irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2019
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $13KOral History Project - Funding for the Museum's ongoing oral history projects.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Induction Ceremony
Annual event honoring influential artists, producers, and industry figures in rock and roll music
Music Makes Us Podcast
Podcast series offering behind-the-scenes conversations with artists about lyrics, performances, and music history
Oral History Project
Collection of interviews and personal narratives from key figures in rock and roll history
Rock Hall Live
Concert series featuring live performances by contemporary and legacy artists at the museum
Special Exhibits
Rotating museum exhibitions focusing on major artists, bands, and cultural moments in music history
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 1 activity
- Administer membership program with benefitsOffers annual memberships including free admission for Rocker-level members, reciprocal access to over 1,400 museums via NARM and ROAM networks, exclusive presales, digital content, discounts, and free shipping, with discounted rates for students.
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Music Awards and Honors Programs 1 activity
- Announce Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducteesAnnounces the annual list of inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a core institutional function that recognizes influential artists and industry figures.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Curate and present major museum exhibitionsProduces and hosts major exhibitions such as the Paul McCartney and Wings retrospective featuring artifacts from McCartney’s personal archives, the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary exhibit, Revolutionary Women in Music, and The Music of 1984, with immersive displays of instruments, handwritten lyrics, clothing, and archival media.
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Historic Preservation Support Grants 1 activity
- Fund museum oral history projectsFunds the ongoing oral history projects at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum, preserving first-hand accounts and archival material from influential figures in rock and roll history.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Host live music performances through Rock Hall Live seriesHosts live music events as part of the Rock Hall Live series, featuring artists such as Kim Gordon, Spoon, The Church, The Mountain Goats, Old 97's, and Earl Sweatshirt & MIKE, both at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and on the Union Home Mortgage Plaza.
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Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
- Host private events at museum venueHosts private events including retreats, weddings, meetings, and holiday parties for groups ranging from 20 to over 3,000 people at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Offer guided and self-guided museum experiencesProvides a 60-minute guided experience featuring behind-the-scenes storytelling, collection highlights, interactive activities, and archival video, as well as full-day self-guided admission options designed for 2–3 hour visits.
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Local History Museum Operations 1 activity
- Operate museum with regular and extended hoursOperates the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum daily from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours until 9pm on Thursdays during summer and fall/winter seasons.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Produce and host free summer music series on outdoor plazaProvides free live music performances weekly on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12–2pm during July and August on the Union Home Mortgage Plaza as part of the Lunch by the Lake series.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produce artist-focused podcast seriesProduces and releases podcast episodes featuring in-depth conversations with influential musicians such as Hayley Williams and Shirley Manson, hosted under series like “Music Makes Us,” exploring music, identity, and personal evolution.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$9.57M
Contributions & grants$573K6%
Program service revenue$8.19M86%
Investment income$596K6%
Other revenue$218K
expenses
Total expenses$3.63M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$957K
Grants paid out$2.04M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$28.17M
Cash$6.91M
Investments$20.54M
Liabilities$3.02M
Net assets$25.16M
Liquid reserves90.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -33.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOEL PERESMAN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $650K |
board members · 24
- ALEC WIGHTMAN — DIRECTOR
- ALLEN GRUBMAN — SECRETARY/TREASURER
- BARRY ROSENSTEIN — DIRECTOR
- BENJAMIN F NEEDELL — EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
- BOB PITTMAN — DIRECTOR
- CHRIS CONNOR — DIRECTOR
- CRAIG KALLMAN — DIRECTOR
- CURTIS SCHENKER — DIRECTOR
- DAVID BONDERMAN — DIRECTOR
- DEIDRE FINDLEY — DIRECTOR
- DIRK ZIFF — DIRECTOR
- GREGG LOWE — DIRECTOR (FORMER)
- JAMES TODD SMITH — DIRECTOR (FORMER)
- JANN S WENNER — DIRECTOR
- JEFFREY AZOFF — DIRECTOR
- JODY GERSON — DIRECTOR
- JOHN SYKES — CHAIRMAN
- JON LANDAU — EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
- JON PLATT — DIRECTOR
- JUDY MCGRATH — DIRECTOR
- KELLY COFFEY — DIRECTOR (FORMER)
- LUCY DICKENS — DIRECTOR
- LYOR COHEN — DIRECTOR
- MATT NORD — DIRECTOR (FORMER)
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- ANYSIA KYM Partner — Featured performer at Rock Hall Live event
- Buga Partner — Opening act and performing band in the Rock Hall Live concert series.
- Cleveland's prime collection of hotels Partner — Collaborates with hotels in Cleveland to offer exclusive booking rates for museum visitors
- Dan & Ellen Zelman Funder — Provided additional support for the "Paul McCartney and Wings" exhibition.
- Earl Sweatshirt Partner — Featured performer at Rock Hall Live event
- George Barrett Funder — Provided additional support for the "Paul McCartney and Wings" exhibition.
- Kathleen Hanna Partner — Host of the Music Makes Us podcast, facilitating conversations with prominent musicians.
- KeyBank Partner — Presenting sponsor of the "Paul McCartney and Wings" exhibition.
- MIKE Partner — Featured performer at Rock Hall Live event
- North American Reciprocal Museum Association Network — Participates in the NARM network to provide reciprocal museum admission benefits to members.
- Old 97's Partner — Featured performing band in the Rock Hall Live concert series.
- Raymond James Partner — Presenting sponsor of the "Paul McCartney and Wings" exhibition.
- Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums Network — Participates in the ROAM network to provide reciprocal museum admission benefits to members.
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Preferred Hotels Partner — Collaborates with preferred hotels to offer hotel packages for visitors.
- Substack Partner — Hosts the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's newsletter and insider content via Substack.
- The Mountain Goats Partner — Featured musical act in the Rock Hall Live performance series.
- Todd & Karen Ruppert Funder — Provided additional support for the "Paul McCartney and Wings" exhibition.
- Union Home Mortgage Partner — Plaza sponsor hosting free live music events as part of the Lunch by the Lake series.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artist-Led Storytellingmethodology: artist-led_storytellingBy using artist-hosted podcasts and conversational formats, the organization provides intimate access to musicians’ creative journeys because first-person narratives build authenticity and strengthen audience connection to the human stories behind the music.
- Cultural Preservation and Recognitionmethodology: cultural_preservation_and_recognitionBy annually inducting artists and industry figures and preserving historical artifacts, the organization promotes rock and roll culture because formal recognition and archival stewardship legitimize the genre’s cultural significance and ensure intergenerational transmission.
- Immersive Exhibition Designmethodology: immersive_exhibition_designBy using archival video, audio, and images in immersive storytelling formats, the organization deepens visitor engagement with music history because sensory-rich narratives create emotional resonance and make historical artifacts more personally meaningful.
- Intergenerational Cultural Influencemethodology: intergenerational-musical-influenceBy using thematic and interactive storytelling to trace rock and roll’s evolution across genres and generations, the organization fosters deeper public understanding because demonstrating historical continuity and cross-genre connections helps audiences see rock as a living, evolving cultural force.
- Live Performance Engagementmethodology: live_performance_engagementBy hosting live concert events, the organization engages audiences with rock and roll culture, leveraging contemporary artists to connect present-day music with its historical legacy because shared live experiences deepen public emotional investment and cultural continuity.