THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA LAUNCHES A NEW MUSIC INITIATIVE
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
New Year-Round Music Initiative Brings Songwriters, Artists, and Music Makers to The Paley Museum for Live Performances, Songwriter Showcases, Listening Parties, DJ Nights, Workshops, and More
Initiative Kicks Off with Southern Rounds: Bringing Nashville to New York!, a Songwriter Showcase Series Featuring Intimate Live Performances and the Artists Behind Country Music’s Biggest Hits
NEW YORK, NY, September 1, 2026 – The Paley Center for Media today announced the launch of a new, year-round music initiative bringing artists, songwriters, music makers, and audiences together at The Paley Museum for live performances, songwriter showcases, album release events, listening parties, DJ nights, workshops, master classes, and more.
Building on Paley’s long history of celebrating music and its connection to entertainment and popular culture, the new initiative will bring that tradition into the present with experiences designed to give audiences an up-close connection to the artists and creative voices shaping music today.
“We are thrilled to turn up the volume with this exciting new initiative. From songwriter showcases, album drops, and listening parties to unforgettable live performances, Paley is the destination for music’s most exciting artists and fans,” said Maureen J. Reidy, President & CEO of The Paley Center for Media. “We look forward to kicking off this new chapter with Southern Rounds, bringing the energy and spirit of Music City to New York.”
Southern Rounds: Bringing Nashville to New York! is a six-part event series presented by Southern Rounds, Nashville’s renowned songwriter experience. The series will launch at The Paley Museum on Thursday, September 24, bringing Nashville’s legendary songwriter-round tradition to New York with intimate acoustic performances, stories from the artists behind the songs, and an inside look at the creative process.
“Southern Rounds is committed to supporting songwriters in a variety of ways,” shares Co-Founder Richard Blackstone of Blackstone Entertainment. “We recognized that some of our favorite musical performances were comprised of a group of writers sitting together, in an intimate setting, and having them do what they do best: tell stories that touch us in meaningful ways, either making us laugh, remember the joy, or feel the pangs of heartbreak. They find the words that we often cannot to describe the memorable moments in our lives. We saw an opportunity to shine a light on these extraordinary talents. I’m so grateful to the Paley Center for working with us to bring my favorite night of music to the city I love.”
Southern Rounds: Bringing Nashville to New York! will transform The Paley Museum into a Nashville-style listening room where audiences can hear country music directly from the songwriters behind some of its biggest hits.
Each event will include live acoustic performances from a group of accomplished songwriters, who will share the inspiration, stories, and creative choices behind their songs. The evening will also include a Songwriting Master Class offering an insider’s look at the creative process—from how ideas become lyrics and melodies take shape to how personal experiences become songs that resonate with millions.
The inaugural event on September 24 will feature James Otto, currently on tour with The Mavericks and the force behind the #1 hit “Just Got Started Lovin’ You”; D. Vincent Williams, winner of the 2002 ACM Song of the Year award for “I’m Movin’ On,” recorded by Rascal Flatts; and Kevin MaC, the writer behind “Easy Tonight” and “Granny Drinks Whiskey,” which inspired him to create Elsie Marshall “Shotgun Granny” Whiskey. The live Southern Rounds performance will begin at 8:00 pm, with guests also able to attend a Songwriting Master Class with the artists at 5:00 pm. VIP opportunities include a post-performance meet-and-greet with the artists. The series will continue on Thursday, October 29; Wednesday, November 11; Friday, December 11; Thursday, January 28, 2027; and Thursday, February 18, 2027.
The Paley Center also recently formed a new partnership with youth development organization Notes for Notes, which gives high school students hands-on opportunities to create and produce original music alongside industry professionals. The program provides students with direct experience in the creative process while connecting them with professionals working across the music industry.
This initiative reflects Paley’s commitment to the transformative power of music education and to creating meaningful opportunities for students, aspiring musicians, and audiences to engage with music and the creative process.
