There are 16 article(s) tagged Jim Holt:

• February 2024

  • Mack Weaver becomes Memphis in May CEO

    Weaver has been with the festival for 25 years, most recently as chief financial officer. The MIM board announced the decision Thursday, Feb. 1, as longtime president and CEO Jim Holt officially retires.

    By Bill Dries February 01, 2024

• November 2023

  • Memphis in May CEO Jim Holt to retire

    Holt has been leader of the 46-year-old festival for more than 25 years. His retirement, effective at the end of January, comes after a series of fundamental changes to the set of month-long events.

    By Bill Dries November 28, 2023

• October 2023

  • Memphis in May reports record $3.48 million loss

    Attendance figures for the Beale Street Music Festival hit a 30-year low, according to the report released Tuesday, Oct. 3. The festival’s annual report promises further word on the 2024 festival’s future in the coming days.

    By Bill Dries October 03, 2023

  • MIM survey: Most barbecue teams want to move to Liberty Park

    More than three-fourths of those who participated in an email survey said they want to move Memphis in May’s annual barbecue contest to Liberty Park.

    By Bill Dries October 02, 2023

• August 2023

  • Chamber takes over Memphis in May international activities

    The Memphis in May International Festival was founded to promote foreign business investment in the city. The tradition will continue with the Greater Memphis Chamber announcing the 2024 honored country next week.

    By Bill Dries August 26, 2023

  • Memphis in May is looking for a new location

    In an email to its barbecue teams, Memphis in May President Jim Holt says the festival is “exploring venue options other than Tom Lee Park for the future.”

    By Bill Dries August 15, 2023

• March 2023

  • Memphis in May gets a good deal, compared to other festivals

    Records show the local festival pays far less than other city festivals to stage events in a taxpayer-owned park, and CEO Jim Holt says that revenue sharing with the city would be “difficult” for the nonprofit.

    By Samuel Hardiman March 08, 2023

• February 2023

  • Memphis City Council delays decision on Memphis in May damage-deposit impasse

    The city’s chief operating officer says the festival wants a limited-liabilty provision for damages to the park that the city has never granted for past festivals in Tom Lee Park. Everything else has been agreed to.

    Related story:

    City council casts critical eye on city’s handling of Nichols investigation

    By Bill Dries February 07, 2023

• October 2022

  • With MIM, Tom Lee Park contract in limbo, city could cover costs

    Mayor Jim Strickland is proposing the city create a $500,000 “park restoration fund” from Mud Island renovation money to cover potential damages to Tom Lee Park during Memphis in May events. 

    By Julia Baker October 31, 2022

• August 2022

  • Mayor tells MIM and Memphis River Parks Partnership to work it out

    The day after Memphis in May president Jim Holt said the dispute over holding the festival at Tom Lee Park should be settled by Mayor Jim Strickland, Strickland flatly rejected the idea at least for now and in public. 

    Related articles:

    Memphis in May ‘down but not out,’ worries about 2023 festival in Tom Lee Park

    Memphis in May posts record $2.2M in red ink for 2022

    By Bill Dries August 26, 2022

  • Memphis in May, ‘down but not out,’ worries about 2023 festival in Tom Lee Park

    Memphis in May is eager to return to Tom Lee Park but cites issues with a lease and damage deposit lead to ‘uncertainty’ at its annual meeting.

    Related story:

    Memphis in May posts record $2.2M in red ink for 2022

    By Jennifer Biggs, Bill Dries August 26, 2022

• May 2022

  • Liberty or Tom Lee? Folks split on where BBQ Fest should be

    After a month at Liberty Park, some folks think it would be a fine permanent home for Memphis in May. Others are ready to be back on the river, which MIM president Jim Holt says is where they’ll be in 2023.

    By Jennifer Biggs May 16, 2022

• September 2021

  • Memphis in May announces 2022 dates

    The 2022 dates for Memphis in May have been announced and the locations for Beale Street Music Fest and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest will be announced in mid-September. 

    By Jennifer Biggs September 03, 2021

• May 2021

  • MIM Barbecue is smaller, but competition will be fierce; fun and sun forecast

    Where there’s smoke, there’s 🔥🔥🔥 when it’s in Tom Lee Park. Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest returns after a forced 2020 hiatus, proving you can’t keep a good festival down. 

    By Jennifer Biggs May 07, 2021

• April 2020

  • The Lumineers, Liam Gallagher among acts dropping out of BSMF lineup

    Festival organizers say the majority of previously announced acts will remain on-board for the rescheduled Beale Street Music Festival in October. A revised lineup announcement with replacement acts is planned for June.

    By Jared Boyd April 25, 2020

• June 2019

  • Memphis’ month-long party a backdrop for park dispute

    As a successful Memphis in May International Festival unfolded in Tom Lee Park, there was plenty of symbolism and drama building in the controversy over what happens next to the30-acre Downtown Memphis park.

    By Bill Dries June 02, 2019