At Save The Music, we believe in the power of making music and we support young people in developing their passions, skills, and talents to reach their full potential and discover music careers they could pursue. The J Dilla Music Tech Grant program helps extend career pathways to students, building critical vocational skills, acquiring practical knowledge, and supporting sustainable employment opportunities in their futures. There is an immediate need in music and entertainment for strategic investment and collective support of creative college and career pathways for thousands of qualified young people. The efforts to promote music production careers will ultimately give rise to a more diverse, dynamic, and inclusive industry. By allowing young people to create and develop their musical ideas and sharing with them the tools to get started, we can improve accessibility for people from all backgrounds and put them in positions to succeed.
“Beginning with CEO, Chairman, and President roles across 70 major and independent music companies, only 4.2% are Black executives.”
– USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, 2021
Below are some of the most well-renowned organizations led by musicians, culture bearers, executives, and advocates who are strategically promoting and investing in student pathways to music careers. They do this by creating opportunities for young people to obtain apprenticeships, scholarships, and internships in the industry as well as publishing resources that may inspire those to pursue music careers.
#HowWeListen from Byta
#HowWeListen is passing on the knowledge that tomorrow’s artists and industry leaders require to be successful, including weekly interviews with music industry professionals and artists, events, workshops, articles, resources and industry insights.
1500 SOUND ACADEMY
1500 Sound Academy strives to produce passionate sound creators through mentorship and professional development. The state-of-the-art music school offers comprehensive courses in Music Production, Engineering, Songwriting, Mixing, Music Business, and Artist Branding to aspiring professionals. These courses allow students to learn the principles of recording music, working with music production technology, and marketing themselves, all of which help to find the best path in their music careers.
CMA WORKING IN HARMONY
The Country Music Association (CMA) and Discovery Education have partnered to inspire a new generation of STEAM problem-solvers and creative innovators with digital education resources spotlighting diverse careers in the Country Music industry.
EL SISTEMA STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES BOARD
El Sistema USA has compiled a list of student opportunities that are relevant to current El Sistema USA students from the field (instrumental ensemble music). These include summer music festivals, youth leadership opportunities, scholarships, and webinars.
CAREERS IN MUSIC
The NAMM Foundation and NFHS have collaboratively published resources featuring hundreds of careers in the music industry. In addition to the traditional paths of performance and teaching, music can provide life-long, secure, and rewarding music industry careers for a lifetime. Check out the Careers in Music lesson plans!
IN SESSION TALKS
Inspired by the film Respect and the life of icon and activist Aretha Franklin, In Session Talks is a series of master classes with lesson guides that celebrate performers, composers, and music industry professionals to encourage the next generation of artists and leaders and help them pursue careers in music production and performance.
LIVE OUT L!VE FOUNDATION
Live Out L!ve Foundation connects Black and Latinx teens and young adults from marginalized communities to free educational resources, experiences, and job opportunities in the live music industry—beyond the main stage. LOL is committed to uplifting the community, providing access, and setting the stage for the next generation to pursue careers in touring and booking.
MUSIC FORWARD FOUNDATION
Music Forward is helping youth turn their passion for music into professions, both on-stage and behind the scenes. Their programs, including internships, scholarships, and career development, help young people who have a passion for music develop skills to secure employment in the music industry.
ONRAMP
The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) are in partnership to launch, sustain, and support “OnRamp,” a guaranteed income program for young, Black members of the music community. The OnRamp program, focused on improving inclusivity and equity within Nashville, aims to empower the next generation of leaders in the early stages of their careers.
TEACH MUSIC
In response to the teacher shortage, a Music Educator Workforce Coalition has been formed to help find resources and solutions to the immediate, short-term, and longer-term challenges facing the music educator workforce, working to retain, shepherd, and recruit the next generation of music educators.
THE DIGILOGUE
The Digilogue is a diverse music and tech community of creators and industry professionals. They curate conversations and programming around industry education, career resources, and artist discovery content.
THE SESSIONS
Seize the opportunity to learn about careers and the music industry from the biggest names in music. The Sessions’ mission includes interactive university events and hundreds of inspiring interviews with artists free to view online.
WELL DUNN FOUNDATION
The Well Dunn Foundation provides inclusive and equitable experiences to socioeconomically diverse students who exhibit talent and passion that helps them realize their aspirations to work in the music and entertainment industry. Well Dunn connects young people to mentoring, networking, internships, and scholarship opportunities.
Save The Music Foundation does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information provided by the listed organizations. See Full Terms of Use here.