Center for Popular Music
Online Exhibits
Nashville’s Independent Labels of the ’40s & ’50s
Story Map – Launched September 2025
Organized chronologically this exhibit spans the post-war period in Nashville, when the first labels start. Nashville groups had previously done recordings in New York (Fisk Jubilee Singers and Uncle Dave Macon are examples) or Atlanta (Francis Craig and Golden Echo Quartet among others). The first recordings in Nashville occurred under Victor records in 1928 and involved the A&R man Ralph Peer, who was then traveling the South scouting talent. Historian Charles K. Wolfe mentions that a note in the Victor files references the YMCA as the site. These first recording sessions included early Opry stars like DeFord Bailey, Paul Warmack and the Gully Jumpers, and vocal quartets, among a variety of acts.
The onset of the Great Depression severely limited demand for vinyl records as money tightened up, further exacerbated with World War 2 rationing of raw materials, providing restrictions on the supply side. The end of the war provided a new prosperity and new demand for sought after artists, especially those with a radio presence. Furthermore, new entrepreneurial spirits emerged from the jukebox and vending machines industries. In Nashville, for instance, many of the early investors arrive at music thru these business channels instead of from nightclubs and halls. This exhibit was created by Graduate Assistant Jon Sewell.
Protest Music and the Counterculture
Story Map – Launched October 2024
Crosby, Stills, and Nash-Later Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young were a supergroup formed during the rise of the 1960s counterculture movement. They fit right into the counterculture movement, as they embraced things like drug use, hippie culture, and particularly political protest. Their artistic catalogue, both as a band and as individuals, is full of songs about the injustices in the world. Some of the most popular protest songs from the Vietnam War era were written by members of the band, and certain members remained active in protest spaces up to 2021. So, how did this group come together and what were their contributions to protest music? This exhibit was created by Graduate Assistant Grace Holland.
Songs of United States Social Movements
Story Map – Launched December 2023
This will provide a list of songs housed at the Center for Popular Music relating to a few of the social movements from U.S. history. This exhibit and research guide was created by Graduate Assistant Miranda Barnett.
Music of Hawai’i
Story Map – Launched February 2022
“Music of Hawai’i” is a digital exhibit showcasing some of the Center for Popular Music’s Hawaiian music collection, with a focus on Native Hawaiian musicians and music. This digial exhibit serves as a romote access to point to the phyiscal exhibit that was on desplay in the Center for Popular Music Reading Room in the Spring of 2022. Both digital and physical exhibits were created and installed by Graduate Assistant Miranda Barnett.
Soul of a Songwriter
Oral Histories by Odie Blackmon — Launched August 2020
These oral histories were conducted by hit songwriter, Odie Blackmon and donated to the Center starting in August 2020, the project is still ongoing and be sure to check back for more.
Castles Made of Sand
Story Map — Launched February 22, 2019
“Castles made of sand”: Musicians with complex racial identifications in mid-twentieth Century American Society, a Story Map by Graduate Student Sam Schaefer, examines musicians with complex racial identities in American popular music and how thus complexity was reflected in their careers. Learn about Lena Horne, Charles Mingus, Charles Lloyd, Jimi Hendrix, and Keith Jarrett.
Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues
Story Map — Launched August 29, 2018
This Story Map by Graduate Students Katie Rainge-Briggs and April Blevins explores the blues music of women who lived and performed in Tennessee including Alberta Hunter, Ida Cox, Memphis Minnie, and Bessie Smith. It includes resources from the Center’s collection. Check it out here.
The History of Political Songs and Jingles in Tennessee
Online Exhibit — Launched October 11, 2012
“In a state with such a rich musical heritage, it seems natural that music has played an important role in Tennessee politics as much as other, more familiar, areas of the state’s culture. In this 2012 election year, we invite you to explore the many facets of political songs and jingles in Tennessee and American history.”
The Center for Popular Music and the Albert Gore Research Center have collaborated to create this online exhibit featuring examples of political jingles, images and videos.
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Center for Popular Music
Bragg Media & Entertainment Bldg.
Room 140
MTSU Box 41
1301 E. Main Street
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
615-898-2449
