A State of Attraction

The Daily · · 7 min read

Good afternoon, everyone. Today:

  1. Tennessee turns on the Southern charm as it shoots its shot at Paramount
  2. Tales from the Westside: Busybody Barb
  3. Hundreds request their name be removed from Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway petition, citing ‘false and misleading’ claims

And much more!

Note on Upcoming Events

We're deviating from our standard third Thursday formula to accommodate Silicon Valley icon Peter Thiel's series of four lectures on the biblical Antichrist. In addition to Thiel's perspective, we're building out a calendar of auxiliary events reflecting differing perspectives on the matter.

But if you still crave our third Thursday company, we'll be doing a Happy Hour at Von Elrod's on Thursday, September 17th @ 5:30 PM. Our normal candence will resume in November.

Big Council Watch Update. Our council tracking tool is no longer just a campaign finance scorecard. Follow your councilmember, and we'll tell you what they actually do. (Take a look)

Tennessee is shooting its shot at Paramount and bringing the Southern charm.

Lead story · By Megan Podsiedlik

Nashville officials may be good at picking a fight, but state officials know how to flirt. Back in July, Tennessee Deputy Governor Stuart McWhorter sent a persuasive letter to Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison suggesting the studio move its corporate headquarters to the Volunteer State.

“For generations, Tennessee has been one of America’s most business-friendly states,” stated the letter. “Our success is rooted in fiscal discipline, low taxes, predictable governance, and a steadfast belief that government should be a partner in private-sector growth.”

Tennessee's courtship of Paramount began amid the company's $111 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 11 other states sued to block the acquisition arguing the merger would reduce competition.The rift has put Paramount at odds with California officials and prompted Ellison to consider moving out of the state.

Not only does David Ellison and his family have deep ties to Tennessee, but his father, Oracle co-founder, chairman, and CTO Larry Ellison, announced his own company’s plan to bring its global headquarters to Nashville in April 2024.

Out of the Loop

It didn’t take long for rumors to start pinning Nashville as a potential new home for the entertainment giant. Despite the buzz, Music City officials have barely been part of the overture.

Much like the Music City Loop talks that happened on Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s watch, the state is getting the calls.

“We have not had direct contact with Paramount officials,” said O’Connell during last week’s media roundtable. “We have definitely, as we've just brought Sarah Childress in as Director of our Office of Entertainment, been sure that we are listening also to our own local entertainment industry on both the creative and business side.”

That said, O’Connell seems much more open to welcoming Ellison’s Paramount HQ than Elon Musk’s Music City Loop: “Nashville continues to be a very attractive place for corporations looking to relocate, and we're continuing to try to work to make sure that not only do we support those businesses that are starting, staying, and thriving here, but also that we are that attractive city for businesses understanding that we build great quality life here.”

PETER THIEL'S ANTICHRIST LECTURES

What Do You Care About the Antichrist? For the past few years, Silicon Valley entrepreneur cum Philosopher Peter Thiel has traveled the world to deliver secretive lectures on the biblical Antichrist. And he's coming to Nashville next. The Nashville Antichrist Lectures will draw from history, literature, art, theology, and politics to explore the biblical Antichrist through Thiel's unique vantage point at the frontier of science and technology.

Get your ticket

Taking place over four days, your ticket will grant you access to each of the four lectures scheduled to take place on consecutive Mondays starting on September 28th in partnership with the Meriwether Academy.

Busybody Barb

By Rachel Gladstone

The twelfth installment in Tales from the Westside

When I first moved to the Nations, it was a ragtag assemblage of historic homes and old-timers who took pride in the neighborhood, despite the fact that much of it had fallen on hard times. It was kind of a dangerous place back then, replete with drug dens, gang bangers, and ladies of the night. I was blissfully unaware of the neighborhood’s reputation when I bought my 1918 Victorian. But I soon came to find out those things were the least of my worries because there was a greater menace lurking just a few houses away.

