The capital city of soul and rock 'n roll is trembling on its solid grounds once again as stories are going round that former boy band singer Justin Timberlake is planning to build a huge recording studio complex in Memphis. And in the process he wants to buy up two of the most world-renowned record labels that once put Memphis on the map: Sun and Stax. This would be a major step in the history of these labels as well as for the city of Memphis, which launched the careers of such stars as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Otis Redding, B.B. King, Rufus Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, Booker T and the MG's, Carl Perkins and many, many more.
If these stories are true this plan most likely would revive the city of Memphis as a creative music centre not seen since the sixties. With the closure of Stax, the last true musical meaning of the city disappeared.
So if Timberlake, a Memphis native, would be building a huge recording studio complex and host within it the two most influential record labels of all times, this would probably mean a lot of new jobs for a city that went from a star-city to a city with high unemployment and poverty. Not to mention the crime. And the once so influential labels are only attracting tourists today, keeping the city alive.
But there is a downfall to this all. First, how will the identity and history of these labels be protected? How can we be sure that these labels are not used for something outside there boundaries which will not fit these labels? And will this do harm to these labels which today are more a brand than just a record label?
And second, what would happen to all those small and independent labels that are already in Memphis? Cause Memphis counts a lot of small labels and studios that have been struggling for years. They could be ruined if a big powerful studio would arise and sign the local talent.
But before we go on, we have to wait and see how much of the story is true. According to John Singleton, president of the Nashville company Sun Entertainment Holding Corp., there have been conversations with Rey Flemings, president of the Memphis Music Foundation. Flemings told Singleton he represents a group of a dozen Memphis investors. But Flemings denied that he had indicated that Justin Timberlake was one of the investors
Ken Sunshine (what's in the name ;-) ), who is a New York spokesman for Justin Timberlake, told the Memphis newspaper the Commercial Appeal it is not true that Justin plans to invest in a buy of the Sun and Stax label and catalog.
Singleton said he had understood during his conversations with Flemings that Timberlake was one of the investors mentioned. But Singleton also said that Sun would be for sale if the price is right. For the Sun label that would mean at least $ 35 million. Not bad for someone who bought Sun in 1969 for 'only' $ 1 million.
Then take in consideration that Stax is worth over $ 1 billion at this point and add up to that the costs of a new studio complex, it is not likely that Timberlake would be the source behind all of this. Cause even a big time music icon like Jay-Z does not pull in that kind of money.
So I guess it is save to say that this is still 'a story'. And it's not the first time that someone shows interest in buying Sun. Other musicians have expressed interest in Sun in the past, like U2's Bono, Robert Plant and even the Rolling Stones.
For the time being Sun and Stax will stay where they are. And with the Stax Museum and the Stax Music Academy just back in place in Soulsville and the continuous tourists visiting Sun Studio I think it's best to leave it like this for a while. After all, it's music history... you just don' t mess with that!
