What is the Music Row Roundabout?

The Music Row Roundabout. Buddy Killen Circle. The naked people statue. The traffic rotary. Whatever name you choose to call it, it was and still is a topic of lively conversation for those who live in Nashville and thousands of annual visitors alike.

At the center of the traffic circle, which is located just off Music Row near 16th, 17th, Division, and Demonbreun streets, sits the large statue atop a grassy knoll. If you traverse Music Row, you can't miss it.

The "roundabout" was part of a $1.1-million dollar urban renewal project for the Music Row neighborhood. The project was funded by local art patrons, who wanted to remain anonymous, as a gift to the city, and was unveiled in 2003. Those working on the project wanted to do something that was lasting for this historic area. They felt Music Row needed an identifying feature—they envisioned a monument that would call home the very center of the famous Music Row. Little did they know how much controversy would be stirred by their noble civic initiative.

The official name of the statue is "Musica." It features nine nude figures (two white women, one white man, one African American woman and man, one Asian American woman, one Native American man, one Hispanic woman and man) depicted from the facial and body features of live models.

The entire statue stands approximately 38 feet tall with each figure ranging from 13 to 15 feet high. The figures are arranged in a circle where they appear to be dancing. Five of them are springing forth from the base. Four rise up in the center. The tallest of the center is a female holding a tambourine.

The materials used to create the sculpture were fabricated from limestone (which is prevalent in the Nashville area) and bronze. Much of the work was done at a foundry in Wyoming, with pieces then transported and assembled on site. "Musica" weighs approximately 10 tons!

The sculpture was the brainchild of Nashville native, Alan LeQuire.

"Dance is the physical expression of music and the piece is intended to convey that feeling to the viewer in a composition which is simple, exuberant and celebratory. The theme of the sculpture is music, because of the historical and economic significance of the site. This is the heart of Music Row, the area and artistic activity for which Nashville is best known.The sculpture conveys the importance of music to Nashville, past, present and future, and represents all forms of music without any reference to any one form or style. It is meant to provide a visual icon for the area and the city as a whole. The theme is music, but the sculpture represents artistic creativity itself. An artistic idea often seems to miraculously and spontaneously spring forth. This is what happens in the sculpture, and the title 'Musica' suggests this since it refers to all the arts of the muses." —Alan LeQuire

The aforementioned controversy stems from the nudity of the figures. Indeed, Nashville and country music have always been a bit on the conservative side. (Tennessee is a red state!) Some residents feel it is art but a little out of place. Some feel there were better choices for the monument, Hank or Johnny perhaps, or even large artsy guitars or maybe a colossal guitar pick.

On March 17th (St. Patrick's Day 2010), as a a prank, a local Nashville group of musicians known as the Willis Clan dressed the naked statues in peasant tops, kilts and celtic brooches. According to many, it was one of the best pranks ever played in Nashville!

Meet you at the roundabout!

Events-in-Music Home