Project Music


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About

Project Music is strategically located  in Nashville, Tennessee, a city that has already established its credibility as a music industry hub.   After all, it is called Music City.   The city has a deep history of innovation around music, having planted the seeds for the music ...

 

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Contact

Publicist
Samantha Brickler
812-339-1195

Current News

  • 07/20/201607/20/2016

One-Tap Collaboration: RecordGram Brings Top Producers’ Tracks to Aspiring Artists and Passionate Fans on New App

One day, multi-platinum recording artist MIMS had an idea. He had to share it with his manager, Erik Mendelson. “I’m a gadget freak, from early on. I want to be creative in this way, too,” says MIMS. “I come up with all these crazy ideas, and sometimes he perks up. I had an idea for an app that would allow consumers to create their own original song with their favorite producers. ”

The idea gradually evolved into RecordGram, an app that connects award-winning...

Press

News

07/20/2016, One-Tap Collaboration: RecordGram Brings Top Producers’ Tracks to Aspiring Artists and Passionate Fans on New App
07/20/201607/20/2016, One-Tap Collaboration: RecordGram Brings Top Producers’ Tracks to Aspiring Artists and Passionate Fans on New App
Announcement
07/20/2016
Announcement
07/20/2016
RecordGram is an app that connects award-winning and up-and-coming producers with aspiring vocalists and artists. With one tap, users can lease beats for a very small fee, record audio and video, keep track of their lyrics, monitor their vocal performance, and share their creations in app with other RecordGram users. MORE» More»

One day, multi-platinum recording artist MIMS had an idea. He had to share it with his manager, Erik Mendelson. “I’m a gadget freak, from early on. I want to be creative in this way, too,” says MIMS. “I come up with all these crazy ideas, and sometimes he perks up. I had an idea for an app that would allow consumers to create their own original song with their favorite producers. ”

The idea gradually evolved into RecordGram, an app that connects award-winning and up-and-coming producers with aspiring vocalists and artists. With one tap, users can lease beats for a very small fee, record audio and video, keep track of their lyrics, monitor their vocal performance, and share their creations in app with other RecordGram users and across all other social networks. Producers upload full instrumentals to the app for users to play with, and get a share of the income from this in-app use of their tracks.

“We wanted to create a way aspiring artists around the world can collaborate with producers, with a touch of the button,” explains Mendelson. “We wanted to make the collaboration and creative process simple, convenient, and affordable, while creating new revenue streams for producers.”

The idea continued to evolve as the team, which includes Grammy-winning DJ Blackout, participated in Project Music, the first technology business accelerator dedicated to the future of the fast-changing music industry. Along with six other music tech startups and a not-for-profit ensemble, the RecordGram team honed their business-building skills, developed influential contacts, and attracted impressive investments. Now in its second year, the Project Music Accelerator is a partnership between the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) and the Country Music Association (CMA).

RecordGram’s founders had a lot more than intriguing, crazy ideas going for them. A lifelong music obsessive, Mendelson had decades of experience in the music business, thanks to stints in radio promo for Elektra and Jive/Sony, where he helped break Chris Brown and T-Pain, as well as extensive success in management and marketing. One of his management coups: Helping MIMS score a major label deal. MIMS has several hits and successful albums under his belt, as well as a penchant for brainstorms that feed his passion for tech.

This didn’t make the road to developing and launching RecordGram an easy one. Because of the app’s model and new form of licensing, “Lots of doors were not opening. This was a new thing. We’re used to having the doors open in the music business,” muses MIMS. “As we dealt with the bumps in the road, I kept coming up with new ideas. We decided to forget about licensing content, and to create new content. We decided to empower aspiring songwriters, so they can create their own music.”

They can also share their creations on The Stage, RecordGram’s social community, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. “RecordGram fills a void for creators, for people who are just starting out or are very passionate amateurs,” says Mendelson. “At the same time, we’re not just making a cool platform for amateur artists, we were creating a platform for producers.”

Producers have struggled to find new income sources to make up for falling sales in the digital music era. The RecordGram crew wanted to address that need by making a platform where producers could register and effectively lease their beats, lending them to creators for limited use--but giving them powerful inspiration to make and share music.

“We have brought it all together in a single app. We are a fully integrated mobile production store for beats. We’re an audio and video recording studio, and we also have a social network,” Mendelson notes. “We’re geared toward the amateur kids who just want to have fun with music. If you can’t afford a producer's fee or studio time, you can still make really cool tracks.”

