Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Sets Summer Attendance Record

Nashville, TN -- The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum has set a new record for summer attendance, museum officials have announced. From the Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 197,938 people visited the museum, an increase of 15% over 2011’s prior record of 172,100.

“We are gratified that so many local, national and international visitors have chosen to visit us this summer, and we’d like to thank them for such strong support,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “There are a number of factors that contributed to our record-setting attendance: Foremost, we’ve offered a powerful trifecta of exhibitions spotlighting the Bakersfield Sound, superstar Taylor Swift and Country Music Hall of Fame member Patsy Cline, and strong live programs to accompany them. Taylor’s exhibition marks the first time we’ve mounted a major display on a contemporary artist, and our visitors have responded very positively—our youth and family attendance is up 23% over last year.

“We also had a packed line-up of programs and autograph signings during the CMA Music Fest,” Young continued, “and special programs and a strong marketing push tied to the 35th anniversary of Country Music Hall of Fame member Elvis Presley’s passing. We continually strive to make sure that whether this is your first visit to the museum or your fiftieth, your time spent here will be fun, entertaining and educational, and our visitors have responded. In today’s challenging economic climate, we don’t take this for granted.”p