Category Archives: causes

UnderDogs Across Borders Benefit Concert Series Begins July 9

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2025 has been a breakthrough year so far for the entire Underground Music Collective community — and we’re here to make sure the magic lasts all year long (and beyond)!

That’s why we’re launching a new benefit concert series in support of our UnderDogs Across Borders campaign, with the first event — a hybrid in-person and virtual concert emanating from Nashville — taking place Wednesday, July 9 from 7-9 p.m. CT.

We’re taking you on a multi-genre thrill ride featuring four Nashville-based artists — including 2025 NEXT2RISE artist Nicolas Soul, alt-pop songwriter Virtues, R&B/soul singer and rapper Kfhox, and hip hop artist Southside MAB. Joining them on the lineup — all the way from the Lehigh Valley Underground in Pennsylvania — will be rockers Powder Valley Bang (who have been gaining some serious steam up there lately).

Need a refresher on UnderDogs Across Borders? Through this capital campaign, we aim to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities.

Our groundbreaking first half of 2025 featured major conference appearances, media opportunities, and the official launch of our new UnderDogs virtual community. This has established Underground Music Collective as an international super-connector for independent musicians, creative professionals, and notable brands.

Help us continue to build toward an incredible future where Creators Have the Power. Make your donation and RSVP here, and join us in Nashville or virtually (from anywhere!) on Wednesday, July 9!

Looking for an additional way to support UnderDogs Across Borders? Check out our GoFundMe campaign, or become an UnderDog today!

Anthems Against Abuse: An Inside Look

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Daisy Sellas and Brittany Bishop are the co-founders of Anthems Against Abuse, a Nashville-based non-profit dedicated to providing support and resources to victims of domestic violence and other forms of abuse. Their flagship event — a music showcase featuring all female-fronted artists — is in its second year, taking place at The Coliseum in Nashville on Saturday, June 14.

Daisy and Brittany share the story behind the organization, and we take a deep dive into why it’s important to identify and stop signs of abuse in their tracks.

If you need help, resources are available. Visit ⁠anthemsagainstabuse.org.

The Quinn Spinn is recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve, Nashville TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Become an UnderDog! Join our community at ⁠community.umcnashville.org.⁠

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UnderDogs Across Borders: Shaping a New Music Industry

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For too long, the music industry has been overrun by gatekeepers who have limited the reach and influence of independent artists. We’re here to create a new music industry Where Creators Have the Power. Through key local, national, and international partnerships, we connect creators across genres, disciplines, and markets, inspiring fresh collaborations and meaningful opportunities – anywhere music is made!

Since 2013, Underground Music Collective has provided independent artists with the resources they need to build sustainable, values-based careers from their creative pursuits. Our Nashville-based educational and multimedia platform has established a key presence in markets across North America through multimedia content, live music experiences, the UMC Academy artist mentorship program, and the UMC UnderDogs community.

Our efforts have received recognition from industry-leading brands and organizations, including SXSW, iHeartRadio, YouTube, Departure Conference, MusicRow Magazine, and many more. In 2025, this widespread recognition has led to multiple invitations for UMC to affect positive change on a global scale.

What is UnderDogs Across Borders?

With UnderDogs Across Borders, we aim to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities.

Our groundbreaking Q1 2025 featured major conference appearances, media opportunities, and the official launch of our new UnderDogs virtual community. This has established Underground Music Collective as an international super-connector for independent musicians, creative professionals, and notable brands.

By supporting UnderDogs Across Borders, you ensure that we accomplish our remaining 2025 goals, including:

  • Increased presence at major industry events in key markets, including Departure Conference & Festival (Toronto, ON), Music Biz 2025 (Atlanta, GA), SXSW London (London, UK), Gussapolooza (Greater Toronto, ON), Confluence (Charlotte, NC), and NOLA MusiCon (New Orleans, LA).
  • Increased visibility in the United States, Canada, and Europe for our robust network of sponsors, community partners, and creative professionals.
  • Increased cross-market collaborations (in-person and virtual) between our NEXT2RISE Artist Ambassadors.
  • 500 new UMC UnderDogs members by Sept. 1, 2025.

Click here now to donate and learn more about the rewards you receive for contributing to our mission.

Curious what some of our UnderDogs have to say about how UMC has helped them? Watch this!

TONIGHT, 6-9 CT: Have You Met…? + Meet-a-Mentor LIVE!

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LET’S DO IT LIVE!

If you’re in Nashville, we invite you to join us tonight at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1), for Have You Met…? Live!

Be a part in our live studio audience as we broadcast exclusive interviews with UMC UnderDogs like Terri Lynn, Ender Bowen, and Roz Malone. Hosted by Joe Baze, co-founder of the Ether Community Co-op.

Then, join us from 7-9 p.m. for our first-ever Meet-a-Mentor round robin, where you’ll have the opportunity for one-on-one guidance with experienced music industry professionals including…

  • Aaron Stepp, Ph.D., composer, performer, and music technologist
  • Cidney Grady, artist manager for SymbaSyd
  • Gerard Longo, Founder/CEO of Underground Music Collective
  • Nicolas Soul, performing artist and founder of NuRenaissance Media
  • TRANE Spitta, performing artist and performance royalties expert.