Visit http://www.recordgram.com for more info and download the app here.

About the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC):

The EC, with offices at 41 Peabody Street in the Rutledge Hill area, was founded as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 economic development initiative of the Nashville business community with a vision to become the best place in America for entrepreneurship. Its mission is to connect entrepreneurs with critical resources to create, launch, and grow businesses. For more information, visit http://www.ec.co/.

About Project Music, An EC Initiative:

Project Music is the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s leading action to support innovation within the music industry, a core business vertical in Nashville's economy. To meet the unique needs of music-minded entrepreneurs building music-centric business, the EC is providing a year-round music entrepreneurship focus that brings music, tech and business leaders together to nurture startups desiring to grow music industry revenue. The program’s capstone is the annual four-month-long Accelerator. For more information, visit http://www.projectmusic.co/.

About the Country Music Association (CMA):

Founded in 1958, the CMA was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. More than 7,300 music industry professionals and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which celebrates its 50thAnniversary this year of recognizing outstanding achievement in the industry; the CMA Music Festival, which benefits music education and is taped for a three-hour TV special; and “CMA Country Christmas,” featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics. All of CMA’s television properties will air on the ABC Television network through 2021. For more information, visit http://www.cmaworld.com/

Announcement
07/20/2016

05/23/2016, Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Country Music Association’s Project Music Startups Gain Skills, Knowledge, Contacts, and Capital
05/23/201605/23/2016, Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Country Music Association’s Project Music Startups Gain Skills, Knowledge, Contacts, and Capital
Announcement
05/23/2016
Announcement
05/23/2016
Project Music, the first technology business accelerator dedicated to the future of the fast-changing music industry, is sending off seven music tech startups and a not-for-profit ensemble with business-building skills, influential contacts, and impressive investments. MORE» More»

Project Music, the first technology business accelerator dedicated to the future of the fast-changing music industry, is sending off seven music tech startups and a not-for-profit ensemble with business-building skills, influential contacts, and impressive investments. Now in its second year, the Project Music Accelerator is a partnership between the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) and the Country Music Association (CMA).

On May 16th, the Project Music 2016 Accelerator celebrated completing the 16-week program that provides curriculum, community, connections, and capital to each ambitious team. Since January, the startups have been immersed in the music industry, with 43 guest speakers in the first week alone. They’ve developed expertise in business fundamentals, technology, relationship-building, and more.

This year’s cohort includes seven music-centric tech startups, including RecordGram, a mobile music and video recording studio connecting artists and producers. RecordGram’s CEO, Erik Mendelson, said, “I learned that music executives in Nashville are really looking for technology to solve problems within the music industry." Another is NiceChart, a sheet music customization technology that adjusts arrangements to fit any ensemble's instrumentation and player proficiencies. NiceChart CEO Steve Morell commented, “The music industry can be a tough circle to break into without an introduction, and Project Music helped us gain access to influential and knowledgeable professionals who really understand our product.”

Most participants, like Ayinde Arnett, expect high-speed growth as their ventures apply new tactics. Arnett is CEO of UpNext, a game-based music discovery platform promoting emerging musicians. He found the most valuable lessons to be “a better sense of structure in operating our startup (and) time management skills to balance product milestones, key stakeholder conversations, customer development, Accelerator curriculum, and myriad other items that are on the daily laundry list. Project Music has helped us kick UpNext into full gear.”

And participant Kelly Corcoran said, "I know better how to promote Intersection now that I've met so many advisors and community members who were unfamiliar with our work. I learned to succinctly craft a pitch and story that is compelling, trusted, visionary, unique, smart, and passionate." She is Artistic Director of Intersection, which is a not-for-profit collective expanding how audiences experience contemporary classical music.  Intersection joined Project Music as part of a partnership with the Social Enterprise Alliance and benefited from the program’s curriculum and industry connections to launch Contempo Kids, an education program for grade school children.

