pm

It may be known locally as honky-tonk, and it may be used as a noun (a bar that plays Western swing, where people dance), a verb (dancing to Western swing), or an adjective (a descriptor of the type of music), but one thing is for sure: in Nashville the honky-tonk music scene is as it ever was, alive and booming, allowing you to watch some great bands and singers.

The main strip of honky-tonks is found along Lower Broadway in the heart of downtown, which means you can easily hop around from one to another. They play a specific strain of country and western swing music, with a live band. Small or large, these venues all have some empty space to cut the rug because dancing is an essential part of Nashville honky-tonk.

The best places to go honky-tonking include the multi-level Tootsie's Orchid Lounge (with a nice rooftop bar on top), the cozy and not too crowded Layla's or Legends Corner, and Robert's Western World, whose house band is amazing. Most of these establishments are open to all ages during the day, but convert to 21 and up after 6pm. They typically don't have a cover charge, though when the cowboy hat is passed for the band, don't forget to drop a few dollars in.

Tip:
Also on Lower Broadway are the Bridgestone Arena and the Nashville Convention Center, while the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are both within one block away.

Exit/In is a music venue located on Elliston Place near Centennial Park and Vanderbilt University. It opened in 1971 under the management of Owsley Manier and Brugh Reynolds. As a small venue seating 200 or so, it developed its unique reputation in the 1970s because of the unusual things that occurred on an almost nightly basis. The club was expanded in the early 80's to accommodate 500 patrons. The long list of musicians and entertainers that have performed there include The Police, Talking Heads, The Black Crowes, R.E.M., The B-52's, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Steve Martin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chick Corea, Elvis Costello, Muddy Waters, McCoy Tyner, Linda Ronstadt, The Allman Brothers Band and many others. Several documentaries have been shot on the inside of Exit/In, and many artists, including Kelly Pickler, have used the space to shoot music videos.

The club is featured in the 1975 Robert Altman film, Nashville. The club was also featured in Steve Martin's Born Standing Up. On the cover of The Police's Zenyatta Mondatta album, Sting can be seen in one of the small photos wearing an Exit/In t-shirt.

Vanderbilt University, or Vandy, is a private research university located in Nashville. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the South. The Commodore hoped that his gift and the greater work of the university would help to heal the sectional wounds inflicted by the Civil War.

Today Vanderbilt enrolls approximately 12,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and over 90 foreign countries in four undergraduate and six graduate and professional schools. Several research centers and institutes are affiliated with the university, including the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies, Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, Dyer Observatory, and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the only Level I trauma center in Middle Tennessee. With the exception of the off-campus observatory and satellite medical clinics, all of university's facilities are situated on its 330-acre (1.3 km2) campus in the heart of Nashville, only 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from downtown. Despite its urban surroundings, the campus itself is a national arboretum and features over 300 different species of trees and shrubs.

Notable alumni and affiliates include two Vice Presidents of the United States, 25 Rhodes Scholars, seven Nobel Prize laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and Academy Award winners.

Belmont University is the largest Christian university in Tennessee and the second largest private university in the state, behind nearby Vanderbilt University. Belmont University offers 7 bachelor’s degrees in over 75 academic majors in 6 colleges and 1 school along with 20 master’s and 4 doctoral programs. Belmont and HCA created a health sciences consortium with local universities to alleviate the shortage of nurses and health care professionals in the local community, and provides students with shared office space and mentoring from faculty, local entrepreneurs and attorneys.

New Century Journalism students have gained work experience at The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Daily Show, CBS Evening News, and British Broadcasting Corp. Belmont is home to the only AACSB International accredited Music Business program in the world. In June 2006, Belmont opened the new $18 million Gordon E. Inman Center that now houses the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing. A state-of-the-art facility, which was financed primarily by Nashville businessman Gordon E. Inman and the HCA TriStar Health System, the building has three stories of classroom space that contain learning labs equipped with Sim Man mannequins that respond to the actions of the nursing students. Belmont also houses the Curb Event Center, a 5000-seat multi-purpose arena, which is used for basketball games, concerts, and other events like the 2006, 2007 and 2008 CMT Awards, and the 2008 Presidential Debate.

The Bluebird Café is a 90-seat music club that opened in 1982. The club features acoustic music performed by its composers. Some performers are established singer/songwriters, and others perform songs written by other artists. The Bluebird receives over 70,000 visitors annually. The restaurant has been featured as a location on ABC's drama Nashville.