Experience Music Project Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

When Experience Music Project opened June 23, 2000, it became the first interactive music museum in the world. Here are some of the staggering stats from EMP's first year in operation:

* Over 780,000 music fans from all over the world including Taiwan, Japan, Bosnia, Miami, New York, and Seattle have seen Janis Joplin's boa and Jimi Hendrix's hand-written lyrics.

* 37,757 Charter Members have taken advantage of special offers including advance ticket purchasing opportunities, unlimited admission to the museum, and discounts on live music, films and speakers series.

* From The Sugar Hill Gang and Ernestine Anderson to Built to Spill and Bob Weir, EMP has presented over 110 live concerts in its state-of-the art concert venue, Sky Church.

* Liquid Lounge, EMP's trendy cocktail bar, and new hotspot for Seattleites, has offered free live music over 260 nights this year and has served well over 5,193 Blue Suede Booze drinks.

* Turntable, EMP's Gehry-designed restaurant, has sold 3,895 Little Richard Bouffant Sundaes, satisfying visitors taste buds with a rich combination of coconut-almond-chocolate-chunk ice cream, chocolate caramels and spun sugar on top.

* Over 67,462 area students on 1,679 school tours visited the museum.

* Utilizing the unique architecture and layout of EMP, 174 national businesses and community organizations have rented out the facilities for private parties, conferences, and press conferences.