As the startups have gained acumen, their goals, missions, and strategies have evolved, with EC staff and over 70 advisors helping them navigate transitions. For example, David Blutenthal, CEO of SnapWave, remarked, “The program taught me to systematically validate problem-solution fit, which led to our product pivot and a re-brand from Moodsnap to Snapwave.” His platform facilitates photographers and music fans combining images and songs in immersive ways. Aladdin Shchaslyvyi more than agreed with Blutenthal. His company is Concert.Expert, which teaches artists to gain fans and bookings, and he enthused, “I gained so many insights talking to experts that we changed our target audience, our idea, everything. This early pivot helped us to launch our community for indie artists by March 21st, run customer development, fully develop four tools for artists, and gain over 10,000 US subscribers. It could have taken us ten years to gain the insights we got within three months from Project Music!”

The other two startups participating this year are MyFansDemand, a platform making interaction possible between musicians and fans during performances, and Canada’s Notetracks, a workflow tool for recording and sharing audio projects.

This year’s marriage of the final Nashville Startup Showcase with the annual Music Biz Convention continues to raise the profile of Project Music, the EC, and the participants.   At the Nashville Startup Showcase and at a previously held New York Demo Day, the startups presented final pitches to potential backers and strategic partners.

“This year’s Accelerator investors represent virtually every aspect of the music industry, not only providing funding, but supporting the startups that will emerge from it with mentorship and possible partnership,” Heather McBee, EC VP of Accelerator Programming stated. They include labels, publishers, artists, managers, and others from Landscape Capital, Shopkeeper Management, Maverick, BBR Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Vector Management, UMG Nashville, Beth Lee & Thom Oliphant, Red Light Management, RCA Recording Artist Chris Young, Warner Music Group, and Galante Entertainment.   

“CMA is proud to partner with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center once again on Project Music, proving that Nashville and the Country Music community are dedicated to advancing technology for the industry as a whole with this innovative program,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

“Project Music is leading the charge to define Nashville as THE city for music-minded entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into realities,” noted Sam Lingo, EC President and Acting CEO. “The geographic reach and depth of the 2016 Investor and Sponsor groups shows how the city has become a premier global destination for music tech entrepreneurs.” Leading tech companies, music business professionals, service providers, and others have joined the title sponsor, CMA, to support the program.

The 2016 cohort of startups will continue to benefit from the EC’s alumni programming, which offers additional curriculum and connections. Even better, support from their fellow Project Music alumni and encouragement from the program’s sponsors and investors will buoy their spirits—and hopefully their fortunes—for years to come.

About the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC):

The EC, with offices at 41 Peabody Street in the Rutledge Hill area, was founded as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 economic development initiative of the Nashville business community with a vision to become the best place in America for entrepreneurship. Its mission is to connect entrepreneurs with critical resources to create, launch, and grow businesses. For more information, visit http://www.ec.co/.

About Project Music, An EC Initiative:

Project Music is the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s leading action to support innovation within the music industry, a core business vertical in Nashville's economy. To meet the unique needs of music-minded entrepreneurs building music-centric business, the EC is providing a year-round music entrepreneurship focus that brings music, tech and business leaders together to nurture startups desiring to grow music industry revenue. The program’s capstone is the annual four-month-long Accelerator. For more information, visit http://www.projectmusic.co/.

About the Country Music Association (CMA):

Founded in 1958, the CMA was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. More than 7,300 music industry professionals and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year of recognizing outstanding achievement in the industry; the CMA Music Festival, which benefits music education and is taped for a three-hour TV special; and “CMA Country Christmas,” featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics. All of CMA’s television properties will air on the ABC Television network through 2021. For more information, visit http://www.cmaworld.com/.

Announcement
05/23/2016

12/08/2015, The Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Country Music Association’s Project Music Announces the 2016 Accelerator Cohort
12/08/201512/08/2015, The Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Country Music Association’s Project Music Announces the 2016 Accelerator Cohort
Announcement
12/08/2015
Announcement
12/08/2015
Seven music tech startups will join the sophomore cohort of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) and Country Music Association’s Project Music 2016 Accelerator. These musiccentric startups will be onsite at the EC for a 16week business building program that meets the unique needs of musicminded entrepreneurs. MORE» More»

2016 Application Statistics Revealed

Seven music tech startups will join the sophomore cohort of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) and Country Music Association’s Project Music 2016 Accelerator. These music centric startups will be onsite at the EC for a 16 week business building program that meets the unique needs of musicminded entrepreneurs by surrounding them with the curriculum, community, connections, and capital necessary to turn their ideas into reality.

