Interning at the Country Music Hall of Fame

04/30/2013 11:00 PM

By Crystal Vining ’13

Music business major Lindsey Overby ’14 will spend her summer in Nashville, Tenn., interning at the heart and soul of the country music business.

Overby, a junior from Schaumburg, Ill., will work at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s public programming department. Her job will include writing programs, organizing concerts and planning interviews for the celebrated museum. Overby said she is looking forward to the educational aspect of her internship.

“I will have the opportunity to work with kids,” Overby said. “I love kids and it will be fun to see how music effects them.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is home to a historic collection of memorabilia from country artists as well as live musical performances and public education programs. Operated by the non-profit Country Music Foundation, the museum works to preserve the history of the distinct American music genre and recognize its many musicians, from Hank Williams to Reba McEntire.

Overby’s summer internship in the music business won’t be her first. She has also worked at the Agency of Performing Arts, a Los Angeles based talent agency that represents artists throughout the entertainment industry, and Jira productions, a Chicago-based music production company.

At APA, Overby shadowed employees in different departments, including literacy, comedy and music. There, she learned how to make deals while selling scripts and helped write up contracts. Each part of the internship was structured to expose her to all aspects of APA’s business.

While at Jira productions, Overby was heavily involved in the company’s recording sessions. She was able to watch and learn from the artists working both in front of and behind the microphones. Overby was impressed with the studios and saw firsthand how a professional music production studio operates.

“I have been so fortunate to have these internships and I can’t wait to see what the Country Music Hall of Fame has in store for me,” Overby said. “Look out Nashville, here I come.”