Category Archives: announcements

NASHVILLE: FREE Music Business Accelerator Applications Now Open

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For independent creatives, producing art is just one piece of the puzzle. To build a fully functioning creative ecosystem — and turn it into a viable career — there comes a time when we must all get down to business.

That means leaning into a world that may be entirely new, and learning a whole bunch of things that you don’t yet know. Once it becomes business, things get serious. The pitfalls in this strange wilderness seem to multiply. The question of “what if I fail?” becomes more prevalent.

Scary, isn’t it?

It doesn’t have to be. In fact, we’re teaming up with The A&R Foundation based out of Austin, TX to make it feel like a breeze. We’re excited to offer their Music Business Accelerator cohort for the first time ever in Nashville — and it’s free to all current UnderDogs members!

Music Business Accelerator is a 12-week program tailored for performing musicians and creative arts businesses within the music ecosystem who are looking to strengthen business acumen and build sustainable, long-term creative ventures.

The program is divided into two core tracks:

  • Entrepreneurial Fundamentals: Covering the foundations of starting, structuring, and operating a creative business.
  • Music Business Essentials: Diving into industry specific topics, real world application, and developing a healthier, more intentional relationship with money.

Throughout the program, you will gain practical tools, frameworks, and guidance you can immediately apply to your careers, whether you are just getting started or looking to level up an existing project.

The Music Business Accelerator is offered for FREE. The only two requirements to apply are that 1) you live in the greater Nashville area (because sessions take place in-person) and 2) you are a current UnderDogs member. You can learn more about how to join here.

Once you become an UnderDog, you can apply to be considered any time between now and Friday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Selected applicants will be notified no later than March 11, 2026, and the program is scheduled to begin on April 4, 2026 for orientation and end on June 27, 2026. A tentative graduation celebration is scheduled for July 18, 2026.

About The A&R Foundation
The A&R Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Texas nonprofit entity dedicated to transforming creative passions into sustainable businesses, by providing independent musicians and creative arts businesses with tools, resources, and education on entrepreneurship.

Want to Play Gussapolooza 2026? It’s Your Last Chance!

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Pictured: You, possibly.

You already know that we’re planning to make a return trip to the beautiful Canadian province of Ontario for this year’s Gussapolooza. Canada’s premier indie music festival will take place this year August 21-23 at the Georgian Bay Steam Show Grounds in Cookstown, just an hour or so north of Toronto. Three days of camping, community, arts, culture, and incredible live music will ensue.

About that “incredible live music” part: you still have a chance to be a part of this year’s Gussapolooza lineup — but only if you apply by this Saturday, January 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

After that, submissions will be closed, and the festival braintrust will begin crafting this year’s lineup. If you want to be a part of the magic with us and the whole Gussapolooza family, we encourage you to apply here!

Unveiling UMC Academy 2.0: Meet the Faculty!

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More instructors. More subjects. More opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with the music industry.

We’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world, learning from independent artists and industry professionals alike. A common thread in these conversations? While there are countless people with talent across the musical landscape, talent is only part of the equation.

The modern creative landscape makes being an independent artist so much more complex than write-record-release-perform-succeed-repeat. Embarking upon a career in the music industry requires us to challenge ourselves in new and evolving ways. We must learn how to communicate our messages, foster genuine relationships, and create opportunities. Building a career as an independent creative means keeping an open mind to possibility, a willingness to learn new skills, and the ability work in community with others moving in a similar fashion.

We’ve built that community — and it’s full of professionals who are ready to equip you with everything you need, as you scale the mountain toward your creative destiny!

Introducing UMC Academy 2.0

Our revamped UMC Academy gives you the power to build your own curriculum, based on your needs at this point of your creative journey. Our Faculty is skilled, well-versed, and successful in a variety of disciplines across the entertainment landscape — and they’re here to pay their knowledge forward!

Each UMC Academy Faculty member gives you the option to join them on a free discovery call, giving you the opportunity to share what you’re working on, while helping them understand how they can best serve you. From there, you and your Faculty member work together to decide your best path forward, developing a roadmap for greater success and visibility in the greater creative landscape.

Click the image below to meet our new UMC Academy Faculty!

TONIGHT: Barz in the Boro Returns to Murfreesboro

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One of Greater Nashville’s most exciting opportunities for emerging hip hop artists is back for another year.