Project Music saw a 55% increase in applications over the prior year, leading to tough competition for the coveted slots in this unique industryfocused program. The following entrepreneurial ventures were chosen for the 2016 program:

(in alphabetical order)
Concert.Expert: Aladdin Schastlivy (Kiev, Ukraine)
Moodsnap: David Blutenthal (Nashville, TN)
My Fans Demand: Shaun Cavanaugh (Nashville, TN)
nicechart: Steve Morell (San Diego, CA)
notetracks: Kam Lal (Montreal, Canada)
RecordGram: Erik Mendelson (Miami Beach, FL)
Up Next: Ayinde Arnett (Chicago, IL)

Project Music cofounder, Joe Galante, recognizes the impact of the program’s exposure and reach, “The dramatic increase in both applicants and their geographic reach signifies a significant milestone for Project Music. It is the culmination of a great deal of effort at the EC lead by Stuart (McWhorter), Heather (McBee) and our initial investors.” Galante continues, “We look forward to helping this next cohort provide some solutions and opportunities for the entertainment business.”

In addition to growth in the number of applications, Project Music saw an expansion in its global reach and more developed startups submitting for consideration. Applicants in the inaugural year of the program were predominantly ideastage startups from the United States. In year two, over 25% of the applications came from international locations, including Argentina, Nashville sister city, Dublin, Ireland, China, and Australia. Seventy percent of the applicants have at least a working prototype, with half of those having actual users on their platforms.

About Project Music (An EC Initiative):

Project Music is the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s leading action to support innovation within the music industry, a core business vertical in Nashville's economy. To meet the unique needs of
musicminded entrepreneurs building musiccentric business, the EC is providing a year round music entrepreneurship focus that brings music, tech, and business leaders together to nurture startups desiring to grow music industry revenue. The program’s capstone is the annual four monthlong accelerator. The 2016 Accelerator runs January 31 May 18, 2016.

2016 Accelerator Supporters:

Title Sponsor : Country Music Association (CMA)
Platinum Sponsors : YouTube, LaunchTN
Gold Sponsors & Donors : Avenue Bank, BMI, DevDigital, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Patterson Intellectual Property Law, and Rock Paper Scissors, Inc.
Silver Sponsors : Anderson Benson Insurance, Belmont University Curb College of Entertainment and Music, Linda and Doug Howard, Music Business Association, and Beth Lee and Thom Oliphant.
Partners : Flo Thinkery, Baker Donelson, Sherrard & Roe, LBMC, and American Music Water.
Investors: BBR Music Group, RCA recording artist Chris Young, Galante Entertainment, Landscape Capital, Maverick, Red Light Management, Shopkeeper Management, Sony/ATV, Beth Lee and Thom Oliphant, Universal Music Group, Vector Management, and Warner Music Group.
For more information, visit www.projectmusic.co .

About the EC:

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) connects entrepreneurs with the critical resources they need to CREATE, LAUNCH and GROW their businesses. As a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the EC is funded through sponsorships, partnerships, donations, and grants. The EC relies on support from leading corporations, successful entrepreneurs, and those who have a vested interest in the success of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. For more information, visit ec.co .

About CMA:

Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. More than 7,400 music industry professionals and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; the CMA Music Festival, which benefits music education and is taped for a threehour
TV special; and “CMA Country Christmas,” featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics. All of CMA’s television properties will air on the ABC Television network through 2021. For more information, visit CMAworld.com .

Announcement
12/08/2015

11/30/2015, The Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Country Music Association’s Project Music Announces 2016 Accelerator Full Sponsor and Investor Lists Applications Reach Global Heights
11/30/201511/30/2015, The Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Country Music Association’s Project Music Announces 2016 Accelerator Full Sponsor and Investor Lists Applications Reach Global Heights
Announcement
11/30/2015
Announcement
11/30/2015
Sponsors have lined up to support Project Music, a tech accelerator dedicated to the future of the music business. The Country Music Association (CMA), the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and Platinum Sponsors YouTube and LaunchTN are being joined by key business leaders and service providers from national and local industries. MORE» More»

A comprehensive list of sponsors and investors have lined up to support Project Music, the first tech accelerator dedicated to the future of the music business, and its upcoming 2016 program.

Title sponsor, the Country Music Association (CMA), the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, home of Project Music, and Platinum Sponsors YouTube and LaunchTN are being joined by key business leaders and service providers from national and local industries.

