Mind Over Data powers Springsteen museum exhibits

Tennessee software firm Mind Over Data built five interactive displays for the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University in New Jersey. The installations are meant to help visitors explore Springsteen’s influences, New Jersey landmarks and the broader history of American music.

Why it matters: - The Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music uses custom software to turn museum content into hands-on experiences. - The displays help visitors connect Springsteen’s personal story to the wider history of American music. - The project shows how museum technology can make archival material and music history more accessible.

What happened: - Mind Over Data developed five custom interactive displays for the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music. - The center opened this summer on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. - The Tennessee-based firm worked with Michael Buday MPS, LLC and a team of museum designers, audiovisual specialists and exhibit fabricators beginning in 2023. - The exhibits are part of an immersive visitor journey through American music and Springsteen’s legacy.

The details: - The American Music Map lets visitors sample songs and genres from coast to coast. - A second interactive map highlights New Jersey landmarks tied to Springsteen’s life and lyrics. - The Songwriting Gallery includes three programs. - Words to Music lets guests browse Springsteen’s handwritten lyric pages in a digital notebook format. - Circle of Influence shows artists who inspired Springsteen and artists influenced by his work. - Anatomy of a Song explains the backstory, musical origins and meaning of "Born in the U.S.A." - The Circle of Influence installation is designed to resemble a classic jukebox. - Mind Over Data project manager Paul Shafer said the team spent months collaborating with the broader project team to keep interactions intuitive and aligned with the exhibit’s educational mission. - Shafer said the team tested every detail so the technology would not distract from the story. - Tom Kirstein, managing partner of Mind Over Data, said the goal was to create experiences that help visitors make personal connections with the music, history and people behind it. - Kirstein said the project was especially rewarding because it celebrates Bruce Springsteen’s legacy and the broader tapestry of American music.

Between the lines: - The project extends a long-running partnership between Mind Over Data and Michael Buday that spans more than 15 years. - That collaboration has included work for the Ray Charles Memorial Library, the GRAMMY® Museum and the Woody Guthrie Center. - Buday said the center was designed to celebrate America’s musical heritage, not just Springsteen’s career. - The installation reinforces the idea that Springsteen’s story is linked to a larger chain of musical influence across generations. - Mind Over Data said museum work requires the same user-focused approach it uses in healthcare, logistics and manufacturing software.

What’s next: - Thousands of visitors are expected to use the interactive exhibits as the center continues drawing public traffic. - Mind Over Data said the displays will help each visitor explore American music at their own pace. - The company will continue marketing its museum and cultural-institution software work alongside its enterprise technology business.

The bottom line: - Mind Over Data is using custom software to make a major music museum more interactive, more educational and more personal. - More information