Barz in the Boro — a monthly showcase held at Cedar Glade Brews in Murfreesboro — returns tonight (Jan. 3) with an all-new lineup featuring some of Nashville’s most notable emcees.

The showcase, hosted by Nashville hip hop veterans E.T. and Raw Proof, is “designed to shine a light on performers, build connections within the culture, and bring something fresh and exciting” on the first Saturday of each month. Barz in the Boro features a curated lineup of performers, a freestyle cypher, and DJ Know Name on the 1s and 2s.

This month’s lineup features:

Follow Barz in the Boro for updates, and be sure to reach out if you want to perform. You could be featured next!

Musikfest Music Industry Conference Set for Aug. 2-4

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As 2025 winds into its final days, we’ve caught a glimpse of some of the excitement to come in the New Year — including some taking place around our original stomping grounds.

Our friends at ArtsQuest have announced the return of the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, taking place August 2-4, 2026 inside of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in our original hometown of Bethlehem, PA. The conference — which will take place in the middle of Musikfest, the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival — promises to offer “interactive sessions, cutting-edge technology demos, inspiring keynotes, and real-world insights designed to bridge the worlds of music education and today’s evolving industry,” according to ArtsQuest’s official website.

Full lineup details are forthcoming, but key presenters and supporting organizations have been announced, including:

  • Keynote Speaker: Dr. David Cutler, acclaimed author of The Savvy Musician and The Savvy Music Teacher.
  • The Museum of Music Technology Powered by EMEAPP: Discover how electronic instruments, live production, and classroom integration are transforming the sound of tomorrow.
  • Underground Music Collective (that’s us!): Learn how to Build Your Authentic Artist Brand and stand out in today’s music landscape.

In addition, ArtsQuest has announced several key program additions, expanding from the inaugural edition of the conference in 2024. These include:

  • Band Showcase Program: Selected youth and emerging bands (ages 10–adult) will receive coaching, perform on an official Musikfest stage and receive live feedback from talent buyers, agents and producers. Submissions will open in October.
  • The Green Room Mentorship Lounge: One-on-one and small group mentorship with industry veterans, modeled after NAMM’s “Networking with the Pros”.
  • Museum Collaboration: A pop-up exhibit in partnership with the Museum of Music Technology highlighting the history of sonic innovation.

Conferences passes are on sale now for the Early Bird rate of $150 until March 1. After that, the price of a regular badge will increase to $175. Students, ArtsQuest members, and 2026 Musikfest performers receive discounted badges for just $100. For more information, visit the conference webpage.

TONIGHT, 7:30 ET: Your Next Favorite Band’s Winter Wonder Pre-Jam!

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Back home in the Christmas City of Bethlehem, PA, our friends at Your Next Favorite Band are ready to express gratitude and honor the guests they’ve had throughout the year. They’ve invited more than a dozen of their closest friends back to the show tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, where they will share messages for the season and perform a holiday tune.

Tonight’s special broadcast features messages and songs from:

  • Kyle Lacy & Amanda D’Amico
  • Hermosa
  • Lia Menaker
  • Avery Ballotta of Damn Tall Buildings
  • John Kim Faye
  • The Flying Vees
  • Koyal
  • Zach Miller of Dr Dog
  • Gina Zo
  • Nervous Nikki & the Chill Pills
  • Kahone Concept
  • Galen Deery
  • TIOGA
  • The Hot Mamas

You’ll also see highlights from last year’s Winter WonderJam event, featuring Joe Edelmann and Emma Bockrath, as they get set for this year’s annual fundraiser, taking place at the legendary Godfrey Daniels listening room in Bethlehem this Saturday, December 6 at 7 p.m. ET.

Did we mention it’s all for a cause? Your Next Favorite Band will honor and raise awareness for homeless shelters and food banks in our home community of the Lehigh Valley, including New Bethany Ministries and national non-profit Feeding America.

Need Help Developing Your Creative Vision?

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You have the talent. You’ve developed your skills. You have big dreams about where you can take this music thing. All you’re missing… is the next step.

Your audience is out there. Connecting with them means joining in community with those who share your values. Keeping them in your orbit means finding ways to provide them with something that they won’t find anywhere else.

It might sound intimidating at first… until you realize that everything you need to connect with your audience — and keep them there — is already within you. You have a purpose behind your art that has yet to be uncovered. You have countless ideas, and just need some help organizing those thoughts into action. You have a story to tell, and more tools than ever to reach the masses.

