John Rich warns soaring taxes could dim Nashville's Broadway neon and shut venues

In a Facebook video, John Rich warned that Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway could soon lose its neon-lit character as businesses grapple with sharply higher property taxes. He explained that a 2025 county reappraisal raised assessed values, after which the Metro Council approved an urban services tax rate 26% above the certified neutral level, leading to steep hikes especially on Broadway where some properties saw 400% valuation jumps.

Rich pointed to recent closures, such as Nashville Underground, and the looming threat to Acme Feed & Seed, whose tax bill jumped from $129,000 to nearly $600,000. He criticized Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s response and urged the governor, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson to intervene, even suggesting a special legislative session. The singer emphasized that the tax pressure endangers the live-music ecosystem that defines Nashville’s “Music City” identity, especially with the 2030 Super Bowl on the horizon.