2016 Silver Sponsors & Donors are Avenue Bank, BMI, DevDigital, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Patterson Intellectual Property Law, and Rock Paper Scissors, Inc.

2016 Gold Sponsors are Anderson Benson Insurance, Belmont University Curb College of Entertainment and Music, Linda and Doug Howard, Music Business Association and Beth Lee and Thom Oliphant.

Partners for 2016 are Flo Thinkery, Baker Donelson, Sherrard & Roe, LBMC and American Music Water.

Additionally, industry heavyweights have joined the investor group to help provide over $45,000 in funding for each startup chosen to participate in the 2016 accelerator program. Investors for the coming year are Broken Bow Label Group, RCA recording artist Chris Young, Galante Entertainment, Landscape Capital, Maverick, Red Light Management, Shopkeeper Management, Sony/ATV, Beth Lee and Thom Oliphant, Universal Music Group, Vector Management, and Warner Music Group.

“The Project Music accelerator investors for Year 2 represent virtually every aspect of the music industry, not only in providing funding, but also illustrating support for the program and the startups that will emerge from it. The group includes artists, managers, labels, publishers and others, showing support for the goal of identifying opportunities to grow and advance the industry,” notes Heather McBee, Program Director of Project Music.

The Project Music program has already seen substantial growth based on the results of its recent application process, which saw total applicants grow by nearly 55% over 2015, drawing from 19 of the 50 U.S. states. A full 25% of applications came from outside the U.S., originating from five continents, including those from such far-reaching corners of the globe as Argentina, Australia and Azerbaijan.

“Year two of Project Music is leading the charge to define Nashville as THE city for music-minded entrepreneurs to start, launch and grow their businesses,” states Stuart McWhorter, Nashville Entrepreneur Center CEO & President. “The depth of the 2016 Investor and Sponsor groups, coupled with applicants’ diverse hometowns reflect the program’s growth as it becomes known as the premier global destination for music tech entrepreneurship.”

About Project Music (An EC Initiative):

Project Music is the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s leading action to support innovation within the music industry, a core business vertical in Nashville's economy. To meet the unique needs of music-minded entrepreneurs building music-centric business, the EC is providing a year round music entrepreneurship focus that brings music, tech and business leaders together to nurture startups desiring to grow music industry revenue. The program’s capstone is the annual four month-long accelerator. For more information, visit www.projectmusic.co.

About the EC:

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by Turning Ideas Into Reality, helping to start businesses and create jobs. The EC connects entrepreneurs with investors, mentors and the critical resources they need to accelerate the launch of startup businesses. As a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, the Center is funded through sponsorships, partnerships, donations and grants. The EC relies on support from leading corporations, successful entrepreneurs and those who have a vested interest in the EC’s success. For more information, visit ec.co.

About CMA:

Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. More than 7,400 music industry professionals and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; the CMA Music Festival, which benefits music education and is taped for a three-hour TV special; and “CMA Country Christmas,” featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics. All of CMA’s television properties will air on the ABC Television network through 2021. For more information, visit CMAworld.com

Announcement
11/30/2015

09/02/2015, Nashville, TN, Kick Off Event at the Entrepreneur Center
08/28/201509/02/2015, Music Tech Innovation Breeds Connections—and Capital: Application Cycle Opens for Coveted Spots in Nashville’s Project Music Platinum Sponsored by YouTube and Launch Tennessee
Event
09/02/2015
Event
09/02/2015
Venue
Kick Off Event at the Entrepreneur Center
Venue St. Address
41 Peabody Street
Venue City, State
Nashville, TN
Venue Zip
37210
Starting September 1, entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas for the music industry are invited to apply for one of up to eight coveted spots in the Project Music 2016 Accelerator. The partnership of the NEC and CMA is the basis for Project Music, the only music industry-specific business accelerator in the nation. MORE» More»

Starting September 1, entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas for the music industry are invited to apply for one of up to eight coveted spots in the Project Music 2016 Accelerator. The partnership of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) and title sponsoring Country Music Association (CMA) is the basis for Project Music, the only music industry-specific business accelerator in the nation. YouTube, leading video sharing and Launch Tennessee, an organization committed to developing high-growth companies, have signed on as Platinum sponsors.  YouTube and LaunchTN bring a wealth of technology and startup experience to the table to support the 2016 cohort.  Along with solid business training, participants will receive an in-depth commercial examination of artists, songwriters, the publishing process, record labels, and the live music business.   Beginning January 31, 2016, Music City USA’s EC will provide business and industry related curriculum, mentorship, critical connections, and capital to propel these select music-driven startups into the marketplace.

