“With a record economic impact of $60.8 billion, Georgia’s tourism industry is a powerful economic development tool for local communities and our state as a whole,” said Deal. “This impact goes well beyond direct spending by visitors, as the industry provides job opportunities for more than 450,200 Georgians, accounting for approximately 10.6 percent of the state’s non-farm workforce.

The American film and television industry continues to be a key driver of the U.S. economy, adding high quality domestic jobs and paying out $49 billion to local businesses across the country, according to the most recent economic figures released today by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Golden Globe winners and prominent nominees saw an immediate boost from their well-deserved prizes, while the last blockbusters of 2017 had a surprising reversal of fortune with their second forays into the new year.

“I think sometimes people look at Atlanta and don’t think of it as a music town. They know about the film and television side of the entertainment business, but may not realize how much music Atlanta has been producing for a number of years. I don’t think we are that far behind cities like Los Angeles or Nashville in musical impact, if we are behind at all.”

Unlike his band the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, which generally shuns the Crowes’ catalog, the overriding focus of As the Crow Flies will be to perform those old Crowes favorites like “Jealous Again,” “Twice as Hard,” “Thorn in My Pride” and “She Talks to Angels,” among many others.

Current studies show that more than half of all 16-24 year olds worldwide have illegally stream-ripped songs from YouTube or other streaming sites, and research firm MusicWatch has estimated a 50% increase in the number of Internet users in the U.S. who stream-ripped music in just two years.

“Lady Bird” was designated as Best Picture, taking home four awards in total: Best Picture, Best Director (Greta Gerwig), Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan) and Best Supporting Actress (Laurie Metcalf). Jordan Peele won Best Original Screenplay for “Get Out” and the Breakthrough Award.

From another great game jam to helping implement the best video game incentive program in the world to starting the Georgia Esports League, it was an amazing year for the association and our members.