We’re here to help you put it all together. That’s why we’re announcing the return of our popular BRANDCAMP from UMC Academy to start the New Year!

Our six-week program — beginning the week of Monday, January 12 — is designed to help creatives like you uncover your values and develop a clear vision for your creative ecosystem, complete with actionable goals. We achieve this by providing a proven brand-building roadmap, bespoke one-on-one mentorship, and access to a community of purpose-driven artistpreneurs.

BRANDCAMPers receive:

  • Our Values-Mission-Vision (VMV) Workshop, as presented at major international music conferences. ($500-1,000+ value)
  • Weekly 1-on-1 mentor sessions, aimed toward sparking fresh ideas and defining your goals.
  • Weekly Connection Calls with your fellow UMC Academy BRANDCAMPers.
  • A FREE UMC UnderDogs community membership for one year. ($250 value!)
  • Early “inside track” access to new UMC feature/performance opportunities.
  • A FREE signed copy of 60+ Lessons from the Creative Journey.

Sounds fun, right?

If you’re ready to enroll (or just want to learn more), head on over to the Academy page, where you can hear testimonials from previous UMC Academy grads!

NASHVILLE: Holiday House Party Benefit Concert Set for Dec. 11

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In addition to our official, kick-up-your-heels-and-sing-some-karaoke UMC holiday mixer on Dec. 3 (location to be announced this week), we have more yuletide fun on tap.

And this time, it’s for a cause!

We’re partnering with our new friends at The Nash Nest — a sweet luxury Airbnb in East Nashville — on our first-ever Holiday House Party! On Thursday, December 11 from 5-10 p.m., a musical lineup of Nashville locals will join us to perform live, while we collect warm clothing and non-perishable food donations for those in need this holiday season.

Entry is free with your donation. Stay tuned for lineup details, which will be announced the week of December 1.

As for the location? It’s a secret… and the only way to get in the know is to RSVP. Reserve your spot here!

(Note: Specific location details will be sent to attendees within 24 hours of the event.)

Barz in the Boro Returns to Middle Tennessee Dec. 6

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Barz in the Boro — a monthly hip hop showcase just down the road from us in Murfreesboro, Tennessee — will close out the year with a stacked lineup on Saturday, December 6 from 8-11 p.m.

The showcase — which occurs on the first Saturday of every month at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd., Murfreesboro) — is hosted by E.T. and Raw Proof, with support from DJ Know Love on the 1s and 2s. Barz in the Boro is a platform for local and touring hip hop artists alike. Each month’s showcase features a uniquely curated lineup, along with an open mic portion, which provide aspiring performers with a chance to impress for a future opportunity.

The showcase’s official website offers this description:

Barz in the Boro is a monthly hip hop showcase and cypher where raw talent, sharp lyricism, and real culture take center stage. From local spitters to nationally touring acts, this is the spot where the underground and the spotlight meet. This event is designed to shine a light on performers, build connections within the culture, and bring something fresh and exciting to the Murfreesboro / Nashville music scene.

Presented and hosted by E.T. & Raw Proof and powered by the skills of DJ Know Love, every show is built to give you that authentic hip hop vibe, no gimmicks, just beats, barz, and energy.  This ain’t just another show, it’s for the artists, for the fans, and for the culture. Pull up, bring your skillz, and be part of the movement.​

The December 6 event will feature performances from UnderDogs Yonna Jones and Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, alongside My Friend Wiley and New Orleans’ own Alfred Banks. Those interested in learning more or being considered for a future showcase are encouraged to reach out via Instagram.

NASHVILLE: Renaissance Certified Fall Showcase Set for Saturday, Nov. 8

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Tour season may be over for us, but there’s still plenty happening back in Nashville to keep things warm into the winter months.

For one thing, our friends at NuRenaissance — owned and operated by UnderDog and NEXT2RISE artist Nicolas Soul — are hosting their Renaissance Certified Fall Showcase this Saturday, November 8 at 615 Main St., Suite G1 in Nashville.

Join us from 8-11 p.m. for “a night of pure fire and unforgettable vibes.” This hip hop and R&B showcase is hosted by Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess and coordinated by Amore Dear, with sounds by DJ Sage. The lineup features performances from Nashville-based artists Itz Jaleel, Miles Creed, Simone J’Nae, Durtyhues, Southside MAB, and B. King.

Watch the official trailer below, and be sure to get your tickets here!

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