Applications will be considered from entrepreneurs at all stages of startup development. Last year’s inaugural class included 20-something Channing Moreland of artist booking platform EVAmore and Marcus Cobb of musician-connecting site Jammber, who has been starting creative businesses for sixteen years. “The business concept doesn’t have to be as fleshed out as you might expect. The idea’s relevance and contribution to innovation in the music industry are more important—as is the EC’s belief in the character and experience of the applicant,” says Program Director Heather McBee. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in order to devote sufficient time to the process.   Applicants should be ready to communicate their business concept and how it will generate revenue, describe their target customer and stakeholders, and introduce the background and experience of the company’s leadership team.

Due to the intensity of the program, applicants should consider participation a group project. Two to four members of each business’s leadership team are needed to attend to the quantity and diversity of work required to succeed in the program.  Project Music’s selection committee will be looking for team commitment, availability, trainability, and stamina for the information deluge and long days.

Sweet rewards await those who are honored with the chance to work this hard and make it through. Participants receive at least $30,000 in seed money in exchange for 7% equity, guidance from fifty plus high level mentors in the startup, tech, and music industries, media attention, and the opportunity to pitch to investors in Nashville and New York.   An additional 3% of equity is earmarked to award to program mentors that support the participating startups.  Last year’s inaugural class raised over $2 million in follow-on funding, received 65 media mentions, and added 26 jobs to the economy. Stephen Davis, CEO of Ear IQ lauds the program, “I can honestly say that – due entirely to Project Music - I managed to make more progress and establish more valued contacts in 14 weeks than I had the entire previous year working on my own.” That experience was echoed by his seven peers.

To the delight of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, participants not only progressed their own businesses, but built a real community among themselves where they relied upon and supported each other. Two goals of the accelerator have been to foster the growth and development of startups built on fair compensation of rights holders and content creators and to mirror the best aspects of the Nashville music industry - a healthy, yet competitive environment that fosters camaraderie, idea sharing and mutual support. McBee attributes their 100% graduation rate in year one to this camaraderie. Teams felt so connected to each other and the program that with production support from Project Music member VideoBomb, last year’s participants chipped in time and money to collectively produce a documentary about the Project Music experience.

For those not selected for Project Music, The Nashville Entrepreneur Center has a four month pre-accelerator program to help early stage businesses get off the ground. PreFlight, as it is called, provides entrepreneurial education for those can’t commit full-time to turning their idea into reality with evening classes, drop-in workspace, and unlimited mentoring. Chris McMurtry, CEO of DART Music and member of Project Music’s inaugural class, began his relationship with EC through PreFlight in 2014. “I came into PreFlight with an idea and a dream and left with a viable business plan. There is no way that DART could have gotten off the ground without PreFlight."  The combination of PreFlight and Project Music was extremely powerful for DART, allowing them to build the solid foundation and connections that earned the company $1.5 million in funding in 2015.

Anyone interested in Project Music, either as an applicant, investor, mentor, or intern, is invited to join the Nashville Entrepreneur Center for Project Music‘s Year 2 Kick Off Event on Wednesday, September 2 from 5:30 -7:30 CDT at their offices at 41 Peabody Street in Nashville.

For more information on the Kick Off Event or application process, visit www.projectmusic.co/2016accelerator.

About the EC:

The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (EC) fosters innovation and entrepreneurship by Turning Ideas Into Reality, helping to start businesses and create jobs.  The EC connects entrepreneurs with investors, mentors and the critical resources they need to accelerate the launch of startup businesses. As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, the Center is funded through sponsorships, partnerships, donations and grants. The EC relies on support from leading corporations, successful entrepreneurs and those who have a vested interest in the EC’s success. For more information, visit ec.co.

About CMA:

Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. More than 7,400 music industry professionals and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The organization’s objectives are to serve as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; the CMA Music Festival, which benefits music education and is taped for a three-hour TV special; and “CMA Country Christmas,” featuring Country artists performing original music and Christmas classics. All of CMA’s television properties will air on the ABC Television network through 2021. For more information, visit CMAworld.com.

Event
09/02/2015