As the "home of country music", Nashville has
become a major music recording and production center. All of the Big Four
record labels, as well as numerous independent labels, have offices in
Nashville, mostly in the Music Row area. Starting in 1984, Nashville has been
home to the headquarters of guitar company Gibson. Since the 1960s, Nashville
has been the second biggest music production center (after New York) in the
U.S. As of 2006, Nashville's music industry is estimated to have a total
economic impact of US$6.4 billion per year and to contribute 19,000 jobs to the
Nashville area.
