Tennessee Music Scoring Incentive Program
Tennessee Entertainment Commission / Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)
Up to 25% of qualifying TN spend
TN music scoring cash grant up to 25%
Tennessee offers a cash grant of up to 25% of qualified Tennessee expenditures for production companies that record original musical scores in Tennessee — for film, television, animation, commercials, gaming, and multimedia projects. Minimum spend is $50,000 in primary markets (Nashville area) or $25,000 in secondary Tennessee markets. Eligible expenses include studio rental, musician salaries, mixing and mastering, and equipment rentals from Tennessee vendors or paid to Tennessee residents. Awards are discretionary and require a pre-production meeting with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount
- Up to 25% cash grant on qualified Tennessee music scoring expenditures. Minimum spend: $50,000 in primary markets (Nashville metropolitan area); $25,000 in secondary Tennessee markets. No stated maximum award per project.
- Realistic amount
- A $200,000 Tennessee scoring session (studio rental + musicians + post) earns approximately $50,000. Projects well above…
- Deadline
- Rolling — must meet with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission BEFORE scoring begins. Applications accepted year-round subject to available appropriation.
- Status
- active
- States
- TN
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- For-profit production companies producing original scores for film, television, animation, commercials, gaming, or multimedia projects
- Scoring must be performed by Tennessee vendors or Tennessee residents
- Minimum $50,000 in qualifying Tennessee expenditures for primary markets (Nashville area)
- Minimum $25,000 in qualifying Tennessee expenditures for secondary Tennessee markets
- Must meet with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission before scoring sessions begin
- All qualifying payments must be to Tennessee residents or Tennessee vendors for goods and services used in Tennessee
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Restricted to industry: film, television, animation, commercial, gaming, or multimedia scoring production
- Minimum project size: $25,000
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Studio rental fees and associated fixed costs (recording studio, live stage, mix room) — paid to Tennessee studios
- Artist and musician salaries — Tennessee residents performing on the recording
- Mixing and mastering — performed by Tennessee engineers at Tennessee facilities
- Instrument and equipment rentals — rented from Tennessee vendors
- Producer and engineer compensation — Tennessee residents
Ineligible expenses
- Music rights acquisition or licensing fees
- Pre-existing music (synchronization, master license costs)
- Out-of-state studio sessions, musician payments, or equipment rentals
- Marketing or distribution of the finished project
- Travel costs to bring out-of-state musicians to Tennessee (labor costs of non-Tennessee residents performing the work)
How to apply
-
1
Contact Tennessee Entertainment Commission before scoring begins
Schedule and complete a pre-scoring meeting with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission and TNECD. Present your project, scoring budget, and planned Tennessee expenditures. This meeting is a mandatory prerequisite — do not begin scoring before this step.
-
2
Execute qualifying Tennessee scoring sessions
Conduct recording sessions, mixing, and mastering in Tennessee studios with Tennessee resident musicians, engineers, and producers. Retain all invoices and contracts — all qualifying expenses must be to Tennessee vendors or residents.
-
3
Submit final cost report
After scoring is complete, compile a detailed cost report of all qualifying Tennessee expenditures. Submit to the Tennessee Entertainment Commission with supporting documentation.
-
4
Receive cash grant
TNECD reviews the cost report and issues the cash grant. Typically paid within a few months of submission. Unlike tax credits, this is a direct cash payment — no tax liability in Tennessee is required.
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 512230, 711130, 512110
Nashville's recording infrastructure makes Tennessee a natural home for any scoring project needing live orchestral or session talent. The $25K secondary-market minimum is achievable for smaller independent films. The pre-scoring meeting is easy — a 30-minute call with the TEC — but must happen before the session.
Deadline & timing
The pre-production meeting with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission is a mandatory prerequisite before scoring sessions begin. There are no fixed intake windows, but awards are subject to available state appropriation. Contact the Tennessee Entertainment Commission early in the project timeline.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.