A Legacy of Celebrating Music
Music has long been part of the Paley Center’s programming, with performances, festivals, exhibitions, screenings, and galas featuring some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. Over the years the organization has honored music visionaries including Quincy Jones, Robert Kyncl, Reba McEntire, and Ringo Starr, while welcoming artists and cultural icons including Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Kristin Chenoweth, Cher, Nick Jonas, John Legend, Trisha Yearwood, Wyclef Jean, Wynton Marsalis, Dolly Parton, Pink, Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, and many others. More recently, Paley celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Latin GRAMMYs with a major exhibition featuring renowned Latin music artists, including Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Carlos Santana, and Shakira, among others.
The new initiative also draws on the depth of The Paley Archive, and its renowned Music Collection. Established in connection with Paley’s 2018 Paley Honors Tribute to Music on Television, the Paley Archive’s Music Collection preserves some of radio and television’s most important musical performances and cultural moments, including rare and historic programs and iconic one-of-a-kind pairings that marked the only time these legendary artists appeared together: Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie; Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand; and Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra.
Visitors to The Paley Museum can visit the Paley Archive Library and experience iconic moments from music history, including Elvis Presley’s 1956 appearance on Stage Show, The Beatles’ historic first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, Simon & Garfunkel’s and Diana Ross’s landmark Central Park concerts, Michael Jackson’s first televised moonwalk on Motown 25, and Ricky Martin’s showstopping performance at the 1999 GRAMMYs.
Tickets to Southern Rounds: Bringing Nashville to New York!
Tickets to the first event of this can’t-miss series are now on sale to all Paley President’s Circle, Patron Circle, and Partner Members; to Paley Individual, Family, and Supporting Members on Thursday, September 3 at noon ET; and to the public on Friday, September 4 at noon ET.
Tickets to Paley events sell out quickly and members of the public are encouraged to sign up for Paley Membership to have early access to tickets at a discount. Paley Members also receive free admission year-round to The Paley Museum, VIP invitations, admission to the Paley Archive Library, access to the PaleyGX Gaming Studio and VR Experience, and more. To learn more about these valuable benefits, please visit Paley Membership.
For additional event information and all Paley programming, please visit paleycenter.org. Follow us @PaleyCenter on X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Threads, and on TikTok: @thepaleycenter.
Media Contacts:
Teresa Brady, The Paley Center for Media, 212.621.6757, tbrady@paleycenter.org
PMK Entertainment, paleycenter@pmkentertainment.com
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About The Paley Center for Media
Founded by media pioneer William S. Paley in 1975, and chaired by Frank A. Bennack, Jr. since 1991, The Paley Center for Media is the world’s leading nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to preserving media history and exploring media’s powerful shaping influence on culture and society. The Paley Center for Media, which owns the iconic Philip Johnson-designed Paley Museum, has proudly made its home in New York City for fifty years. The Paley Museum is where media, sports, gaming, and entertainment come together and has been recognized as New York City’s “Best Museum” and “Best Children’s Party Place” for three years in a row.
During the year, the Paley Center produces unmatched programs and respected educational classes for the public and industry. Paley’s best-in-class public programming offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive access to today’s most talked about names through memorable programs that are entertaining, educational, and captivate audiences across generations. On the industry side, programs educate, inform, and lead the conversation on the rapidly evolving media landscape. Paley’s unmatched convening power offers unparalleled access to top industry CEOs, world dignitaries, and global thought leaders. At the heart of the institution is the Paley Archive—the largest publicly accessible collection of its kind—with more than 160,000 programs. Often referred to as a national treasure, this invaluable resource is available at The Paley Museum in New York and at the Beverly Hills Public Library in California and plays a central role in Paley’s respected educational initiatives that serve K-12 educators and students throughout the year.
About Southern Rounds
Southern Rounds is Nashville's premier songwriter round, where the hitmakers take the stage to perform the songs they wrote for country music's biggest stars. More than a concert, Southern Rounds is an unforgettable live storytelling experience. Hear the songs you know and love, then discover the stories behind them as award-winning songwriters share the inspiration, memories, and moments that brought each hit to life.
Founded in 2019 with a mission to champion the voices behind the music, Southern Rounds has become one of Nashville's most celebrated songwriter experiences. This beloved tradition comes to New York, transforming every venue into an intimate Nashville listening room where every seat feels like the front row. Whether you're a lifelong country music fan or simply love great songs and the stories behind them, this is a rare opportunity to experience the music in its most authentic form straight from the songwriters who created the songs.