Industry Members Launch Family Alliance In Music (FAM)

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FAM members with Brett Young and his family at the celebration of his Diamond-certified “In Case You Didn’t Know”

Industry members and mothers Margaret Hart, Jackie Jones and Haley Montgomery have united to launch Family Alliance in Music (FAM), a community initiative that aims to provide community, education and support for parents, caretakers and those wanting to have a family while working in the music industry.

With over 50 years of combined experience in the entertainment world, the co-founders believe they’ve developed an understanding of the challenges and untapped opportunities that can exist when family and career struggle to flourish alongside each other. They’ve been encouraged not only by the personal outreach each has received, but also by the more than 30 kids that attended the celebration of Brett Young‘s Diamond-certified “In Case You Didn’t Know” at Nashville’s Adventure Science Center, which included the artist’s two daughters.

“I believe that visibility of caretaking is one of the key places that we can create change in our industry. We often take our mom hats off to come to work, and put them back on at the end of the day. The fact is that parenting and caretaking isn’t something you can step away from, and we have to recognize that first so that we can create an industry where parenting and career achievement can coexist,” says Hart, YouTube’s Head of Nashville Industry & Label Relations.

Jones, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)’s Senior Vice President, Artist & Industry Relations, notes, “It is vital to create environments where there are adequate benefits and support systems in place to ensure caregivers can thrive at work and at home. Keeping an open conversation about what is needed for those caring for loved ones in this business is key to the success and growth of many professionals. Our goal is to continue to encourage diversity in our workforce by making it more possible to be a part of it.”

“Comprehensive and clear family benefits are a vital recruitment and retention tool for employers. There are two key times that an employer might lose an employee at a valuable career stage-either when they decide to have or adopt a child, or when they face needing to care for a family member,” says Montgomery, ACM’s Senior Manager of Awards & Membership. “I personally faced a time when I thought that this industry would not be somewhere I could thrive and fulfill my dreams of a family, and our goal to make sure that no one feels that type of pressure. You can grow your career and care for a family, but employers initiating proper policies and flexible work practices are essential to that success.”

Over the course of 2023, FAM engaged in conversations and provided tools that resulted in improved benefits and company policies within multiple music organizations. FAM also formed a task force late last year to double down on impact in their core areas of focus. Other industry members involved include Wasserman Music’s Shannon Casey, WHY&HOW Management’s Halie Hampton-Mosley, CmdShft’s Morgan Mills, mtheory’s Tiffany Provenzano, Paramount’s Rachael Terrell, Prescription Songs’ Rachel Wein, maddjett’s Dan Wise and Triple Tigers’ Mackenzie Cooper.

The initiative is currently fiscally sponsored by Creative Visions, with the goal of a full 501c3 set up by 2025 that would allow for annual grants to music professionals. For more information, click here.

Liza Anderson
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