Memphis’ music scene is set to expand with the arrival of Live Nation Entertainment’s new Satellite Music Hall, a new 1,300-seat concert venue near Crosstown Concourse.
Local leaders and representatives from Crosstown Concourse, Live Nation Entertainment and Stax Music Academy gathered for March 4 to break ground at the site of the 30,000 sq. ft. venue, expected to open in fall 2026.
“We are proud to join Crosstown Concourse and Live Nation as we celebrate the groundbreaking of Satellite Music Hall,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said. “This state-of-the-art venue will bring world-class performances to our residents and attract more visitors, all while developing local talent and creating new jobs. It is a huge win for Memphis.”
The name Satellite Music Hall is a nod to the history of Stax Records. Founded as Satellite Records in 1957 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, the label later rebranded as Stax when it was relocated to McLemore Avenue. Today, that location houses the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Furthering the Stax connection, Live Nation is partnering with the Stax Music Academy, an after school music program for 6th-12th grade students, to establish an apprenticeship program for its high schoolers. It will provide a space for students to work with professionals and gain practical experience in lighting, sound and music production. The academy doesn’t have its own dedicated space for students to produce live performances.
High school senior Zipporah Israel has been a member of Stax Music Academy since the 6th grade. She has earned several scholarships through the organization and plans to attend Loyola University in New Orleans. She is looking forward to the partnership with Live Nation.
“I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity this new venue will create for young artists like me, from the stage to the back of the house,” Israel said. “The partnership with Live Nation will give music production students even more real-world experience.”
Todd Richardson, president and CEO of Crosstown Concourse, said the project is a plus for all involved. “By adding 100 high-quality shows to Memphis’ music calendar each year, we believe that today’s groundbreaking for Satellite Music Hall is a monumental step forward for Crosstown Concourse and for the city as a whole,” Richardson said of the venue that’s expected to provide150 jobs through Live Nation.
Jared “Jay B.” Boyd, also known as DJ Bizzle BlueBans, program manager for WYXR-FM Memphis, said the venue should help Memphis attract top-tier talent.
“My hope is that welcoming Live Nation to Memphis facilitates a significant front door for international touring acts, many of whom already have a reverence for our city as a key market,” Boyd said.
“When fans wonder why their favorite artist announces a tour that includes New Orleans, Nashville, Birmingham and St. Louis, but not Memphis, the same fans sometimes conclude there must be something unappealing about our city’s concert venues,” Boyd added. “Simply having Live Nation here in Memphis could change that, as so many large-scale global tours are exclusive to their brand.”
However, Boyd also emphasized that the arrival of a corporate giant like Live Nation doesn’t have to come at the expense of the city’s independent venues.
“For people who might be afraid of welcoming this new business to the Mid-South, I think a happy medium looks something like a ‘both-and’ scenario. Our independent venues can survive and thrive by servicing those tours that aren’t connected to the Live Nation ecosystem, and we benefit as music-lovers by having a wealth of options to patronize,” he said.
Brianna Smith-Herman contributed to the reporting and writing of this article.
