help us help those who make music and make music happen

We believe that music is essential to a good quality of life. Music has a key presence in most of our celebrations, ceremonies, milestones and memories. Music can lift our spirits, fuel romance, help us grieve and support countless emotions and monumental events. We usually have a favorite song or group while growing up. We dance to “our song” with our first love or at our wedding. We share our music with our kids and learn what their favorites become. These are usually famous songs and famous musicians. Those famous artists were once just regular people, who were driven to share their creativity. Most had to start at the bottom. 

Musicians usually learn to play in their bedroom or in the school band. Once they can play well enough and learn to play covers or write their own music, they often join or form their own group. They then try to play at parties or a local venue where they live. If they are good enough, they can get public “gigs” and will collect a following. This following usually starts with their friends and slowly grows by word of mouth and people who happen to be at the party or bar and like what they hear. The new fans then bring a friend and so on. This takes time. 

The parties and venues rarely pay much, if at all. Sometimes the bar gives the band door or bar sales. If they have 10 people paying $5 at the door, that’s $50. Bands are often 4 people or more. That $50 has to be shared between the members of the band for 2-3 hours of playing. Some bands have to drive to neighboring towns, so that $50 may not even cover gas. Popular bands may work several nights a week. If they are lucky they are paid $200 a night. That’s $50 for each of the 4 or more band members. If they play 3 nights a week, that’s $150 a week, minus food, gas and wear and tear on the car and instruments.  

We have been working closely with musicians for over 6 years. We have watched them and had personal conversations. We know these scenarios to be very realistic. These are usually young people who could be our own children. Most have left home but struggle just to survive. They often have a minimum wage job, have aged out of their parent's health insurance coverage, are trying to pay for rent and food but are still trying their best to hone their craft, share it with the world and hope to make it to a level where they can get their heads above water. These scenarios do not provide for decent food, doctor visits, repairs to their vehicles or replacement of stolen or broken gear. 

This demographic suffers from a disproportionate amount of depression, anxiety, drug addiction and overdoses from having creative minds, facing their difficult paths and trying to cope. They endure this way of life because they have to make music and share it with others. It is in their souls and their DNA. Without them, we would not have all the music in our lives that has defined our moments, inspired us, touched our worlds and helped us soldier on. Most of us cannot imagine a world without music. 

We at The Music Collective Foundation are just as passionate about helping these artists continue and thrive. We have the ability to offer support in ways that we have learned can ease their burden.  We have access to ElectraLand Radio, which is listened to by millions of people worldwide. Offering free access to this large, worldwide audience fulfills their main objective of getting known and helps to remove huge barriers they face in trying to build that audience, person by person. 

Public awareness then creates opportunities for income.  

Let’s say Band X or Musician Y lives in Lake City, Florida, which is a town of about 12,500 people. The closest larger cities are Jacksonville, Gainesville and Tallahassee. X or Y might have a decent following in Lake City but might not have any recognition in the larger cities where there are more opportunities to play. If a large audience has heard and liked X or Y already, and learns that they are coming to town, they are more likely to show up and buy a ticket, a beer, a t-shirt or their music. This puts money in X or Y's pockets much faster than coming to town and having two people come to their show. Our access to that large audience across the country translates into free promotion for the musicians prior to their shows. 

The Music Collective Foundation works in conjunction with and will help support ElectraLand Radio. By working together, The Music Collective Foundation can continue the work needed to serve the mission of the nonprofit. We have seen the success of this symbiosis at play many times.

With this collaboration, The Foundation can also help X or Y get a following outside of their home country with our access to ElectraLand Radio's large, worldwide audience. If X or Y wants to travel abroad, they can already have grown a fanbase through our work. One example is with a band from Orlando, FL, who gained a fan club in Greece. The people in Greece would not have heard them otherwise. They will now have an audience if they go to Greece. 

There was a band from Gainesville, FL that had a large jump in music sales after an album release show was aired on ElectraLand Radio. We have these and many other examples to show that our work and support is helping. We know this is a sound investment of resources that truly and directly serves the artists.  

Let's say X or Y has a gig in Jacksonville. They just renewed their car insurance with The Music Collective Foundation’s preferred insurance affiliate, and got a great discount, so they know they are covered. They check their gear and realize they are out of guitar strings and picks, so they stop at our preferred music store to stock up before hitting the road. Damn! They get a flat tire on their way to Jacksonville. With a membership in The Music Collective Foundation, instead of missing their show and sitting on the side of the road, they call our preferred provider for towing, get their tire fixed at another provider and go on their way with a great discount or, better yet, for free. After the gig they’re hungry and can stop to eat at one of our food affiliates, at a reduced price. This all helps keep their hard-earned and limited income in their pockets to be used for other needs. Without these services, X or Y has gone into the hole trying to play a show to make money. 

We have been waiting to see a band before, only to have them not show up because of car trouble. We know this is a very real scenario. Under the caring and supportive arm of The Music Collective Foundation, our preferred affiliates make money and get publicity, X or Y is happily on their way to the gig, the fans get to see the show and we know that we made a big difference and contributed to finding the next Eddie Van Halen! It’s a win for everyone involved. 

The Music Collective Foundation will fund the infrastructure and staff that are needed to find and bargain with preferred affiliates. The created network of affiliates will serve the member's needs. We will build and implement the benefits of the membership to serve all who apply and qualify. We will also use funds to publicize The Music Collective Foundation in order to reach and serve more members who are in need.