PROJECT PARTNERS
How can we best help the majority of working musicians left out of the financial rewards of the current music ecosystem?
Given declining income streams, how can we imagine new sources of income and advocate for ecosystem pay reform?
In 2020, we embarked on multi-phase research efforts with these guiding questions in mind: All with a focus on live performance - something no new technology will ever replace - also the main source of income and a fulfillment of deep desire for working musicians.
We tackled these questions working together with musicians from diverse backgrounds, music fans and presenters, arts/music funders, professional membership organizations, union organizers and activists, and scientists and researchers. Ours has been a broadly collaborative project incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion as means toward increased community support, a greater degree of dignity, and ultimately, a stronger sense of belonging.
This is Version 1.3 of the Guidelines, a living document that we will continue to revisit, workshop and revise with allies and community partners as needed over time. So we encourage you to share your feedback as well through this short survey. Whippoorwill Arts is available and eager to work with organizations one-on-one to plan ways to transform their practices and relationships with working musicians - so we all benefit.
Let’s do this together!
Live Performance Pay & Professional Protections Guidelines Project Advisory Board
Aaron Fowler (Artist, President Local 1000 Touring Musicians)
Aric Steinberg (Sweet Relief Musicians Fund)
Benjamin Hunter (Musician, Artistic Director Northwest FolkLife)
Beverly Keel (Dean of the College of Media and Entertainment, Middle Tennessee State University)
Chelsea Crowell (Musician and Advocate)
Chris Wadsworth (Founder Freshgrass Foundation)
David Holland (Western States Arts Federation
Ellen Angelico (Musician, AFM Local 257)
Erin MacAnally (Musician and Advocate)
Gaelynn Lea (Musician, RAMPD)
Jim Nunally (Musician, Record Producer)
Kamara Thomas (Musician, Whippoorwill Fellow)
Lilli Lewis (Musician)
Mario Guarnieri (Musician, Founder Jazz in the Neighborhood, Independent Musicians Alliance)
Michelle Conceison (Associate Professor of Music Business, Middle Tennessee State University and CEO, Mmgt)
Precious Perez (Musician, Executive Committee of RAMPD)
Rachel Rodriguez (Musician)