In direct response to the devastation from the recent floods in Nashville, musical instrument retailer Guitar Center has launched a dedicated initiative titled Operation High Ground for Nashville Flood Relief, to help musicians, songwriters, recording studios and audio professionals re-build their lives. The goal of the program is to help Nashville’s music community get back on its feet as quickly as possible to keep the music going in Music City. Guitar Center’s President, Greg Trojan, made the announcement.

As the events of May 1 unfolded, Guitar Center management was kept apprised of the Nashville storm situation as the unprecedented floods destroyed several communities. Immediately, the company began to formulate a strategy to take advantage of its extensive resources, both locally and nationally, and put into place a comprehensive, multi-tiered plan that addresses the various musical instrument and professional audio needs of the flood victims.

Key elements of Operation High Ground include the following:

• Dedicated team specialists from both Guitar Center and GC Pro are on the ground in Nashville to interface with and advise flood victims on the best way to either repair or replace their musical instruments and recording gear as quickly as possible.

• Guitar Center has mobilized its distribution network to capitalize on the nearby Indianapolis warehouse, to ensure that if a replacement instrument, recording product or piece of audio equipment is not in stock in Nashville, it will be expedited to arrive as quickly as possible.

• A special toll-free Tennessee direct hotline (877-687-5405) to the High Ground Emergency Team has been established for customers who have experienced catastrophic loss. Callers can use this number to get rush access to musical gear purchases, along with personalized priority shipment and delivery logistics.

• Guitar Center is partnering with MusiCares® to assist the Nashville area music community by providing emergency financial assistance to help those affected get through this crisis. Donations can be made here or at any of Guitar Center’s 214 stores.

• TimePayment Corporation, an equipment leasing provider, is working with Guitar Center and GC Pro to develop a lease offering that will help the victims of the floods replace their equipment.

• Guitar Center has partnered with local Nashville FM radio station 104.5, The Zone, to help musicians rebuild their devastated communities. Beginning in May, for a six-week period, 104.5 will be holding live broadcasts from storm-damaged areas. Guitar Center representatives will be on-site to evaluate damaged gear and provide advice and assistance.

• Guitar Center has also partnered with local Nashville FM radio station 103 WKDF and 3rd and Lindsley to host a charity country music show titled Putting The Music Back in Music City. The show will be broadcast nationwide, and listeners will be solicited for donations to aid flood victims. Guitar Center will donate guitars that will be signed by the various performing artists and give one lucky listener in each market a signed guitar for donating to this event.

“Nashville has the greatest concentration of musicians, recording studios and audio professionals anywhere in the world,” says GC Pro Director Rick Plushner. “The entire community has banded together to rebuild Music City, and Guitar Center and GC Pro are proud to be a resource for those players and studios that have suffered a loss. We look forward to helping everyone get back on their feet and keeping the music alive in Nashville.”

The final nominees for the 2010 CMT Music Awards will be revealed tomorrow (5/11) morning exclusively on People.com starting at 8 AM/CT. Mercury recording artist Laura Bell Bundy and CMT’s Evan Farmer will do the honors. And more nominations will be announced later in the day on CMT.com. The top nominees in all categories, except Video of the Year, will be posted on People.com, along with a video featuring Bundy and Farmer making the official announcement. Fans will be able to vote online at CMT.com through June 8 to determine the winners.

Hosted by Kid Rock, the 2010 CMT Music Awards will air live on Wednesday, June 9 and will feature performances from Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, with more to be announced.

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An update from CMT Pres. Brian Philips:

Greetings from 330 Commerce Street, where I am delighted to say that power has been restored and our CMT team is back!  As were many of our downtown business partners, CMT was without power all last week.  Fortunately, through remote operations, we were able to keep CMT on the air and on schedule, in 90 million homes, throughout the disaster.

Many of you have kindly asked how CMT was affected by the floods: Most importantly, all CMT/MTVN Nashville employees are safe and accounted for, although a few of our families suffered widespread damage and loss to their homes.  In addition to CMT’s downtown power loss, which affected every aspect of our production, we experienced extensive damage to our warehouse facilities, including the loss of state-of-the-art television production vehicles.

We’ve always known the people of Tennessee to be extraordinarily caring, but their strength and generous spirit during this difficult time has been inspiring to witness.  It was rewarding to see CNN and other national media pick up on this theme, and use it to define Tennessee to the world.  Our hearts are with all in our area who continue to suffer hardship.

Like many of you this past week, our staffers have volunteered tirelessly with Hands On Nashville to begin helping people restore lives.  As a network, CMT has directed viewers on-air and online to give donations via CMT One Country to organizations which will help Tennessee rebuild.

We’ve decided that the single greatest contribution that we, as an organization, can make to the city of Nashville is the bold continuation of plans for the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS.  Broadcasting live from the Bridgestone Arena on June 9, the Awards Show, coinciding with the CMA Music Fest, will provide a national platform for Nashville and the music community to demonstrate its recovery and celebrate its resilience.  These days will also bring in much needed commerce to help the city get back on its feet. We’re also developing other plans to support ongoing relief and recovery, more Awards Show-related news to follow soon.

Although CMT seemingly remained unchanged, broadcasting last week with no interruption, we were indeed immeasurably changed by the surging waters which affected Music City and neighboring communities.  We’ve never been prouder to live in the ‘Volunteer State’.  We look forward to showing off our amazing city and getting back to what we do best — throwing the best live music party in town, this June. Hope to see you there!

Thanks, BP
Brian Philips| CMT | President |