[306] MTSU partners with Grammy Museum as educational affiliate

University becomes 10^th such partner with Los Angeles-based venue

LOS ANGELES — MTSU wrapped up its trip to Southern California on Sunday, Feb. 12, by announcing an educational partnership with the Grammy Museum, one the nation’s top educational venues devoted to the music industry.

President Sidney A. McPhee, who accompanied College of Media and Entertainment faculty and staff to Los Angeles for events before the 59^th Grammy Awards, applauded the partnership as a true win-win for the university and the museum.

“We are proud to become the tenth university in the nation to become a Grammy Museum affiliate,” McPhee said. “This collaboration will allow MTSU to collaborate on research and use the museum as a teaching tool for our students.”

Bob Santelli, the museum’s executive director, said MTSU and the nine other educational affiliates are invited “to engage in a unique resource-sharing opportunity.”

The museum in downtown Los Angeles occupies four floors of “cutting edge exhibits, interactive experiences and films provide a one-of-a-kind visitor experience — engaging, educational, celebratory and inspirational,” according to its website.

McPhee credited and thanked Stacy Merida, an assistant professor of music business and faculty adviser to the student-run Match Records, for connecting the university and the museum and requesting the affiliate status. MTSU is the only university affiliate in Tennessee.

Also Sunday, McPhee, along with Dean Ken Paulson and Beverly Keel, chair of the Recording Industry department, welcomed alumni of Leadership Music, an annual educational program for music industry leaders, at a reception immediately before the Grammy telecast.

Debbie Linn, Leadership Music’s executive director, recognized Paulson and Keel as program alumni. Also, she said, “Our alumni enjoy meeting with President McPhee. …

“We are happy they have made our event an integral part of MTSU’s annual trip to Southern California.”

This year was the fourth time McPhee, Paulson and Keel have brought a delegation to the Grammys to underscore MTSU’s industry ties and celebrate its alumni receiving award nominations.

MTSU alumna Hillary Scott, who recently branched out into contemporary Christian music with her group The Scott Family, won a pair of Grammys on Sunday in her new field: best contemporary Christian album for “Love Remains” and best contemporary Christian music performance/song for “Thy Will,” which she co-wrote, off that album. The Scott Family includes Scott’s parents, country singer Linda Davis and songwriter-musician Lang Scott, and her younger sister, Rylee.

On Saturday, MTSU recognized the nominations of Scott and fellow country artist Chris Young, as well as Pete Fisher, the Opry’s former longtime vice president and chief executive officer, and Brad King, who specializes in audio production. Also Saturday, MTSU co-sponsored its third concert at the legendary Troubadour Club in West Hollywood to honor country music icon Loretta Lynn.

On Friday, The Bluegrass Situation, a Los Angeles-based organization that creates Americana music events, and MTSU’s WMOT Roots Radio co-sponsored a show headlined by genre Grammy nominees Carla Morrison and Mark O’Connor.

The Department of Recording Industry, for the third straight year, is part of an international list of acclaimed music schools praised by The Hollywood Reporter that includes Juilliard, Berklee and London’s Royal College of Music. It ranks No. 18 on the “Top 25 Music Schools 2016” list.