Tag Archives: music industry education

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.

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.

REPLAY: Succeeding as a Black Entrepreneur in the Music Industry

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For Black History Month, Underground Music Collective presented a special live virtual panel, Succeeding as a Black Entrepreneur in the Music Industry, on Wednesday, February 15. Our panel of multi-disciplinary music industry veterans shared their experiences navigating the industry as a Black creative, the challenges they’ve encountered and overcome, and the lessons they have learned along the way.

Want more educational opportunities like this? Join our next virtual panel, Succeeding as a Woman in the Music Industry, on International Women’s Day (Wednesday, March 8). And, if you want to help us expand our educational and community resource offerings, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to UMC via the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville.

Watch the Replay

UMC, Music on the Move to Present ‘Perfect Your Pitch’ Preview on Thursday, Aug. 19

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As the founder of Underground Music Collective, Gerard Longo has received thousands upon thousands of artist pitches.

Since 2013, Gerard has published more than 20,000 pieces of music-centric content across web and social platforms, and the submissions that made the cut have all had one thing in common: they were complete, thorough, and told the artist’s authentic story, better than the rest.

Perfect Your Pitch

With ‘Periscope,’ Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville Offers Entrepreneur Training for Artists

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Here at Underground Music Collective, we’re big proponents of well-rounded artist education, so that the folks in our community can get the most out of their careers and dreams.

As it turns out, so is the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville — and they have a program dedicated to helping artists in our region maximize their potential!

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Mastering Your Musical Performance Anxiety

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This article is a contributed piece from Erin M. Phillips, vocal teacher, and Roger E. McLendon, M.D., a neuropathologist. Learn more about the Erin M. Phillips Voice Studio at this link.

At some point in their careers, musicians will experience performance anxiety. This can affect performers of any capacity, whether on stage, in classroom, or on the field.

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SoundCloud Launches SC101 Educational Video Series

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If you’re like most independent musicians, there’s a good chance that you’ve used SoundCloud as a platform to share your music.

Now, SoundCloud is giving you more resources to help you best utilize the platform — from setting up your profile, to learning how to use the platform’s analytics to plan your next tour.

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Tonight: Participate in a Video Conference on Copyright Law

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The following is a message from our partners at Tuk Law Offices.

A lot has happened in the world of copyright law in the last three weeks. Major decisions by the US Supreme Court, as well as rules changes that are going into effect in the US Copyright Office will have a significant impact on how creators and businesses protect their intellectual property.

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