Sponsored by: Amazon & Lovenoise

Memphis’ emerging sound joins forces with Nashville, and NMAAM is capturing this unforgettable story on an unforgettable night.

The National Museum of African American Music and TappedIN 901 proudly present First Note: For the Love of R&B, a groundbreaking show created to magnify the musical connection between Memphis and Nashville, TN. Born from a simple but radical belief: emerging artists deserve more than a stage. They deserve a platform.

First Note is a love letter to the next generation of music makers. This isn’t just a show—it’s a movement. One that pairs rising talent with fair-market compensation, world-class production, and direct access to one of the most visited cultural institutions in the country.

Beginning October 24, NMAAM will become the epicenter of something new—a conduit bridging the soulful sound of Memphis with the harmony of Music City. Night after night, artists who are just writing their first chapters will share space with fans who feel it, industry executives who need to hear it, and a community of hundreds of thousands of visitors who will carry those sounds far beyond these walls.

Memphis and Nashville share a story, and NMAAM is the home where the next chapter begins.

An Evening of Music Begins with More!