Bristol, Va.-Tenn. (Feb. 23, 2023) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM), the parent nonprofit of the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and WBCM Radio Bristol in Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee, is currently accepting requests for proposals (RFPs) from talent buyers for its annual festival.
Established in 2001, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion is held over three days in Historic Downtown Bristol the second weekend of each year, encompassing several blocks along the state line of Virginia and Tennessee. The event celebrates the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions recordings, which earned the twin cities designation as the “birthplace of country music” by U.S. Congress.
For more than two decades the festival has celebrated the music heritage of the region and the integral role that Bristol played in the development of the country music industry we know today. The multi award-winning event attracts an average of 40,000 music fans to the twin cities and is widely considered one of the premier music festivals in the Southeast. An independent study in 2015 revealed the event garnered $16.1 million in economic impact for the region as a whole.
Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion honors the past, present and future of music inspired by the 1927 Bristol Sessions through a variety of genres – from traditional old-time, bluegrass, blues, country Americana, and folk, to Celtic and Piedmont blues. Rockabilly, alt-country, indie and alternative rock are also on the roster, as the 1927 Bristol Sessions inspired the roots and branches of all types of music.
BCM is looking for a talent buyer who will work with our volunteer music committee for its 2024 festival lineup. Applicants should have a passion for music and a deep understanding of the festival landscape; possess a team that will use its experience to build the best and most diverse lineup possible for Bristol and make the festival an unforgettable experience for everyone who attends. One must also be able to work within a budget, discreetly and professionally negotiate deals with artists and their agents, and have experience working with a variety of genres that appeal to a broad range of music fans.
The RFP will be open for questions and clarifications until March 20, 2023. Interested parties can find the RFP on the Birthplace of Country Music website at https://birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/about/rfps-open/. Proposals will be accepted until April 17, 2023, at which time BCM will begin the process of interviewing and selecting a talent buyer.
Applicants should submit their RFPs to BCM at bids@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org. BCM is exercising the RFP process in compliance with its procurement policy.
For more information about BCM and Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, visit BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.