Museum of Making Music names Katherine Palmer as new Executive Director. June 2, 2026 CARLSBAD, CALIF., June 2, 2026 - NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants), the largest global not-for-profit music trade organization, today announced the appointment of Katherine Palmer as the new executive director of the Museum of Making Music (MoMM), effective summer 2026. The announcement comes as MoMM executive director Carolyn Grant concludes her storied NAMM career which included leading the museum since its inception in 2000. An accomplished museum leader, arts educator and musician, Palmer joins MoMM from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn., where she currently serves as senior director of education and community engagement. In that role, she has led the institution's educational and public engagement initiatives, including management of the Taylor Swift Education Center. At the Museum of Making Music, Palmer will lead the museum's mission to celebrate and advance the history, impact and future of the music products industry and active music making through exhibitions, educational initiatives and public programming. "Katherine brings an extraordinary blend of museum leadership, music education and community engagement experience to the Museum of Making Music," said John Mlynczak, President and CEO of NAMM. "Her passion for connecting people through music as well as her innovative approach to educational programming make her exceptionally well suited to guide the museum into its next chapter." Prior to her work in Nashville, Palmer served as curator of education at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, where she helped shape educational programming for audiences of all ages. She has also held leadership roles in international arts and conservation education initiatives, including serving as executive director of the Daraja Music Initiative in Tanzania. "Music museums have the unique ability to connect generations, cultures and communities through shared experiences," Palmer said. "The Museum of Making Music has built an incredible legacy of storytelling and engagement, and I'm honored to join the NAMM family and help shape the museum's future while expanding its impact and accessibility for audiences everywhere." Passionate about early childhood education and world music, Palmer was awarded the 2021 Gretsch Fellow in Children's Music at the Fred Rogers Institute at St. Vincent College where she investigated how diverse music making and listening can promote empathy and cultural awareness. Find her white paper, "Expanding the Neighborhood: Diversifying Music Making and Listening, Inspired by Fred Rogers" here. Palmer holds degrees in music performance and ethnomusicology from the University of Miami and Arizona State University and continues to serve as a faculty associate in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. The announcement comes as longtime Museum of Making Music Executive Director Carolyn Grant prepares to conclude her NAMM career in summer 2026 following 28 years with the organization. "Carolyn's leadership helped shape the Museum of Making Music into the vibrant institution it is today," said Julia Rubio, executive director of The NAMM Foundation. "We are deeply grateful for her contributions and excited to welcome Katherine, who brings incredible expertise in curating and museum education as well as years of progressive museum and nonprofit management proficiency." The Museum of Making Music, a program of The NAMM Foundation, serves as a dynamic forum for musical storytelling, concerts, exhibitions and educational programming. Since opening in 2000, the museum has welcomed more than 1 million visitors and students through its public programs and exhibitions. Media Contacts NAMM Communications - John Dolak, Director [email protected] 619.735.4028

MusicRow Weekly (news, charts, more...). This week's edition of The MusicRow Weekly reflects a dynamic period of growth, strategic partnerships, and notable talent moves across the industry, underscoring the continued momentum shaping Nashville and beyond. Click here to see the full edition. A major headline comes from The Band Perry, who have officially signed with Borchetta Entertainment Group's management division. In tandem with the signing, Shelby Marvel has joined the Borchetta Entertainment Group team. On the publishing and creative side, David Ryan Harris has taken on a role at Spirit Music Group as Vice President of A&R. In addition to his executive duties, Harris will continue his creative work as a songwriter and enter into a joint venture partnership with his company, Peace Pourage, Inc... Meanwhile, Sam Tinnesz has secured a new publishing deal with Reservoir Media. Community leaders Hal Cato and Jerry Williams have been named to the Board of Officers and Trustees for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Label expansion continues to be a key theme this week, particularly at Big Machine Records and Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment, which are actively rebuilding and growing their teams following reacquisition efforts. Several familiar faces are returning, including Jay Cruze as National Director of Promotion & Marketing and Carly Leach as Coordinator in the same department. They are joined by Christina Hunt, who steps in as Manager of Digital Marketing, and newcomer Claudia Deters, who will serve as Label Coordinator and Executive Assistant to President and CEO Jimmy Harnen. Elsewhere, collaboration is taking center stage with the launch of a new joint venture label between Graffiti Sound and Casual Records. The venture will be led by Graffiti Sound founders Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk, alongside Casual Records founder Heather Vassar. Artist signings also remain a strong focus across the board. Nicholas Jamerson has aligned with Why And How Management and CAA. Rising act Sons of Habit has signed with Lucille Records in partnership with MCA. On the songwriting front, Austin Bianco has entered a co-publishing agreement with Concord Music Publishing, while Jessie Brackin has signed a publishing deal with RED Creative Group. In addition, the latest MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart is included. Luke Combs takes the No. 1 spot with "Sleepless In A Hotel Room." Explore more chart data here. The MusicRow Weekly is delivered every Friday, featuring Nashville's top music industry news, exclusive interviews, song reviews, radio and songwriter charts and more. Sign up for free here. Madison Hahnen is Project Manager at MusicRow Magazine, where she helps carry out operational objectives and large-scale projects for the company. She also manages the company's subscriptions. Hahnen graduated from Bryant University in May of 2020 with a B.S. in Team & Project Management and a minor in communication studies. Prior to MusicRow, she held internship roles with Make Wake Artists and Song Suffragettes.