The Grammy Museum Mississippi

Background and History[edit]

^[3][4]The museum opened on March 5, 2016 with the help of Cleveland Mayor Billy Nowell, Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, and the advertising firm Hammons and Associates. Hammons helped produce the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola. A non-profit organization called the Cleveland Music Foundation started developing the museum in 2011, constructed the museum, and has managed it since its opening. Its sister museum, Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, is located in downtown Los Angeles.^[5] While both locations have a focus on the historical and cultural importance of previous, current, and future musicians, the Cleveland location emphasizes on the ingrained lineage of the Mississippi Delta's musical influence.^[3] Similar artifacts, films, and storylines from the Los Angeles museum are displayed, while approximately 20% of the exhibits focus on Mississippi in order to highlight both Grammy winners and the musicians who influenced the music industry.^[6]


The museum has many exhibits that visitors can view and learn more about as they browse through. Many events are held at the museum as well, including receptions, award banquets, employee parties, conferences, meetings, weddings, and special occasions.


The primary case for choosing the state for the museum's location was the Mississippi Delta's deep history with music. Legendary Mississippi-native musicians including Robert Johnson, B.B. King, and Elvis Presley influenced America's most accepted music styles such as the blues, jazz, hip-hop, and rock n' roll.^[7] Mississippians represent a remarkable number of Grammy recipients when taking the state's relatively small population into consideration.^[6] In fact, as of 2011, the state holds the most Grammy winners in the United States along with many other nominees, Lifetime Achievement winners, and Hall of Famers.^[8] More specifically, Cleveland, Mississippi was selected for its notable location and the local university. Cleveland not only puts the museum in the heart of the Delta, but along Highway 61, which is directly in the middle of Memphis and New Orleans. Additionally, the city's four-year institution, Delta State University, is the state's only accredited college program for music industry studies, known as the Delta Music Institute (DMI) where students can major in Audio Engineering or Entertainment Industry Entrepreneurship. The museum has a close affiliation with that department.^[6]


The Mississippi museum, a nearly $20 million development, is a smaller, but more updated version of the Los Angeles museum.^[7] The design of the museum is meant to reflect both the glamorous aspects of the Grammys as well as the Delta's rustic culture. It features high-definition touch screens and interactive technology making it one of the most advanced museums in the nation.^[7] However, the sharecropper shacks that were homes to numerous blues musicians are replicated with the corrugated metal on the museum's exterior. Furthermore, the large front porch entrance mimics the staple southern architecture.^[7]