FAME co-owner and president, Rodney Hall, recently sat down with Music Connection magazine to discuss the deep legacy and ongoing evolution of FAME Recording Studios. Today, Rodney operates our legendary Muscle Shoals space as a busy, daily working facility.
In the feature, Rodney discusses FAME’s dedication to the Muscle Shoals method of recording. We still believe in cutting tracks live on the studio floor, and the interview explores how pairing new artists with veteran session players keeps the raw energy of group performance at the center of our sessions.
The Music Connection article also outlines the unique equipment and acoustic properties of our two main recording spaces. Studio A pairs its historic room sound with a Neve 8232 console and a meticulously restored echo chamber that shaped countless classic hits. We recently partnered with producer Glenn Rosenstein to upgrade Studio B, modernizing the control room which features an SSL 6000E console, a rebuilt vintage Universal Audio sidecar, and a new Dolby Atmos setup.
Rodney also discussed a major financial initiative for recording artists: a state-supported incentive program developed with the Shoals Economic Development Authority offers musicians up to a 60 percent rebate on their project expenses. This program covers studio time, session musicians, travel, lodging, and meals. Launched in late 2025, the incentive is already attracting a wide variety of independent and major-label projects to our facility.
The piece concludes by detailing our growing ecosystem, noting the expansion of our publishing and songwriting divisions alongside a robust tourism program.
Read the complete interview at Music Connection.
Beyond the music, SkyDog Shoals will feature regional food, books, film, storytelling, and other cultural programming across the property. VIP offerings will include experiences tied to the celebrated onsite Caution! Stones Ahead Rolling Stones Museum, and the weekend will close with a Sunday gospel brunch.
Muscle Shoals Music Group is part of the FAME Music Group portfolio and is focused on developing music-driven cultural experiences rooted in the history, identity, and ongoing creative life of The Shoals. SkyDog™: The Shoals Experience, also affectionately referred to as SkyDog Shoals, is produced with Lotos Nile and beese design. Together, the team is shaping a new destination event that reflects the legacy, energy, and the cultural character of Muscle Shoals.
About One Louder
CAUTION! Stones Ahead is home to the largest public exhibition of Rolling Stones memorabilia, celebrating the most influential rock band in music history. Located in Florence, Alabama, the museum offers fans a rare opportunity to experience an extraordinary collection of artifacts that capture the spirit, history, and cultural impact of The Rolling Stones.
MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala., Sept. 22, 2025 — FAME Recording Studios today announced it will be featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s new exhibit, “Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising,” opening Nov. 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. The exhibit examines the rise of the Muscle Shoals sound through recordings, artifacts and session history from FAME and other Shoals contributors. An opening-weekend schedule of events will accompany the debut, and the exhibit will be on view for nearly three years.
“After more than six decades of sessions, FAME Recording Studios continues to surprise and move listeners with its sound, its soul and its vibe,” said Rodney Hall, president of FAME Recording Studios and son of founder Rick Hall. “Like all great studios, FAME has turned limitation into invention and hard knocks into songs that last. This exhibit lets visitors see the tapes, charts and instruments behind that work, and we are proud to share it with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.”
The celebrations commemorate 65 years of FAME’s profound impact on American music and kick-starts a series of festivities that pay homage to the timeless hits and artists that have become the bedrock of American popular music. Muscle Shoals is recognized worldwide for its distinctive sound, and the weekend promises to showcase the finest talents from the region along with a who’s-who of rock, R&B, soul, and country.
Shenandoah’s frontman Marty Raybon adds a contemporary spin to the classic while still delivering the signature sound that shaped ’80s and ’90s country music. Raybon’s passion blends seamlessly with Combs’ voice, creating a bridge between two eras of country greatness. As a testament to the song’s enduring appeal, Luke Combs has been treating his fans to this classic, originally released by Shenandoah in 1989 as the fourth single from their album “The Road Not Taken.” It became their third number-one hit in both the United States and Canada.
“Undercover Woman” tells the story of a man longing for emotional closeness with a woman who is physically near but emotionally distant. The mood of the song shifts from a sense of longing to a celebration of love found. Lead vocalist Wes McGee describes the track as “definitely one of the more funky ‘bop your head’ tracks, something you’d want to listen to on a road trip to Vegas.” The song was conceived ‘on a whim’ during a session at FAME, according to band member Jeff Hayashi, who drew inspiration from non-standard open tuning popularized by Jimmy Page to create its unique musical texture.