The Tennessee Entertainment Commission is a founding member of a new trade organization that launched this week to champion the power of local music scenes.

Why it matters: The group will look to emphasize the significant economic role local music scenes have in their communities.

State of play: The Association of Music Offices formally launched yesterday during the Music Biz 2026 conference in Atlanta. The group is planning to develop a data framework to quantify impact.

• Eventually they plan on creating a resource library that can help music offices around the country.

Zoom in: Nashville is an obvious example of the ways a local music industry can generate revenue and boost quality of life.

• In Tennessee, independent venues like Station Inn and 3rd & Lindsley generated $4.4 billion in total economic output and added $2.8 billion to the state GDP, according to a 2025 report.
• Musicians in Nashville have been working for years to get investments from state and local leaders in order to keep struggling independent venues and artists going.

Zoom out: The new national group wants to encourage policymakers around the country to expand those efforts.

• The 14 founding members also include organizations in Alabama, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia and Louisiana, as well as industry organizations like the Recording Academy.

Driving the news: "A lot of times it becomes our job to make decision-makers understand that so much of our industry is invisible," Reid Wick, the Recording Academy's director of regional advocacy and member engagement, told Axios.

• The average person attends a show and sees a handful of people on stage, he said, but there may be 800 people working behind the scenes.
• "It's time that we treat the music industry like any other industry," Wick said, noting that the film industry has had similar organizations for decades.

Case in point: Wick, who's based in New Orleans, said when he tells lawmakers Louisiana's music industry is worth $1.4 billion and employs more than 35,000 people, "it becomes a real industry to them."

Read the full story from Axios Huntsville

Pothole season has been busy this year.

Why it matters: The January ice storm ravaged Nashville roads, requiring waves of repairs.

By the numbers: From Jan. 1-May 8, the Nashville Department of Transportation reported filling 10,995 potholes on city roads.

• In 2025, the city filled a total of about 33,000 potholes year-round.

How to report potholes: To report interstate potholes, call the Tennessee Department of Transportation hotline at 833-TDOTFIX. If you see potholes on city streets, you can call 311 or file an online report.

If you get stuck with a flat, Axios Kansas City Reporter Travis Meier has you covered. He wrote a step-by-step guide to changing a tire, complete with photos.

• Bookmark his guide for future reference

President Trump endorsed suspension of the federal gasoline tax in an interview with CBS News yesterday.

Why it matters: It marks a reversal for the White House as Republicans face political blowback over high gasoline prices.

Driving the news: Trump backed removing the gas tax "for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we'll let it phase back in."

Between the lines: Suspending the 18.4-cent-per-gallon gas tax and 24.4-cent diesel tax would bring some relief to consumers.

• But it wouldn't come close to offsetting the price jump since the war started.

Zoom in: Gas prices in Tennessee are up $1.43 per gallon year over year, per AAA. Nashville averaged $4.25 per gallon yesterday.

By the numbers: In late April, when gasoline prices were lower but still well above $4, the Bipartisan Policy Center estimated that suspending the tax would cut retail prices by 9%-14% per gallon.

Reality check: Suspending the tax would require Congress. The White House did not say whether Trump would seek action from Capitol Hill.

How it works: Federal fuel taxes support the nation's Highway Trust Fund, the Eisenhower-era system for maintaining and expanding the nation's transport infrastructure. (The fund already spends more than taxes bring in, requiring other federal funds to compensate.)

Read the national story

🎤 Gwyneth Paltrow sang at The Station Inn last weekend while visiting Nashville for her daughter Apple's graduation from Vanderbilt University. (Tennessean)

⛽️ The popular gas station chain Wawa is preparing to open its first Tennessee locations. A Clarksville Wawa opens next month while another location in Bellevue is under construction. (WSMV)

🚕 A new state law will allow police to write tickets for Waymo robotaxis. (NewsChannel 5)

Calypso Cafe is finally returning to full power this week on Charlotte Avenue.

Why it matters: The Nashville restaurant scene can be brutal, and loads of locally owned favorites have closed in recent years. But Calypso, which opened its first location in 1989, is gaining momentum.

The latest: The long-dormant Charlotte Avenue location will reopen for dine-in service Thursday. The menu will retain its classic Caribbean flavors and healthy-choice ethos.

Catch up quick: Calypso closed its 3307 Charlotte Avenue location to the public during the pandemic. The restaurant used the space as a prep and catering kitchen for years.

• New owner David Parker has been working toward reopening in West Nashville since he took over the family business in 2025. The Charlotte Avenue location started taking take-out orders last August while staff prepared to reboot the dining room.

If you go: The newly revamped location will serve lunch, dinner and beers.

• Hours will be 11am-8:45pm Monday-Saturday.