The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has announced the promotion of Director of Media Relations Tina Wright to Senior Director of Media Relations, effective immediately.

With the Museum since 2001, Wright will continue to handle publicity campaigns for the organization’s educational, fundraising and marketing activities. She will report to VP of Public Relations Liz Thiels.

“For more than ten years, Tina has served the media and the museum with intelligence and commitment,” Thiels said.  “As we look forward to an expanded museum on a unique downtown campus, we know that we will continue to benefit from her vision and leadership.”

Prior to joining the Museum, Wright spent six years as a publicist with The Press Network. She holds a bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri and edited and wrote the introduction for the book Cardinal Memories: Recollections from Baseball’s Greatest Fans, published by the University of Missouri Press in 2000.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville represents a history that we humble music industry servants are working to build upon and expand. We all like to think that long after we’re gone, something we touched will live on within those walls.

It’s partially true, at any rate. While most of us probably won’t Chesney our way into the history books, the Hall of Fame will at least do its part to beautifully and thoroughly preserve whatever history deems worthy.

That’s at least part of the idea behind the creation of the HoF’s Troubadour Society, a new membership level aimed at engaging younger professionals in the music industry. The group’s launch event was held at the HoF last night (9/18) and offered performances by Eric Paslay and Edens Edge as well as dance-friendly mashup country tunes spun by DeeJay Silver. Eden’s Edge also donated some stage clothing for the Museum’s collection. (Full disclosure: I was also part of the advisory committee tasked with creating the group).

Performers at the HoF's Troubadour Society kickoff included (L-R): DeeJay Silver, Edens Edge, and Eric Paslay

Over 400 guests showed up to drink, eat, schmooze and learn more. The Museum also graciously opened its galleries so guests could see the exhibits currently on display (like the newly opened Patsy Cline collection) and marvel at the meticulous work that goes into each.

Here’s how the Troubadour Society membership works: The $60 annual fee gets you free unlimited admission to the Museum for a year, an invitation to a private annual event for young members, free entrance to Hot Nights at the Hall summer concerts, invitations to exhibit openings, advance ticket purchase opportunities, an invitation to networking events with Nashville community leaders, and a 10 percent discount at the museum store, restaurant, and Hatch Show Print Retail.

More information on the group here.

Guests at the HoF's Troubadour Society kickoff event

Performing at the 2012 Americana Honors & Awards are (L-R): Sam Bush, John Hiatt, Brittany Howard, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Don Was, Buddy Miller, Amy Helm, Teresa Williams and Larry Campbell – Photo by Stacie Huckeba

Following its most successful year to date, the 2013 Americana Music Association Festival and Conference will be held September 18-22 in Nashville.

The 2012 Festival and Conference ran Sept. 12-16 and boasted a sold out Honors & Awards show that was broadcast live nationally on AXS TV, Sirius XM, WSM radio, and NPR.org. Segments of the show will be repurposed for the special presentation “ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2012” which will begin airing November 10 in the Austin City Limits time slot on PBS.

Anchored by exciting appearances and performances by Bonnie Raitt, Booker T. Jones, Richard Thompson, The Alabama Shakes, Punch Brothers, and more, the Festival–presented by Nissan–saw over 15,000 fans, 300 artist performances, and more than 1100 music industry professionals.

“I have never been more optimistic about the future in my 20 years in the music industry,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, “The passion for this music and the community spirit we experienced last week was mind blowing.”

Attendance for the conference portion of the event saw an 8 percent increase, and registration for the event is up 40 percent over the last two years. Membership is up 18 percent over 2011, and 37 percent since 2010. Next, AMA will conduct its annual Board of Directors elections for membership for 2013.