Southern Word, BMG Launch New Youth Music Industry Fellowship Program

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Southern Word and BMG are launching a youth fellowship aimed at engaging Nashville area college and high school youth in the music industry and critical conversations about music culture.

Five Music Industry & Culture (M.I.C.) Fellows will train in both nonprofit and music administration over the course of 24 weeks, putting their learning into action by developing and tracking their own music projects and by supporting Southern Word’s community programs and events. Fellows will be offered a stipend for participation, and Middle Tennessee youth ages 14-22 interested in applying for the M.I.C. Fellowship should complete the following application by Monday, Dec. 7 at southernword.org/2020-mic-fellowship.

The M.I.C. Fellowship evolved out of a program Southern Word has been developing over the past two years, training youth on the fundamentals of non-profit administration. Since 2008, Southern Word has supported the growth of leading young writers and music producers through its in-school and out-of-school programs. In addition to building skills as artists, the program provides youth with the tools to create, manage, market, and track the projects they produce in a way that develops transferable skills for any career path.

“We understand that culture is a huge driver in shaping the desires and actions of young people,” said Southern Word Executive Director Benjamin Smith. “In addition to teaching necessary skills in the classrooms and community spaces, we are excited to partner with BMG to build a youth programmatic opportunity as well as explore how we can market positive identities and narratives to young people in a way that leads them to healthy, sustainable lives.”

“When young people think of the music industry, they usually just think about the artists and maybe artist management,” said Thalia Ewing, BMG Senior Manager of Mechanical Licensing. “We want to introduce them to the wide range of other professional roles that exist in a music company. At the same time, we want to have critical conversations about the role that music culture plays in their lives and the lives of those around them. We want this exposure and these conversations to inspire them to attend and complete college as a way of achieving their goals and dreams.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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