For a small state, Arkansas has played a large role in the development of nearly every genre of American popular music. Surrounding states cite influence on a musical style or two, but Arkansas can lay claim to several. That strength may be a weakness in terms of marketing, but to not cohesively promote the state’s broad musical legacy is to leave tourism dollars and tax revenue on the table.
Worldwide, fans pilgrimage to pay homage to the creators of the music they love. That’s especially true in the Southern U.S., the cradle of it all. Other area states with narrower musical legacies than Arkansas’ do more with less. Mississippi has a signage project that stretches internationally. Louisiana offers tax credits for studio time. Texas offers a revenue-generating state music-themed license plate. Furthermore, the Texas state music office’s 2023 economic impact study touts $10.8 billion in annual economic activity from music business and music education, with the state realizing $470 million in annual tax revenue.
Meanwhile, Arkansas has been a musical source point across the centuries, although little recognized as such even within its borders. But with its tremendous contributions in country, blues, folk, rockabilly, gospel, R&B, jazz, punk rock, classical, rap and even Christian metal, Arkansas ranks among the most musically significant of the 50 states, despite its small population.
The state’s musical traditions go back further than the state itself. The 2018 documentary “Music in Arkansas Origins: 200 B.C.-1941 A.D.” cites the region’s earliest known instrument as a copper-sheathed panpipe with a silver mouthpiece dating to 200 B.C. From then to now, music has continued to run deep here.
As a journalist focused on Arkansas culture — and writer-host of public radio’s “Arkansongs” — I find the well almost bottomless. On stations across the Midsouth, “Arkansongs” has been sharing these stories for 25 years. Yet producer Keith Merckx and I continue to discover amazing notable artists.
The state’s deep musical heritage has impacted the world. And it’s something that can have a positive economic impact on communities statewide. But too many Arkansas cities lack simple signage — much less the infrastructure — to inform locals and visitors of their community’s unique histories, places and people. (By contrast, the Tennessee Music Pathways project has identified more than 500 landmarks in all 95 of its counties.)
In Garland County, “Arkansongs” is working with the Hot Springs Area Cultural Alliance and the county historical society to establish a Hot Springs Music Trail. A grant from the Division of Arkansas Heritage is partly funding the project. Our application included the idea to make the project cohesive and statewide. Because, down to the tiniest communities, most all Arkansas places have a notable musical legacy, from Turkey Scratch to Twist, from Datto to Delight, from Timbo to Drasco, from Dyess to Diaz, and well beyond.
But more resources, and many other such projects, are needed to put Arkansas on par with its own legacy, not to mention other states. And while too many important Arkansas names and places have been allowed to disappear, much of this enormous legacy remains ripe to explore. With its potential to reap tourism and tax revenue with comparatively small investment, Arkansas music may be the greatest untapped natural resource that the Natural State has to offer.
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