$724,900 in funding for your music is waiting.
Myxxy for Creators
The ultimate platform for music creators to connect with decision-makers actively seeking fresh talent.
It's December, and as always --- the air is filled with the promise of new opportunities and endless possibilities!
In this edition:
The Overlooked Goldmine ??
My purpose for this newsletter is to highlight an unconventional journey, challenge traditional views, and motivate you to experiment with new avenues to fund your music endeavors.
We all know launching a music career and business is challenging, especially when you are self-financing everything, also known as bootstrapping.
Bootstrapping refers to the practice of funding and managing one's music career with minimal external (financial and professional) assistance.
Instead of relying on external investors, loans, advances, or large-scale funding (record label and publishing), music creators take a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach, using their own resources, like personal savings, income typically earned through a 9-5 job, or other sources of income (gig work), to support various aspects of their music endeavors.
While bootstrapping allows music creators to maintain greater control over their work and make decisions aligned with their artistic vision, it also leads to these drawbacks.
?? Financial stress: Relying exclusively on personal income will create financial limitations. The costs associated with launching and growing a music career can be substantial, and self-funding through one-income source may not consistently meet these financial demands.
Let's not forget that income from our everyday jobs must still cover personal responsibilities such as rent, insurance, childcare (if applicable), groceries, and more.
???? Limited Resources for Marketing: Adequate marketing is crucial for gaining visibility in the music industry. Only relying on one income source will restrict the budget available for promotional activities, in turn limiting artist's ability to reach a broader audience.
?? Potential Burnout: Juggling a full-time job and a music career can lead to burnout if not managed properly. The demands of both endeavors may become overwhelming, impacting the artist's overall well-being and creativity.
?? Dependency on Job Stability: A sudden loss of a day job, a decrease in income, or higher cost of goods (food etc.) may significantly impact the artist's ability to fund their music career. It introduces a level of financial instability that can be challenging to navigate.
Despite these drawbacks, many successful musicians have started and grown their careers by diversifying their self-funding efforts, and you can too.
It's crucial for music creators to weigh the advantages of diversifying their self-funding efforts by exploring additional funding options or income streams to advance their careers.
One way music creators can diversify their self-funding efforts is through
grants -- let's get into it.
Cheers To The Path Less Traveled ??
Today, my emphasis is on grants and how music creators can leverage this financial support to independently finance their music careers.
When we make choices that are unconventional, uncommon, or less popular, we forge our own path to success.- Mikita Nelson
Grants are financial awards given by organizations, institutions, government agencies, or foundations.
Unlike loans, grants do not need to be repaid, making them a form of non-repayable financial assistance.
The problem is that 99% of these funding opportunities go unnoticed due to a lack of awareness.
Friday we added around $600k in funding from various organizations, institutions, government agencies, and foundations that are currently accepting applications to our database, Myxxy. Cool right ??
Finding your own grants ??
Let's explore three ways to find grants you are likely to win!
?? One of the best ways to easily find and stay ahead of new grants is to utilize an online grant database and platform that collects information on available grants.
Here are a few options you can take advantage : general websites like Grant Watch and Grant Station which cover funding across all industries but may lack specific music-related grants.
Alternatively, utilizing a specialized platform like Myxxy for Creators which focuses only on offering a comprehensive lists of free grants, exposure, & income opportunities tailored exclusively to independent music creators.
Advantages: Efficient, centralized information, saves hours of time, easy to search, always up-to-date so you never miss out.
Keep in mind: Some platforms may require high subscription fees like GrantWatch ($18 wkly, $45 monthly, etc) and Grant Station ($179 one year membership) or a one-time payment for life time access($35) like Myxxy for Creators
?? Local Arts Councils and Cultural Organizations:
Description: Explore opportunities provided by local arts councils and cultural organizations. They may offer grants or resources to support local musicians.
Advantages: Tailored to local needs and community support.
Keep in mind: Opportunities from local councils are geographically constrained, excluding musicians outside the specific area served by the organization.
?? Web Searches
Description: Regularly conduct web searches for grants using search engines like google, bing, yahoo.
Advantages: Access to a wide range of possibilities.
Keep in mind: This requires consistent effort, hours of manual research, and may yield less curated results.
What would you do if you won $10,000 ????
Meet Rob Roa better known as Fono who recently one his first $10,000 grant and is more motivated than ever to secure his next. Fono recently joined Myxxy for creators to save time, stay ahead of new grants, and supercharge his search for more funding to invest in his music business.
?What specific event or moment ignited your initial interest in applying for grants?
I DJ'd a Cinco De Mayo event for the Detroit Hispanic Development Corp, connecting me with fellow Hispanic entrepreneurs. This gig exposed me to a valuable community resource and landed me on their mailing list, leading to the grant I recently received.
?Prior to actively pursuing grant opportunities, what held you back from investing time and effort into grant funding?
I just didn’t have the knowledge or the courage to apply for or even learn the definition of a grant. I was stubborn, and my ego held me back from asking for help.
?Many music creators feel lost, stuck, unsure, and believe there is no financial help available. What would you say to these creators who lack confidence or don't know where to begin?
Believe in yourself! Have faith that it will all come together. Set intention to make it work and stick to it. Fear is a sickness. It will hold you back. Don’t listen to the doubters the naysayers. Eliminate and fear mongers from your circles. Find other people that do what you do and support them. Go to other shows and show love. You could learn so much by just helping other people grow. There is no excuse!!!! Go get that money, have a plan or have someone help you create a plan so you can stay?focused and not spread yourself too thin.
