Full Breakdown
Tennessee Courts Paramount Skydance and Other California Companies
7/19/2026, 8:01:15 AM
Tennessee’s Pitch to Paramount Skydance
On July 2, Tennessee Deputy Governor Stuart McWhorter sent a letter to Paramount Skydance chief executive David Ellison proposing that the studio relocate its Hollywood headquarters to Nashville. The outreach comes amid a legal battle between California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount over a $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger. McWhorter’s letter emphasizes Tennessee’s “creativity and technology” environment and invites the studio to “share our vision for how Tennessee could help shape the future of Paramount Skydance and its talented team.”
Trend of California Companies Relocating
Corporate flight from California has accelerated, with Texas overtaking the state as the home of the most Fortune 500 firms in June 2024. Tennessee is positioning itself as the next destination. Notable moves include Oracle’s shift from California to Nashville (headquarters announced in April 2024, construction began February 2024), Nissan’s 2005 relocation of its U.S. headquarters to Franklin, Mitsubishi Motors’ 2019 move to Franklin, CKE’s 2018 consolidation of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s in Franklin, and In-N-Out’s 2023 establishment of a corporate office in Franklin, followed by CEO Lynsi Snyder’s personal move to Tennessee.
Incentives and Infrastructure Highlights
Tennessee’s business-friendly tax structure eliminates state income and property taxes, relying on a 7 % sales tax. The state offers tax credits and grants for new relocations, employee training, and construction. Its logistics network includes seven interstate highways, six Class 1 rail lines, and Memphis’s status as the nation’s busiest cargo airport. Chief Executive magazine has ranked Tennessee the third-best state for doing business.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Bill Lee credited “the state’s competitive tax policy, workforce, and quality of life” for recent corporate successes. McWhorter’s letter framed the move as an opportunity for “creativity and technology” to converge. Snyder cited “pandemic-era restrictions and California policy” as factors influencing her relocation, noting that “raising a family is not easy here” in California.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As Paramount Skydance writes its next chapter, Tennessee offers a compelling proposition: a state where creativity and technology converge, where talent is developed intentionally, and where innovation is embraced,” — Stuart McWhorter, Deputy Governor
- “We would welcome the opportunity to share our vision for how Tennessee could help shape the future of Paramount Skydance and its talented team.” — Stuart McWhorter, Deputy Governor
- “There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” — Lynsi Snyder, Owner & CEO, In-N-Out
- “Companies choose Tennessee because they recognize the strength of our workforce, our strategic location and our ability to support long-term growth,” — Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee
