Resigning for creative differences
On November 15, 2021 I resigned as the Vice President of Roots Productions, LLC.
The owners and board, which includes Nashvillians and Texans, have decided to change directions on the programming. People that had become family to me, and experts in their fields, were asked to resign or decided to leave on November 12, Including the President and Executive Producer John Walker.
As I told the team, for me, it has never been about the gig; it was about the music, the placemaking, and our community.
All Aboard Madison, LLC, the landowner, hired me in May to build a brand and tell the story of Roots Productions, LLC., which included the production company that gave us Music City Roots and the new venue, The Roots Barn. I coined the phrase that became our mission statement; 'The home to roots music, no matter what your roots are.' at our amazing Barn Raising in August. Several corporate sponsors became excited about our planned 2022 in-house programming of Music City Roots and Soul Sunday with the McCrary Sisters. I was thrilled to be involved with the team and the process of establishing city-wide support for the vision. Mayor Cooper said in August, “This barn, right here, is our public square. It is where we will gather to celebrate our stories and share our past and connect over real authentic American music.” I hope this is still something we will see happen. I will continue to champion this!
Long before the company hired me, I was the Councilmember who worked hard to help bring Music City Roots back to Music City and the heart of Madison, TN. I trust and believe that the opportunity for community benefit is still present and look forward to seeing it realized.
I am heartbroken that the show Music City Roots, at least how we have known it for its last 44 shows aired on American Public Television, will not continue.
There is a beautiful music and events venue currently under construction on Madison Station Blvd. For the benefit of all of us, I look forward to seeing a vision will communicated promptly by the owners.
I will help them do the work to sit with the community and understand this unique venue is furniture in Madison’s living room that we all curated together.
Meanwhile, I’ll see you at Amqui Station, Eastside Bowl, and Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge, where community and music are live in Madison while The Barn is being realized.
February 2021 ground breaking with some of the MCR team
(photo: Chad McClarnon)
February 2021 ground breaking with some of the MCR team
(photo: Chad McClarnon)
Update from Roots Productions provided 11/17/21
