Bristol, VA/TN (April 8, 2015) – The Birthplace of Country Music (BCM) is proud to announce the organization has achieved “Best of Show,” Northeast Tennessee Tourism Association’s (NETTA) highest honor, for the Grand Opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum (BCMM). BCM, parent organization of BCMM and the annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival, also took home three (3) Pinnacle Awards and a Merit Award at NETTA’s annual awards luncheon held at the Foundation Events Facility in Historic Downtown Bristol on Thursday. This is the second “Best of Show” honor for BCM, having won last year for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.
Congratulations are also in order to Margaret Feierabend, recipient of NETTA’s “Volunteer of the Year” award. In addition to her tireless contributions to numerous local organizations and causes, the Bristol, Tennessee city councilwoman and former Mayor serves on the Festival Committee for Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion.
“The Grand Opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum was a great community achievement,” said BCM Executive Director Leah Ross. “After nearly two decades of fundraising and planning, we were able to open the doors to a beautiful, world-class facility. The Bristol Convention and Visitors Bureau, Believe in Bristol, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development rallied their support to help make our Grand Opening ceremonies a great success. We share this honor with them and our great cities. Bristol’s track record of partnerships and cooperation have proven once again what can be achieved by working together toward a common goal.”
In addition to “Best of Show,” BCM achieved the following:
•Pinnacle Award, Special Events: Grand Opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, August 2014
•Pinnacle Award, Special Project: “The Carter Family Lives & Legacies” Special Exhibit at BCMM
•Pinnacle Award, Advertising & Promotion: The Birthplace of Country Music
•2015 Merit Award, Public Relations: Media Day, Grand Opening of Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Since the Grand Opening, the museum has hosted visitors from 49 states and 19 foreign countries including travelers from as far away as Japan, Switzerland, Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Motorcoach and destination travel groups tour the museum on a consistent basis and BCMM has been covered by a number of international news organizations and publications including National Geographic Traveler, NPR, Billboard, Music Row Magazine, and Reuters.com.