At The Sound Kitchen, co-workers can bond during a day of composing and performing original songs in a professional recording studio.

“It’s important to note, our corporate team building exercises don’t require the participants to have any musical experience to participate,” said Ira Blonder, a managing general partner at The Sound Kitchen.

“In fact, our programs are specifically tailored to help the participants find the creative spirit within. So, through the use of music, we gently press the teams to think outside of their comfort zones, forcing them to rely on each other to accomplish the desired company goals. Furthermore, our sessions force each team to bond together, helping team members further develop their relationships, which last long after their time at Sound Kitchen Studios,” stated Blonder.

The Sound Kitchen doesn't just cater to corporate types, however. Its studios, housed in a nondescript building to discourage gawkers and autograph seekers, are often used by well-known artists of various musical genres such as Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Sir Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, RUSH, Chicago and Dolly Parton – just to name a few.

The Franklin-based business also contributes to a number of different charities, including We Are Building Lives, an organization for homeless veterans that Blonder co-founded.

The Sound Kitchen is one of the companies featured in this month’s Tennessee Business Spotlight, a regular feature on the Secretary of State’s web site. In honor of the state’s many music-related businesses, September’s theme is “Melody Month.”

Tennessee Business Spotlight showcases some of the state’s businesses that create jobs, produce quality products and give back to their communities.

In addition to The Sound Kitchen, other businesses featured this month are:

•     Amro Music Stores, Inc. in Memphis
•     Curb Records, Inc. in Nashville
•     Down Home, Inc. in Johnson City
•     Smoky Mountain Opry in Pigeon Forge

“From blues to rock to country to bluegrass and more, Tennessee is home to a thriving music industry,” Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. “These companies featured this month are just a few members of this distinguished group of businesses that play a vital role in our economy.”

People who visit the Tennessee Business Spotlight web page can learn about the selected companies’ goods and services, operations, employment figures, photos and links to social media and web sites that can provide additional information. To visit Tennessee Business Spotlight, go to www.spotlight.tnsos.net

To nominate a company to be featured in Tennessee Business Spotlight, please visit the web site and click on the “Submit a Business” link or call 615.253.8800

Franklin, TN: Rock sensations, Paramore, stopped by The Big Boy Studio to film some footage for FUSE TV. The piece will air later this month on Fuse.


Pictured: Ira Blonder, Hayley Williams, Jeremy Davis

The power-pop-punk fivesome known as Paramore dates back to the band's high school years in suburban Franklin, Tennessee. Lead singer Hayley Williams was just 14 when she met guitarist Josh Farro and his younger brother, drummer Zac. Jeremy Davis and Hunter Lamb joined on bass and guitar respectively. The group started off gigging in Nashville in 2004 and quickly rose to popularity in early 2005, when Fueled By Ramen (The Academy Is..., Gym Class Heroes, Panic! At the Disco) founder John Janick signed the band almost immediately after seeing them perform in Florida. Paramore played the Warped Tour during the summer of 2005 and then released their debut album, All We Know Is Falling -- hailed by The New York Times and Spin magazine -- followed by a sold-out tour of North America in 2006. Paramore recorded their sophomore album, RIOT! in the winter of 2007 and released the album June 12 of that same year, selling 44,000 its first week in the U.S.