The GRAMMY Museum, in cooperation with Columbia Records, today unveiled its newest special exhibit, 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story. Residing on the Museum's third floor, the exhibit celebrates the 125-year-long history of one of the most storied record labels of all time. Also launched on Nov. 7 was the official GRAMMY Museum Archives, a wing of the Museum sponsored by Iron Mountain Incorporated that is dedicated to the development, preservation and archiving of rare audio and video assets from the music industry.
"At the GRAMMY Museum, it's always been our hope to not just help preserve important parts of music history, but to also allow artists' legacies to live on for future generations to discover and enjoy," said GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli. "The launch of both the Columbia Records exhibit and our Museum archives illustrates that mission perfectly, and we are honored to share them with the world."
Bringing together a collection of diverse artifacts and rare photographs and footage, 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story provides an in-depth look at all aspects of the label's history, from its infancy to its pivotal technological and business innovations, including the invention of the LP. The exhibit features dozens of items from GRAMMY winners such as Louis Armstrong, Beyoncé, Johnny Cash, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Robert Johnson, Bruce Springsteen, and Barbra Streisand, among others, in addition to interviews, an introductory film, legendary GRAMMY telecast performances, and an interactive jukebox that plays the greatest Columbia recordings of all time. The exhibit is a reflection of the book of the same name released earlier this year, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning and GRAMMY-nominated author/historian Sean Wilentz.
With the launch of the GRAMMY Museum Archives, for the first time Museum visitors will have the opportunity to listen to and watch the more than 180 public programs that have taken place in the Museum's Clive Davis Theater, including interviews and performances by the Beach Boys, Terence Blanchard, Kenny Chesney, Harry Connick Jr., Dr. John, Buddy Guy, John Mellencamp, Stevie Nicks, Yoko Ono, Smokey Robinson, Ringo Starr, and Jack White, among dozens of others. Additionally, information on GRAMMY winners and GRAMMY Hall Of Fame recordings will be housed in the Archival Wing, also located on the Museum's third floor.
The GRAMMY Museum Archives allows the Museum to showcase rare assets from its Asset Discovery & Development division, which is devoted to building artifact databases for a wide range of music artists, archiving and developing their legacy for historical preservation. The division was launched in May 2011 and includes discovery services to ensure original artifacts are secure, accessible and sharable; and business development capabilities to protect and monetize the artist's legacy and brand.