Gibson Gives, the non-profit division Gibson, has partnered with Music Forward to present the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards for 2024. The goal of the awards is to help break down barriers of access in the music industry, allowing artists to have thriving careers and promote a more inclusive music industry. With 45 of the awards granted, the new partnership allows the program to continue to champion diverse voices from all backgrounds and communities. Find out more below.
LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards submissions for applicants are open now here: https://musicforwardfoundation.org/emerging-artist-award/
“Gibson Gives is proud to partner with Music Forward to support the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award,” says Erica Krusen, global executive director of Gibson Gives. “We believe in the power of individual voices and strive to break down barriers, promoting a more inclusive music industry. These awards support often-marginalized artists, nurturing their growth and helping them achieve their greatest artistic potential.”
“At Music Forward, we work towards inspiring young artists and providing resources to drive their careers forward while making the industry more inclusive for all voices,” adds Nurit Siegel Smith, executive director of the Music Forward Foundation. “The LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award is a staple of our programs, and we are excited for our partnership with Gibson Gives to continue to empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ musicians.”
The screening process for the awards is extensive, with ten (10) LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awardees aged 18-24 years old to be selected based on many factors, including the strength of their body of music work, the breadth of their body of work, their artistic vision, and their articulation of their career goals. The ten US-based selected artists are dedicated to their songwriting craft, and their vision for themselves through music. The ten awardees will each receive:
$3000 Grant
$1000 Gibson retail for an instrument.
Performance Opportunities that include the Gibson Garage Nashville and Gibson showrooms, as well as other venues.
Quarterly Mentorship with established musicians, as well as the Gibson and Music Forward teams.
The timeline for the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards program is as follows:
Monday, August 5: Applications open.
Sunday, August 18: Applications close.
Monday, August 19 – Friday, September 27: Application review and selection.
Monday, September 30: Awardees notified.
October 2: Announcement of Awardees.
Mid-late October: Virtual Award Show.
Music Forward and Gibson Gives believe in music as a catalyst for discovery, connection, and transformation, and the power of amplifying artists and providing a forum for their diverse voices to be heard. Gibson Gives will donate over $43,000 to the program for 2024, including $33,000 in cash grants ($30k grants/$3k admin fees), and $10,000 in Gibson retail for an instrument. Music Forward develops and administers the grant awards from selection to distribution, and Music Forward and the Gibson team collectively develop and execute mentorship programs. The Quarterly Mentorship Opportunities range from songwriting sessions with Gibson artists to exploring a variety of trending topics and skills, including Gibson and Live Nation leadership professionals sharing knowledge and insight on what it takes to find success in the business, learning from experts who have turned their passions into professions in the ever-changing entertainment industry, from bands to boardrooms and everything in between. The program is designed to help nurture artists’ growth and progress, expand their social capital, and to reduce barriers, both external and internal, that may come between them and achieving their greatest artistic potential.
Singer-songwriter and record producer Butch Walker, one of the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award musician mentors for 2024, states “Hey all! I’m excited to be supporting the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award, and to celebrate the amazing talent and diversity within the community. This award not only recognizes artistic excellence, but also empowers emerging voices to inspire and create needed change.”
A national nonprofit in the Live Nation family, the Music Forward Foundation creates opportunities for young talent in the music industry by mentoring entertainment careers for the next generation through live performances, workshops and panels. Acclaimed artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Maxwell Frost, Trombone Shorty, and Andrae Alexander are past program participants and grant recipients. While performers such as Kahlid, Sophia Carson, Lauren Daigle, Martina McBride, Carlos Santana, and Julia Michaels have served as ambassadors for Music Forward: https://musicforwardfoundation.org/
Gibson Gives is the non-profit division of the legendary music brand Gibson, Gibson supports the music community via its philanthropic endeavor, Gibson Gives, assisting non-profit organizations in their efforts to advance musicians, youth-focused music education, health and wellness initiatives, and inclusive musical partnerships worldwide. The Gibson Gives scholarship program has provided direct financial support to young students with music career aspirations and is on track to help even more players in 2024. Gibson Gives a 501(c)(3), is committed to cultivating and offering steadfast support for all communities. To date, Gibson Gives has raised over $4.5 million and enabled $46 million in funding for key organizations through product donations and meaningful giving worldwide, with 100 percent of all donations to and from Gibson Gives going towards providing the gift of music.
About Music Forward Foundation:
Music Forward Foundation is a national nonprofit in the Live Nation family that bridges opportunities for the music community to become more innovative and inclusive by kick-starting music and live entertainment careers for the next generation through workshops, panels, and performances that connect passions to professions. Focusing on young people aged 13-24 from under-represented communities, the organization provides access to an unsurpassed nationwide network of music and live entertainment industry insiders to redefine what is possible for tomorrow’s innovators and leaders.
Over the past 30 years, Music Forward Foundation has successfully realized its mission to transform young lives, inspire careers, and champion a more inclusive music industry. To date, the organization has served over one million young people and provided more than $42 million in scholarships, workforce opportunities, relief funds, and more. Each year, the organization activates its significant network to impact more than 20,000 youth nationwide. https://musicforwardfoundation.org/
About Gibson Gives:
For over 130 years, the iconic and leading American instrument brand Gibson has been shaping sound across generations and genres. Gibson, and its charitable non-profit division Gibson Gives believe in the power of music, and that getting instruments into the hands of those with a desire to make music is a life-changing event. Gibson Gives–a 501(c)(3) is committed to making the world a better place by supporting non-profit organizations and developing programs in our efforts to advance musicians through music education, and health and wellness initiatives worldwide. Gibson Gives is committed to cultivating LGBTQ-inclusive partnerships and offering steadfast support for all communities. 100% of all donations to and from Gibson Gives go towards giving the gift of music. In the last three years, Gibson Gives has raised over $4.5 million dollars and enabled $46 million in funding for key organizations through product donations and meaningful giving worldwide. For more information, visit: www.gibsongives.org