The first person I met was my next-door neighbor, Donna, who lived in a Victorian identical to mine. Approaching me with a wave and a smile, she introduced herself and quickly issued a warning. But rather than expounding on the unsavory characters I’d soon encounter on a daily basis, she pointed to a silver-headed woman standing in front of her run-down, one-story 1950s cinderblock house.

"That's Barb," she frowned. "You gotta look out for her. She calls codes on everyone! Some gang banger sprayed graffiti on the side of my garage, and when I didn’t get it painted over fast enough, I got fined because of a complaint from an 'anonymous source.'" She spat, framing her statement with air quotes.

Despite Donna’s warning, I decided to adopt a get-to-know-your-neighbor policy with Barb, and a few days later, while walking my overly large and under-obedient dogs, I paused to say hello. At least, that was my intention.

Continue reading

HEADLINES

  • Brad Pitt chooses Nashville for film premiere.

    Brad Pitt personally pushed for Nashville to host the world premiere of his new survival thriller, Heart of the Beast, rather than using the traditional Los Angeles or New York venues.The September 16 premiere at FirstBank Amphitheater fits the movie’s outdoorsy, middle-America appeal, while also giving Nashville another high-profile example of its push to become a bigger film and entertainment hub.

    Tennessean

  • Hundreds request their name be removed from Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway petition, citing ‘false and misleading’ claims.

    More than 1,700 people are reportedly asking to have their names removed from a petition seeking to eliminate auto racing as a required activity at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Those people say canvassers gave them misleading information about what they were signing, while opponents argue the petition would effectively end racing at the Fairgrounds.

    WSMV

  • Nashville promotes National Voter Registration Day.

    Metro Council and the Davidson County Election Commission are teaming up to encourage voter registration ahead of the November 3 election. Election officials and council members are promoting registration, explaining the voting process and encouraging eligible residents to make a voting plan.

    DCEC

PAMPHLETEER TOOLS

Council WatchTells you who funds your councilmember and how they vote.Open Council WatchProperty Tax CalculatorTells you what that cost you.Open Property Tax Calculator

DEVELOPMENT

  • 26-Story Midtown Tower, The Motley Tops Out In Nashville

    Now Next

  • NES sells Midtown property to prominent Texas developer

    NBJ

THINGS TO DO

Tonight Fri, Sep 11

ShowVenueTimePriceLink
Angela Autumn+ Nashville based country folk.The Blue Room7p$31.65Info for Angela Autumn
Paul CauthenRyman Auditorium8p$53Info for Paul Cauthen
Braxton KeithBrooklyn Bowl Nashville8pPrice not availableInfo for Braxton Keith
Country Club Day ft. The CowpokesAcme Feed & Seed12:30pFreeInfo for Country Club Day ft. The Cowpokes
Kelley's HeroesRobert's Western World6:30pFreeInfo for Kelley's Heroes

Saturday

ShowVenueTimePriceLink
Bitchin Bajas+ Psychedelic electro-acoustic trioThe Blue Room7p$22.79Info for Bitchin Bajas
The Bays Mountain Cut-UpsStation Inn9p$25Info for The Bays Mountain Cut-Ups
Brooks & DunnBridgestone Arena7p$169Info for Brooks & Dunn
Kelley's HeroesRobert's Western World6:30pFreeInfo for Kelley's Heroes

Sunday

ShowVenueTimePriceLink
Beginner Two Step Lessons with ZG SmithSkinny Dennis8pFreeInfo for Beginner Two Step Lessons with ZG Smith
Bluegrass Jam+ a night for musicians and singers from all over the world to gather and enjoy making music togetherStation Inn7pFreeInfo for Bluegrass Jam
Sundays Between with Easy Green+ a fusion of two beloved musical genres – Bluegrass and the iconic sounds of the Grateful Dead!Tennessee Brew Works1pInfo for Sundays Between with Easy Green

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Davis Hunt, Megan Podsiedlik, and Camelia Brennan.

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