Lisa Love named director of Georgia Music Hall of Fame

ATLANTA – May 4, 2006 – Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Craig Lesser announced today the hiring of Lisa Love as director of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Macon. Love has over 15 years' experience in tourism, music and marketing and currently serves as Communications Director at the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
'We are confident that with Lisa's background and passion, she is the person who can move the Georgia Music Hall of Fame forward, enhancing the visitor experience, expanding the range of services and implementing an active development program,' Commissioner Lesser said. 'This is a very exciting time for the Hall of Fame, with the 10th Anniversary celebration coming up and an impressive group of Georgians who will be inducted into the Hall this year.'

'I'm honored and thrilled to join the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Museum, especially as it approaches its 10th Anniversary,' Love said. 'Music is one of Georgia's greatest natural resources and it's a product we export around the world. The more we create interest in Georgia music, the more we can enable the Georgia Music Hall of Fame to grow and reach its potential.'

Love co-founded and edits Georgia Music Magazine, a statewide entertainment quarterly publication. Most recently, she has been involved in planning the Soul of the South music heritage trail, an initiative of Governor Sonny Perdue during his term as chair of the Southern Governor's Association. Love served two terms on the Board of Governors for the Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and is a member of the Southeastern Museums Conference.

Love is looking forward to the 2006 induction ceremony, which promises to one of the Georgia music world's top events of the year. The 28th Annual Awards Banquet, to be held Saturday, Sept. 16 in the Thomas B. Murphy Ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, will recognize five of the Georgia music industry's most important and influential members. The banquet is held each year by the Friends of Georgia Music Festival, Inc. and the Senate Music Industry Committee.

The 2006 Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees include:

Group Athens-based alternative rock group R.E.M.

Performer Gregg Allman, solo artist as well as lead singer, organist and songwriter for the Allman Brothers Band of Macon

Non-Performer Columbus-born Dallas Austin, music and film producer

Songwriter Atlanta-based Jermaine Dupri, music producer and founder of the So So Def label.

Posthumous Felice Bryant, Moultrie-based country music songwriter

'These groups and individuals are outstanding examples of the music talent right here in Georgia. I am committed to creating greater awareness of our rich musical heritage, supporting our artists and industry and ultimately, developing Georgia music as a brand,' said Love.

Tickets are available now for the 28th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Banquet. Tickets to the show include an invitation to the Governor's Reception, an elegant dinner and an evening of great Georgia music and entertainment. Individual seats or tables of ten are available. The prices range from $75 to $100 for individual seats and from $750 to $1,000 for tables. Those interested should call 770.934.0906.

The Georgia Music of Hall of Fame is a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). Located in Macon, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame preserves and celebrates the state's music heritage in a 43,000 square foot museum featuring exhibits, educational programs, an archive and library and special events.

GDEcD is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.

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