A Series Created for Visit Macon

A big win for Big Hair! Visit Macon is thrilled to announce that its ‘Macon Music’ video series was a Gold Winner in the category of “Series: Travel & Tourism” as part of the 46th season of The Telly Awards. Credit for the winning series is thanks to Cinematographer & Editor, Stephanie Shadden, and Director, Producer & Writer, Tabitha Lynne Walker, of the Macon, Georgia-based video company, Big Hair Productions.

For the past two years, Big Hair Productions, on behalf of Visit Macon, has created over 20 videos celebrating Macon’s music heritage, its iconic venues, influential creators, and Macon’s influence on modern musicians, which continue to cement Macon’s music legacy. Legends like Newton Collier, a famed Maconite who played with Otis Redding and Sam & Dave, and Chuck Leavell of the Allman Brothers Band and the Rolling Stones, share stories of Macon’s historic rise to a musical powerhouse. Interviews with Brent Cobb explain his journey creating Macon’s new South of Atlanta Festival, and artist Mike Clark, Jr. tells his story of joining hip hop legends to perform on Macon’s newest stage, the Atrium Health Amphitheatre. The Macon Music videos are designed to tell the story of Macon’s influence as a music city, both historically and in its present-day music cultivation.

Also, credited on The Telly Awards win: Executive Producer, Marisa Rodgers, Director of Marketing for Visit Macon; and Assistant Producer, Mackenzie Manley, Creative Content Manager for Visit Macon.

The Telly Awards were founded in 1979 to honor local, regional and cable commercials; the awards have changed over the years to include branded content, documentary and social media. 

They also work to showcase the best works created for television and across all screens. With over 13,000 entries, the Telly Award winners represent work from advertising agencies, television stations, and production companies from around the world.

In 2024, the same video series received the highly sought-after “Destiny Award” during the U.S. Travel Association’s ESTO annual conference on tourism and received two 2024 Hermes Creative Awards as a Platinum Winner for the Macon Music Video Series and a Gold Winner for Macon Music Video Featuring Grant’s Lounge.

And, in June of 2025, the ‘Macon Beyond’ series – another collaboration by this talented creative team – was announced as a finalist of the 2025 eTSY Awards: Tourism’s Digital Trailblazers for “Best Seasonal Destination Marketing Campaign.”

“We are so extremely grateful for the partnership, collaboration and hard work of Tabitha Lynne Walker and Stephanie Shadden of Big Hair Productions on behalf of our organization,” says Visit Macon’s Director of Marketing, Marisa Rodgers. “They have not only created a single award-winning series of videos… They continue to craft projects and videos that encompass all aspects of Macon, and consistently show off our wonderful history, our community’s assets, its people, its stories and the very heart and soul of our destination.”

For more information, please contact Marketing & Special Events Manager, Lucy Hughes, at (478) 743-1074 x101 or email [email protected].