Space is limited, and mentor signups will occur on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to arrive early!

Can’t make it in person? No problem — we’re livestreaming the Have You Met…? portion of the evening on YouTube — and we’ll be including a *very* speciall announcement about the exciting future of UMC and our UnderDogs community. Be sure to tune in below!

Music on the Move Showcase to Feature a Tribute to Larysa Jaye

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Music on the Move Studios has unveiled the lineup for its April 2 all-female showcase at 3rd & Lindsley — and it features a tribute to late Nashville musician Larysa Jaye, who tragically passed away unexpectedly in December.

The tribute to Larysa Jaye will feature performances from Nashville-based artists Katie Basden, Jenny Teator, Lauren Anderson, and Sarina Joi. Joining them on the lineup will be GRAMMY-winning songwriter Melody Walker, Radio SoBro host and country artist Zoe Jean Fowler, and country/Americana singer-songwriter Caryn Dixon. As always, this all-star lineup will be supported by Music on the Move’s all-female house band, Erin McLendon & The HellCats.

Tickets for this special night start at $15, and are available for purchase here. A percentage of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Larysa Jaye Family Foundation.

PREMIERE: Da’ Healerz Circle with Psychic Marita

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Today, Da’ Healerz have blessed us with the series premiere of Da’ Healerz Circle.

Da’ Healerz Circle is a series where the heal hop duo — Lord Goldie and Foundation Mecca — interview different Healerz about their healing practices.

On this first episode, Da’ Healerz welcome Psychic Marita. With a dash of humor, Psychic Marita delivers clear and concise messages from Spirit. Every client is met with a compassionate heart ready to provide guidance from the other side.

Tune in and heal with us!

Da’ Healerz Circle was shot and edited by Nicolas Soul of NuRenaissance (IG: @nrnrszn)

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Before ‘Heal Talk,’ Da’ Healerz Drop a ‘Jazzy Belle’ Freestyle

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With buzz palpable for Da’ Healerz forthcoming debut album, Heal Talk, on November 11 — and this one-of-a-kind listening party in Nashville on October 20 — the Heal Hop duo decided to drop something special on us early.

That would be their new “Jazzy Belle Freestyle,” complete with a video directed and produced by 28 Vision. According to a statement from Healerz Lord Goldie and Foundation Mecca, the freestyle “pays homage to the legendary Outkast track, while diving deep into the ways we fall short and the battles we overcome to rise again. As the lead-up to our upcoming album, Heal Talk, this track sets the tone for the powerful stories and healing vibes to come.”

Welcome to Heal Hop—where music meets growth and transformation. Catch the vibe below, and don’t forget to RSVP to the Heal Talk listening party at Gras Haus in Nashville!

Connecting Through Mental Health & Music (ft. Lillian Grace)

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Lillian Grace “creates music that will have you listen for the sound, but stay for the story.” The Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and producer is open about her trauma, and uses her experiences to connect to her audience.

This Quick Spinn edition of The Quinn Spinn gives us an introduction to Lillian, and the important work she’s doing through her artist platform.

This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve (H.O.M.E.), Nashville, TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

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EASTERN PA: Your Next Favorite Band’s Mental Health Awareness Event Takes Place Sunday, Feb. 4

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Checking in back home, our northern community partners at Your Next Favorite Band — who, you may remember, teamed up with us on something rather epic a few months ago — are bringing mental health awareness to the forefront this weekend.

The event — titled Listen to the Dissonance — will take place this Sunday, February 4 at 1:30 p.m. inside the Charles A. Brown Ice House in Bethlehem, PA. The event promises to be “full of brave stories and powerful music about mental health,” and will feature the talents of notable up-and-coming acts from the Philadelphia region.

Featured artists include Mike and Shannon Mains; Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise; Carly Comando of Slingshot Dakota; Seán Barna; and Rachel Ana Dobken.

“Listen to the Dissonance is more than just a concert – it’s a platform for open conversations, breaking stigmas, and fostering a supportive community,” said Phillip Reese of Your Next Favorite Band. “Come and be a part of this movement to promote mental health awareness through the universal language of music.”

Tickets for Listen to the Dissonance are available now for $10. Get yours here!

Connecting Mental Health and Music (ft. Zhaklina)

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Zhaklina Spencer uses her artist platform to shed light on a topic of increasing importance within creative circles: mental health. In addition to exploring these themes in her music, Zhaklina is the founder of ⁠Mental Health Songwriter Nights⁠, a Nashville-based showcase dedicated to mental health awareness and advocacy.

Today on The Quinn Spinn, we learn more about Zhaklina’s meaningful mission, and the ways her own experiences and challenges have inspired her to shine a light on mental health advocacy.

This episode of The Quinn Spinn was recorded and produced at Helping Our Music Evolve, Nashville, TN.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

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