Alabama Music Hall of Fame Unveils Permanent Exhibit Celebrating 50 Years of Music Excellence at the University of North Alabama
Apr. 01, 2026
Michelle R. Eubanks , UNA, at meubanks@una.edu, 256.765.4392
FLORENCE, AL – The David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry at the University of North Alabama has partnered with the Alabama Music Hall of Fame to unveil a new permanent exhibit that celebrates and honors the 50th anniversary of the acclaimed music and entertainment industry program.
“The exhibit is a powerful reminder that the Shoals continues to be one of the more important music communities in the world,” said Janna Malone, Chair of the David and John Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry. “Through the Entertainment Industry program, UNA has helped educate and launch generations of artists, producers, engineers, and executives who have gone on to win major awards and shape the global music industry. To have that story permanently told in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame is an incredible honor for our university and our alumni.”
The exhibit, which opens to the public April 11, commemorates five decades of artistry and industry leadership cultivated by the University’s program. Situated just miles from campus, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame serves as an ideal home for this tribute that highlights the deep connection between the Shoals and its rich musical heritage.
“As an academic institution, UNA provides research expertise, preservation technology, and student involvement,” said Kelly McDonald, interim director of the Hall of Fame. “This creates opportunities for collaboration with the Hall of Fame, including this shared exhibition, internships, digital access projects, and public programming. It allows is to expand our education impact without bearing the full burden of archival management and display alone.”
Since its founding in 1975, the Briggs Family Department of Entertainment Industry has grown into one of the nation’s premier training grounds for aspiring music professionals. Blending rigorous academic study with hands-on industry experience, the program has prepared generations of students for careers spanning recording, production, songwriting, artist management, touring, publishing, and entertainment business leadership.
During the past 50 years, graduates of the program have gone on to become award-winning songwriters, producers, and engineers; chart-topping songwriters and touring musicians; executives at major record labels and entertainment companies; and studio owners, talent agents, and industry entrepreneurs.
The permanent exhibit features
- Archival photographs documenting the program’s early days,
- Interactive listening station showcasing video interviews with alumni and faculty,
- Songwriting and music publisher awards, and
- A timeline tracing the program’s evolution alongside changes in the music industry.
Visitors will gain insight into how the program helped shape the modern entertainment landscape while remaining rooted in the distinctive musical tradition of North Alabama and the Shoals region.
As a permanent installation, the exhibit ensures that future generations will understand and appreciate the program’s far-reaching influence. It stands as both a celebration of past achievements and an inspiration for students who will carry the legacy forward.
The exhibit will be available during regular business hours at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. For more information about visiting, special programming, or group tours, please contact the Hall of Fame at 256-381-4417.
About The University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; the Spencer College of Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.