An organization that has been working to step up the music-as-activism role in society is looking for socially-conscious Cincinnati area songwriters/musicians interested in directly assisting area non-profits with their music.
Music2Life (founded by Peter, Paul & Mary legend Noel Paul Stookey and his daughter Liz Stookey Sunde) has teamed up with Jerry Springer, Jene Galvin and others to launch an “Activist Musician Talent Search,” awarding $5,000 and “technical support” to a Greater Cincinnati artist who will then be connected to a local non-profit of their choosing and have their music used to assist and grow that organization's mission. The local competition is a part of Music2Life's overall goal of “(cultivating) a national network of activist singer/songwriters.”
Here’s the pitch:
We are seeking highly talented singer/songwriters who want to facilitate grassroots change in their communities by partnering with a nonprofit in the Cincinnati area and developing an innovative music-driven program that helps or advances the nonprofit mission or empowers the vulnerable population with whom they work. Selected artists will receive funding, technical assistance, and be connected with the networks they need to successfully facilitate their musical vision.
Entries consist of an MP3 file of a song that “best represents your area of social concern,” a short video file in which the artist explains their area of activist interest (and choice of group or organization to represent and support), plus a few other background documents.
Click here for the application and very detailed entry information and find more info here.
The deadline for entry is this Sunday, so act fast! The top applicants — chosen by a review panel that includes Springer, Paul Stookey, Bootsy Collins and members of various music media outlets — will be notified by Feb. 18. Those entering music be available for an appearance on The Jerry Springer Podcast (and possibly a small house party/fundraiser) on March 4.
