New Music USA Launches Program for Small Contemporary Music Groups

"New Music Inc" will be available in Baltimore, Chicago, and New York City, with applications closing on June 12, 2023

After several trial runs, New Music USA has launched its new New Music Inc program — an incubator initiative that aims to provide small, artist-led new music groups with much-needed funding and coaching. The program will be offered in three cities: Baltimore, Chicago, and New York City.

The organization envisions New Music Inc as a cohort environment where mentors can help new music groups to tackle the specific industry hurdles they face.

Over the course of a twelve to eighteen-month period, participating groups will receive a range of hands-on, skill-building opportunities, facilitated by a Program Coordinator based in their city. Financial support will also be provided for the duration of the course.

Topics covered in the sessions may include audience development, fundraising, marketing, equity and diversity, board development, and other areas of strategic planning, but can also be tailored to suit the group's specific needs.

You can apply here; applications should be received by June 12, 2023.

"New Music Inc reflects our belief that multi-faceted support — combining financial help with connectivity, learning, and sharing of experience — provides organizations with the strongest catalyst for long-term change," said Vanessa Reed, the President and CEO of New Music USA.

"We are grateful to our funders in New York, Chicago and Baltimore for enabling us to invest time and resources that will have ripple effects across the music communities and cities taking part."

"Being a New Music USA Capacity Building grantee has been key to the development of Die Jim Crow Records," said BL Shirelle, the Co-Executive Director of Die Jim Crow Records — which was part of the Capacity Building Program on which New Music Inc is based.

"In conjunction with the actual grant itself, the mentorship and consultation New Music USA provides is invaluable. It has helped us tremendously with building our infrastructure in a methodical way, setting and achieving attainable goals, and maximizing every resource in an effort to expand our bandwidth."