In 2015, authorities in Nashville, TN, sent a letter to Lij Shaw, who has a Grammy awarded, professionally soundproofed home studio that he has been working out of peacefully for years. After an anonymous complaint was made however, a letter was sent out that notified Shaw that he had to stop using his property for a recording studio because it was zoned as residential property.
Shaw has spent years pouring his heart and soul into his career, funneling enormous amounts of resources into building his very own home studio. And he isn't read to give that all up just yet. After all, it's what he has been doing for 20 years now. And he says he isn't the only home studio owner who has been faced with the same pressure to cease their work from home.
"Home studios are the lifeblood of the music industry and especially in Nashville," Shaw admits.
Shaw's studio provides him with a living, as it does for many others living in the area. It's how they are able to take care of themselves and their families. It also provides those who are looking for a recording studio option with a much cheaper venue to go with, aside from a larger and more costly studio.
At the moment, it's against the law to serve any customer in your home for any reason in Nashville.
Lawyers who are fighting for Shaw and others to have the freedom to work out of their home, say that the legislation preventing them from doing so makes no sense in that it is arbitrary and has very little to do with regulating traffic or noise. That's because the city does allow some businesses, such as a home daycare or short-term rental for example, to be permitted and along with that comes traffic and multiple visitors.
Shaw is now getting help from the Institute for Justice and The Beacon Center to try and fight for the right to continue doing what he is doing from his very own home studio. They have filed a lawsuit against the city of Nashville, and hope that the courts are going to defend his right to try and peacefully earn a living from his home studio.
Joining his lawsuit is a hairstylist from Nashville who is looking to run a business out of her garage. They both allegedly applied for a zoning exemption but they were rejected. Shaw also brought with him a petition that had dozens of signatures from neighbors, but it didn't help.
Authorities have already tried to have the case dismissed but a judge denied that motion.
Sources:
https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8342201/nashville-producer-lawsuit-backyard-home-studio-legal
http://recordingstudiorockstars.com/music-city-declares-war-home-studios-lij-shaw-bjorgvin-benediktsson-chris-graham-rsr118/
https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2017/12/04/lawsuit-challenge-nashville-home-business-ban-including-recording-studios/918866001/
https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2017/08/01/nashvilles-ban-home-businesses-hurts-people/529649001/
http://www.tnledger.com/editorial/ArticleEmail.aspx?id=104810&print=1
http://ij.org/case/nashville-home-based-business/
That sounds bizarre, @doitvoluntarily. Can't recognize America any more :(
There is no fairer justice of the sky, people practice the most beautiful art and the highest performing arts and music, in order to live ..
In a law that has no law except that it prevents the life of the pulse .....
i think its really bad story, because he was get didn't help.
I loved guiter 😍 thanks for shared this post..Because of all these posts, you like it
Every man or justice should help to honest man but when they are did'nt help then i think its really bad.
I think no more people know those story..thank you
What a sad story ...
The state should not interfere in the private affairs of its citizens ...
Hopefully Shaw soon gets his justice ...
Thanks for sharing...❤
I am a sound and recording technician, many years ago I had my own recording sound in my home, here in Argentina there is no legislation prohibiting it, it is a pity that it happens.
Thank you very much dear friend @doitvoluntarily for sharing this news
I can’t believe he has to fight for something like this . People can never be happy with others success . Jealousy is a Bi*ch
Of course it has very little to do with traffic or noise.
It is everything to do with controlling people. Making it impossible to be self employed. Forcing small time people to rent two properties just so that "room" is in the correct zoning.
This is all about control and destroying prosperity.
Any official trying to enforce such things should be locked away if they don't cease their destructive ways.
your story is good but sad story.Thanks for sharing this post.
Justice had already been taken away by those who have power, liberties they already rampas with power they have ... It is ironic that such circumstances
The time of God is perfect and there is no divine justice that does not come, it is a pity that it happens
As we see things in life, we realize that from our point of view some situations are more absurd than others. To me you seem too scandalous for something so simple, there are laws that I do not understand, because they apply in a strange way. It seems to me that everyone has the right to do whatever they want with their property as long as it does not harm anyone and complies with certain rules that are important. But we already see that there are people who are determined to embitter the lives of others, who knows with what purpose. Fabulous article, very good, I liked a lot friend.
This legislation kills entrepreneurs and self employed people, when it needs to empower them because thats what America needs at the moment, new businesses to help bring back the plunging economy.