The trip to CMA Fest has previously been funded by Destination NSW, but the funding was not forthcoming this year, so the costs will come from money still in the Tamworth Country Music Festival budget from this year’s festival.

If the trip goes ahead, TRC business and community director John Sommerlad will travel to Nashville on June 3 and return on June 17.

Mr Sommerlad said the value of the visit to Tamworth warranted the visits to continue.

The report states that the visit is to promote the festival to an international audience at the largest country music festival in the world. 

Mr Sommerlad said he would also attend a number of meetings about the further development of Tamworth’s country music brand and economic development initiatives. 

“In the past, we have had a very heavy schedule of meetings in economic and business development  space, and some of these things are now reflected in our economic development strategy,” he said.

“We have recommended one person goes to continue development and knowledge base in these areas so we can come back with ideas that we can use to build our music brand and economic development push.”

As well as being known for music, Nashville was also one of the fastest growing cities in the south, so there was more to learn than simply raising the flag and promoting the festival.

If approved, the trip would include a stand at Fan Fair X, with 85 per cent of the cost was covering the hire of the stand and producing collateral” to accompany that.

Mr Sommerlad would be home hosted by a sister city representative, so there would be no accommodation. costs involved in the trip.

The report will be discussed at tonight’s council meeting.