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The Northwest Music Fund:  Reshaping how we think about music support

- NMF Feedback Project - Help for bands
- About the Northwest Music Fund

Northwest Music Fund Feedback Project

NMF Feedback Project
It helps good bands become great and great bands become amazing.  It helps bring the best artist out of each participant and gives music appreciators better music to hear.

The NMF Feedback Project gives positive critique and advice to developing bands.  Artists learn what they can from books and general workshops, then it’s time for Feedback to give them specific suggestions from people with experience to share.

Helping Artists Who Help Themselves
All Northwest Music Fund grants are limited to artists who actively work on their art careers.  NPA supports artists who have a spark of artistic greatness and who demonstrate their own initiative.  The NW Music Fund meets artists part-way to invest in promising talent.

How It Works
Before the workshop, an experienced panel of music industry talent (producers, engineers, managers, artists, voice coaches, etc.) reviews the artists’ recordings and career plans.  During the workshop, artists, panel, and a few guests meet at a large venue with a professional stage but no public audience (the Seattle Theatre Group donates use of the Moore Theatre).  After the band performs, the panel critiques the live performance, recordings, press materials, and career plans.  Unlike most workshops, it’s comprehensive and customized to the artists.

More Than One Day:  Follow-up
It’s easy to fall back into patterns and advice doesn’t always sink in right away.  Bands check with each panelist after 6-8 months to discuss what they've changed and how they're doing.

Success
The pilot session served four bands that received grants to participate: Friends for Heroes, drop six, Quasi Nada, and Vast Capital.  It was exciting, showing the promise of music's future in a truly successful test session.  Bands received valuable, customized advice and panelists enjoyed a chance to help new talent.  With room to improve, we're giving ourselves an "A" on this one.

Applications
Please check back for updates on future feedback sessions.

Please Support This Innovative Program Today
Visit our contribution page for ways you can contribute online, by mail, or by phone.

Many thanks to our panelists: Paul Speer (producer), Carla DeSantis (publisher, RKRGRL), Sue Ennis (songwriter, performer, Heart, the Lovemongers), Tonya Terbrueggen (Seattle Booking), Kelly Kerr Callaway (voice coach, performer), Manny Hadlock (Bear Creek Studios), Joe Hadlock (Bear Creek Studios), Julian Martlew (engineer, Mudhoney), Katrina Lehmann (music manager, vocalist, Groove Box Studios)

If you wish to contribute to support this work, please visit our contribution page!

How the Northwest Music Fund Works

The Northwest Music Fund supports musical artist development in popular musical styles typically ineligible for other grants.  NPA hopes to add to the experiences of others towards a working model for non-profit artist development in the U.S.

NMF specifically funds:

  • Early recordings (demos) through grants.
  • Early recordings (singles, albums) through grants and revolving loans.
  • Career assistance through workshops and subsidized career plan consulting.
  • Tour assistance through subsidized check-out of NMF tour vans and trailers.
  • Special Opportunity grants for unique showcasing, recording, or other unforeseen opportunities that arise.

NMF does not currently fund:

  • Duplication or pressing of finished works or large capital investments.
  • Artists or groups primarily performing styles that are better represented by other grant programs, such as jazz, classical, traditional blues, or traditional folk music. Hybrid styles likely to be overlooked or disqualified by other programs will be considered.
  • Artists who, by their own declaration, are financially self-sufficient and do not require additional funds to develop their art.
  • Artists who have already received significant national attention or are already well-funded. (include those with lucrative record deals, national distribution, or a history of national press).
  • Artists primarily residing outside of the Northwestern United States.

Applicants are reviewed by a committee including musical peers, music industry members, and related arts and business members.  All applicants MUST submit a career plan to ensure that funding goes to artists who will make good use of the support.  NPA will support applicants in creating their career plans and hopes that this process itself will assist artists in their development.

NMF uses its funds to back a smaller number of artists with enough support to make a significant difference in their development.  NMF is funded through individual and corporate patronage as well as sponsor dollars exceeding costs of producing NPA events.  Monetary and in-kind support are welcomed.  

NPA recognizes that music granting can neither be perfect nor infinite.  There will undoubtedly be worthy artists for whom no funding will be available or who may be otherwise turned down.  Nonetheless, it is NPA's hope that whatever contribution it makes will be a significant step in supported emerging musical artists.

 
 
NMF grant recipients and Seattle Music Fest performers can be heard on Emergence Radio Northwest. NPA's official internet radio partner.

 

Applications for Recording, Touring, Special Opportunities

NPA will begin granting in these areas when the fund and donated items (e.g. vans) have built to a sufficient level.  Interested artists should watch for announcements and workshops and should fill out the e-mail alert list informa