Keith Urban has written an editorial in The Tennessean speaking out on the need to preserve Nashville’s famous Music Row. The area that houses most of country music’s record labels, publishing houses and recording studios is now dotted with bulldozers and construction crews. Due to Music City’s rapid growth, developers are buying up parcels on Music Row to build condos, apartment buildings and boutique hotels. Keith is sounding the alarm to preserve Music Row’s quaint, community feel.
“Nashville’s growth is exciting, but not at the risk of losing the creative epicenter that is Music Row and that truly makes Nashville Music City,” Keith writes. “I sincerely hope that those who have made Nashville their home over the years, and those who have recently discovered our fair city, will come together as a united front and continue to be vocal about preserving and fortifying our beloved Music Row.”
Keith also writes about seeing Music Row for the first time in 1989. He says, “It was instantly magical being among rows of the most charming cottages and simple buildings that were housing the global center of country music. I knew instantly this is where I belonged, and I became a Nashville resident in 1992.”
He adds, “Music Row became my center, because Music Row IS a center.”
Keith’s editorial comes on the heels of rocker Ben Folds‘ campaign to save historic RCA Studio A from demolition. He’s rented that space for many years now, which has hosted recordings by everyone from Tony Bennett and Dolly Parton to Carrie Underwood and, yes, Keith Urban.
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