The questions are fresh. The perspective is deeper.
Join Da’ Healerz for their latest conversation on all things healing. This week, Lord Goldie and Foundation Mecca sit down with community builder, environmental activist, and father Ron Obasi, who shares the ways life’s journey has led him to a more mindful place.
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.
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:
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…
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!
Tickets are on sale now for UnderDogs @ The Underdog, our songwriter night and networking mixer in celebration of our community.
Join us at The Underdog Nashville (3208 Gallatin Ave.), as long-time friends of UMC join a handful of our 2025 NEXT2RISE artists to showcase the talent and versatility within our community.
Tickets are just $10, and they can be found here. As for UnderDogs members? They get in FREE! That’s just one more reason to become an UnderDog today!
As for what you can expect? Here’s the plan!
6 p.m.: Doors open and networking begins!
7 p.m.: ARREIS, Kfhox, Timothy Myles, Virtues
8 p.m.: Adam Lawrence of The Mad Sugars, Da’ Healerz, Kelsey Muse, Nicolas Soul
Want an inside look at The Heal Talk Experience before you attend with us on Thursday, May 15?
Our debut Heal Talk Experience took place in February at NECAT (120 White Bridge Pike, Nashville). This was a powerful night of music, vulnerability, and transformation — a true celebration of healing through art and community.
The evening opened with the radiant Nikki Ray, who shared her personal healing journey and led us into deep relaxation with a beautiful sound bath. Psychic Marita guided the room with intuitive wisdom and a live reading, helping us open our hearts and minds. Da’ Healerz brought the soul with three original performances, each followed by a heartfelt conversation with the audience about the real-life stories and healing behind the lyrics. They were joined by the talented J Nix on bass and Urri Thames on drums.
To close, we asked the audience reflective questions about their own healing journeys — sparking deep thought and connection.
Filmed at NECAT Network, and edited by Mbeezy Media.
This is more than a show — it’s a movement. Join the next Heal Talk Experience in Nashville on May 15!
The rumors are true! We’ll make our return to the Nashville live scene on Wednesday, April 30 when we present UnderDogs @ The Underdog,’ a songwriter showcase and networking mixer in celebration of our new Underdogs community!
Multiple NEXT2RISE artists — including Da’ Healerz, Nicolas Soul, and Kelsey Muse — will be featured alongside other longtime friends of UMC. $10 is the price of admission… but UnderDogs members already have a spot on the guest list!
The full lineup is below! If you’re not an UnderDogs member yet, now is a great time to join and have your ticket included in your membership!
6 p.m.: Doors open for networking!
7 p.m.: ARREIS, Kfhox, Timothy Myles, Virtues
8 p.m.: Adam Lawrence, Da’ Healerz, Kelsey Muse, Nicolas Soul
I want to thank Kevin Cobus and The Indie Distributor — the wonderful folks behind Gussapolooza, one of our favorite festivals here at UMC — for this spirited conversation on The Indie Distributor podcast.
This conversation took place during the #RoadtoSXSW, and takes a deep dive into the importance of collaboration within a creative ecosystem (like the one we’re building here). We also touch on several of my 60+ Lessons from the Creative Journey, and highlight the importance of showing up for ourselves — while setting healthy boundaries.
Cipher is fixing sync licensing for social media. Social platforms are where most music discovery and viral moments happen today, but the industry hasn’t figured out how to turn that into fair revenue.
During this Lunch & Learn (exclusive for UMC UnderDogs members), we’ll be joined by Cipher founder Burke Reimann. Learn how Cipher helps artists and brands work together to make social media a win for everyone, paving the way for better licensing across all digital mediums.
Join us as we celebrate the creatives who make our UMC UnderDogs community unique!
The debut of our Have You Met…? series goes LIVE this Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. CT. This special broadcast will feature conversations with a few of our Nashville-based NEXT2RISE Artist Ambassadors. Get to know Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, Kelsey Muse, and Nicolas Soul, as they share what inspires their creative journeys, and what we can expect from them going forward.
Have You Met…? is typically a benefit of UMC UnderDogs membership, but we’re giving this first one to the public for FREE!
To learn more about how to become an UnderDog, head right over here. To tune in to this Thursday’s broadcast, bookmark this post or the video below!
Today, we are excited to reveal UMC’s first-ever official artist ambassadors, as part of our new NEXT2RISE Artist Ambassador Program.
We have hand-selected bright, talented, career-driven artistpreneurs to spotlight over the next calendar year. Each NEXT2RISE artist is already making moves, and our goal is to elevate them further through the UMC platform.
We have selected two divisions of NEXT2RISE artists for the Class of 2025 — one based in Nashville, and one comprised of artists from different locations around the world (our Abroad Division). Our NEXT2RISE artists will receive:
Meet the first artists in our NEXT2RISE Nashville division below. An announcement featuring artists selected in the Abroad division is coming soon!
Want to be considered for the Class of 2026? We’ll be selecting from within our community later this year. Learn more about what it takes to be an UnderDog!