Here are few grants to get you started that i've pulled from the Myxxy for Creators database to get you started.
All Roads Lead To Other Peoples Money ??
?? 2024 MAP Fund Grant
MAP will invest $2.8M in the performance sector during this grant cycle. More than 90 grantees will receive a $25,000 grant for the creation and development of new, live performance projects, a $5,000 unrestricted general operating grant, and a $1,000 microgrant to redistribute to another artist in their community.
Award amount: $31,000.00
Deadline: 12/19/2023
Open to anyone in the US
Apply here: https://mapfund.submittable.com/submit/ca95c447-e64b-4be1-8f7d-7a727dd5170c/2024-map-fund-grant-application
??The New Music Creator Fund
The New Music Creator Fund offers grants to individual music creators who need support to get to the next stage of their creative practice.
$180,000 to $300,000
Deadline: December 14, 2023
Open to anyone in the US
??Black Music City
Now in its fourth year, Black Music City is a program that calls upon Black creatives in the greater Philadelphia area (PA, NJ, DE) working in any creative medium to submit their project ideas honoring Philly's Black music history and apply for a project grant.
Selected artists will receive a grant of $1,500-$5,000 each to bring their projects to life.
Total awarded: $125,000.00
Deadline: January, 31, 2024
Open to anyone in Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware
Apply here: https://www.blackmusiccity.com/apply
??Chamber Music America’s?New Jazz Works?program
Chamber Music America’s?New Jazz Works?program provides grants to jazz ensembles based in the U.S., its territories, and Indian country supporting the creation, performance, and recording of new jazz works.
The new work may be composed by the ensemble leader or another member of the ensemble/collective.
$37,000.00
Deadline: February 1, 2024, 11:59 PM ET
Apply here: https://cma.submittable.com/submit
??The Performing Musicians Fund
The Performing Musicians Fund supports activities that help Yukon musicians build sustainable careers in the music industry.
$10,000 to $30,000
Deadline: April 2, 2024
Open to : Yukon musicians
??Every Artists Has an Audience Fund
Our grant program is designed to help aspiring music artists discover and develop their audiences by providing $1,000 digital marketing grants to 10 independent artists twice a year
Total amount awarded $20,000
Open to all music creators
Apply here : https://hellor2rlabs.wispform.com/cd73964e
??The Black Artists Grant (BAG)
The Black Artists Grant (BAG) by Creative Debuts is a no-strings attached financial support to help Black creatives based in the U.K.
This grant has been set up because Black artists are systematically under-supported by the art world; by institutions, curators, the artist-led scene, major and minor funding bodies, the market, art schools, and by audiences.
￡500
Open to : U.K. music creators
?? Help Musicians: Touring and?live
You can apply for financial support of up to ￡5,000?towards the cost of performing live and touring.
Live performance and touring can have a?huge impact on your career?—?allowing you to build your fanbase, increase confidence, improve your craft, test new ideas and generate income.
This support focuses not only on helping you to perform live, but also on your wellbeing and long-term business development.
￡5,000.00
Open to : U.K. music musicians
Apply here: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/get-support/develop-as-a-musician/develop-your-music/touring
While these mentioned opportunities might not be right for you (or are right for you) be confident that a wealth of financial assistance is available to you—it's just a matter of knowing how to find it as I mentioned earlier.
Community Spotlight ??
Next now is a new series that highlights amazing members of the Myxxy for Creators community who are creating their own path to success by committing to the road less traveled.
Here are 3 amazing music creators who have found success on their own terms!
?? Meet Edubb302 and why he loves the Myxxy platform
Since I've started using Myxxy I've realized that I have been missing out on a single database with all the opportunities necessary for an indie artist trying to grow rapidly. From sync opportunities, record exec exposure, festival opportunities, competitions and radio stations, if you are in need of a direction the site leaves no question.
It's ease of use and direct links make it my go to when I'm submitting for opportunities. This hidden gem needs to be apart of every music creators toolbox. You know it's good when you gotta question who you wanna share it with lol.
Follow him on Spotify and check out his new music here https://open.spotify.com/track/6XUP6PdgWZCmYUWQazEGk3
?? Meet Craymo and why he loves the Myxxy platform
Myxxy is a great database! I can search through opportunities to find the ones that are currently accepting submissions and submit my music to them.
Follow him on Spotify and check out his new music here https://open.spotify.com/track/1QI2ZNPS1gS35P05oZGqLV?si=88a78184e8dc476d&nd=1&dlsi=06e5880a05454cb5
?? Meet Saint Josh and why he loves the Myxxy platform
I love the benefit of getting to submit to new opportunities every week. I also love that you guys are constantly adding new and huge opportunities for lesser-known artist! One YES can really change the trajectory of everything.
I am really grateful for this platform, thank you for creating it! I am excited to see what's to come!
Follow him on Spotify and check out his new music here https://open.spotify.com/track/2EwRcVJO1rZfviZpeAuuv6?si=423769410151437e&nd=1&dlsi=5d292eaffd7f4260
Well thats all my loves! I hope this edition has opened your eyes to the possibilities that are waiting for you to take advantage of . Just take action and start applying for funding.
Visit: www.trymyxxy.com and start browsing 600+ funding, exposure, and income opportunities to submit your music to.
Best,
Mikita