What makes a great music city? Music Export Memphis has thoughts
Eric Barnes talked to Elizabeth Cawein, the executive director of Music Export Memphis, about what Memphis does right — and could do better — in being a music city.
Eric Barnes
CEO
Eric Barnes is CEO of The Daily Memphian, host of Behind the Headlines on WKNO-TV, host of The Sidebar on WYXR 91.7, and the author of four novels.
There are 343 articles by Eric Barnes :
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July 2026
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more -
The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more The art of Paris cafe society comes to the Dixon
The Dixon Gallery & Gardens’ Julie Pierotti joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about the Dixon’s new exhibit, “Café Society: Art and Sociability in Paris, 1855-1914.”
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more WYXR’s director about music, AI and the evolution of the station
Robby Grant joined Eric Barnes on this episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about how WYXR has evolved, the range of program and events it supports and the station’s growth into an arts and community organization.
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June 2026
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more John Zeanah wants city planning to be smarter — so he wrote a book
Eric Barnes talks to John Zeneah, the city’s chief of development and infrastructure, about his book: “Today’s Comprehensive Plan: An Adaptive Approach.”
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Songwriters, music and beer flood South Main
Two music festivals are coming to South Main this weekend, and organizers from both join Eric Barnes on this week’s Sidebar podcast.
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Metro The AM/DM podcast: Ardent Studios goes silent as lawsuits get ugly
Ardent has hosted some of the biggest rock bands in its history, including Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, REM and others, including Memphis music legends Isaac Hayes and Big Star.
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more A look at the 2026 Live at the Garden lineup
Olivia Wall, director of marketing and communications for Memphis Botanic Garden, joined Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about Live at the Garden’s 2026 lineup.
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May 2026
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Books from Birth looks for ways to double its service
Wynette Jones, program director for Books from Birth, joined Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about Books from Birth.
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more How New Memphis Institute recruits and retains talented people
As they’ve done for more than 40 years, New Memphis Institute is working to do a not-so-simple thing: connect talented people not just with companies in Memphis but with other talented people here or thinking about moving here.
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more ‘If you can roll joints, you can roll tamales’
Karen Carrier, who started Memphis restaurants including The Beauty Shop, DKDC and Mollie Fontaine, joins Eric Barnes for this week’s episode of “The Sidebar.”
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more For local Fashion Week, ‘Memphis is the host’
For Ramona Sonin, her life in fashion started when she was a kid and got her first pair of white go-go boots. She joins Eric Barnes on this week’s “The Sidebar” podcast to talk about Memphis Art & Fashion Week 2026.
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April 2026
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more How Ballet Memphis finds ‘unique points of connection’ with audiences
Ballet Memphis’ executive director Adam Goldberg joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar.”
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Girls Inc. celebrates 80 years empowering girls and young women in Memphis
Sylvia Martinez, the president and CEO of Girls Inc., joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar.”
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more The YMCA’s impact on thousands of children in Memphis and the Mid-South
YMCA’s Brian McLaughlin joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar.”
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March 2026
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Museum showcases legacy, history of Memphis College of Art
Marina Pacini — the former chief curator of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art — talks about how she put together the exhibition marking Memphis College of Art’s history and impact.
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Metro The AM/DM podcast: Are vee there yet? – A new RV park comes to Cordova
What was once the Gameday Baseball complex in Cordova is set to become an “upscale” RV park, catering to the higher end of the recreational vehicle market.
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Bill Townsend on Annesdale Mansion, ghosts and Always Memphis
Bill Townsend joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar.”
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February 2026
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Memphis Youth Symphony Program approaches its 60th year
In a world where technology sometimes seems to have overwhelmed music, the world of Memphis Youth Symphony Program is refreshing.
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more New leadership at Indie Memphis talks about the festival’s future
As Indie Memphis bounces back from a year without its signature film festival, the group’s new co-executive director, Alicia George, joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about the organization’s future.
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January 2026
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Brantley Ellzey on the intensity and relief he finds in his new art exhibit
Artist Brantley Ellzey joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about work, his life and his Crosstown Arts exhibit, titled “Reflection + Ritual + Refuge.”
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more What to expect as Baron Von Opperbean gets closer to opening on Mud Island
Jee Vahn Knight discusses Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time, the next phases of expansion and how their business model works, on this week’s Sidebar.
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December 2025
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Why giving is essential to The Daily Memphian
Sarah Leach, The Daily Memphian’s director of fundraising and development, joins Eric Barnes on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar.”
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From the CEO
OpinionThe Daily Memphian wouldn’t be possible without Memphis
“For all the challenges we have as a city ... there is a core commitment among people, businesses and organizations in this city not only to work on those challenges, but to highlight all the things that are good, hopeful, interesting and entertaining about our city.”
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more How Merit Academy pursues excellence in literacy
The Daily Memphian’s Eric Barnes talks to Lakenna Booker, who is the executive director of Memphis Merit Academy, on this week’s Sidebar podcast.
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The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Former TV journalist revealing deeper truths
Lauren Ready joined Eric Barnes on this episode of “The Sidebar” to talk about her first book.
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