1. Family Feud: Nashville vs. Branson: Competing Music Tourism Strategies

2. Preparation Read: George Carney’s article “Branson: The New Country Music Mecca”. Read: George Carney’s article “Branson: The New Country Music Mecca”. Access blank outline from internet. Access blank outline from internet. Take today’s quiz on-line. Take today’s quiz on-line.

3. Tourism Infrastructure What is infrastructure? What is infrastructure? What types of industry does the infrastructure of Salem or Massachusetts support or invite? What types of industry does the infrastructure of Salem or Massachusetts support or invite? High-Tech? High-Tech? Manufacturing? Manufacturing? What types of tourism? What types of tourism?

4. Branson’s Tourism Infrastructure

5. Nashville’s Tourism Infrastructure

6. Carney’s Four Factors Contributing Branson’s Success Cost (time and effort) reduction in touring Cost (time and effort) reduction in touring Audience type Audience type Lifestyle Lifestyle Money Money

7. Brief History of Branson Three Stages of Development Three Stages of Development Locals OnlyLocals Only Old-Timers – 1980sOld-Timers – 1980s New Country – 1990sNew Country – 1990s

8. Nashville’s Rise Why Nashville? Why Nashville? WMS, Roy AcuffWMS, Roy Acuff GeographyGeography Fan Orientation Fan Orientation Past and presentPast and present Grand Ol’ Opry Grand Ol’ Opry Past and presentPast and present

9. Grand Ol’ Opry (Past) Insert figure Insert figure

10. Grand Ol’ Opry (Present)

11. Branson Cost effectiveness of visits for tourists Cost effectiveness of visits for tourists

12. Agglomeration Branson uses economies of agglomeration effectively to reduce the costs for tourists and theater operators. Branson uses economies of agglomeration effectively to reduce the costs for tourists and theater operators. Car dealerships use the same strategy. Car dealerships use the same strategy. Recently Branson has been afflicted with diseconomies of agglomeration and scale. Recently Branson has been afflicted with diseconomies of agglomeration and scale.

13. Threshold and Range Threshold refers to ________ Threshold refers to ________ What’s the threshold for a Wal-Mart? What’s the threshold for a Wal-Mart? Range refers to _____ Range refers to _____ What’s the range of a hardware store? What’s the range of a hardware store?

14. Intervening Opportunity What is an intervening opportunity? What is an intervening opportunity? How does this concept apply in the context of Nashville vs. Branson? How does this concept apply in the context of Nashville vs. Branson? That and the threshold was probably too small. That and the threshold was probably too small.

15. Battle of Place Imagery What is the main theme of the place imagery presented by Branson? What is the main theme of the place imagery presented by Branson? What advantages does Branson have over Nashville in terms of place imagery? What advantages does Branson have over Nashville in terms of place imagery? How does Nashville try to counter? How does Nashville try to counter? What can Nashville offer in terms of place imagery that Branson can’t? What can Nashville offer in terms of place imagery that Branson can’t?

16. Welcome to Branson Figure Figure

17. Welcome to Nashville

22. Niche Marketing Refers to the specialized targeting of certain groups by businesses. Refers to the specialized targeting of certain groups by businesses. What groups would the Branson theater owners target? What groups would the Branson theater owners target? What about Nashville? What about Nashville?

23. Understanding Your Product What sort of changes did country music undergo during the period before and during the emergence of Branson as a competitor for country music tourists? What sort of changes did country music undergo during the period before and during the emergence of Branson as a competitor for country music tourists? Waylon and Willie? Waylon and Willie? Lukenbach, Texas? Lukenbach, Texas? “Let’s go sell your diamond ring and buy some boots and faded jeans and go away. We’ve been so busy keepin’ up with the Jones’, four car garage and we’re still buildin’ on…“Let’s go sell your diamond ring and buy some boots and faded jeans and go away. We’ve been so busy keepin’ up with the Jones’, four car garage and we’re still buildin’ on…

24. Politics of Country Music How would characterize the politics of country music? How would characterize the politics of country music? What other “political” stances might also be worthy of consideration? What other “political” stances might also be worthy of consideration? Roger Miller quote: Roger Miller quote: What music genres are opposite country in terms of politics? What music genres are opposite country in terms of politics? How might these alternative political stances affect the prospects for music- based tourism? How might these alternative political stances affect the prospects for music- based tourism?

25. Are there other country music Meccas? Have they been able to cash in? Have they been able to cash in? What are some of the characteristics of potential competitors to Branson and Nashville? What are some of the characteristics of potential competitors to Branson and Nashville? What spatial conditions might be worth considering if a city were to market itself as another country music destination? What spatial conditions might be worth considering if a city were to market itself as another country music destination?