Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame & Save The Music Launch National Music Education Initiative

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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and Save The Music have partnered to reinvigorate public school music education nationwide in a brand new initiative.

The initiative will fund at least 25 new music education programs in public schools across the country over the next three years, focusing on communities where Save The Music Foundation has a longstanding presence. As part of the effort, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will visit classrooms to mentor and inspire the next generation of music makers.

The partnership marks the launch of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s first-ever grant-making pillar, a strategic commitment to empower music education at scale. Save The Music has been named the inaugural recipient in this initiative, accelerating their ability to bring music into classrooms across the country. Target cities slated for the programming include Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles/Compton, Miami/South Florida and New York City.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sheryl Crow joined Save The Music Founder John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and President of Entertainment Enterprises at iHeartMedia and Henry Donahue, Executive Director of Save The Music, on Good Morning America to outline the new partnership. Crow has a BA in music education and was an elementary school teacher before her rise to stardom, and was one of the initial supporters of Save The Music when it first launched in 1997, and continues her longtime support of the organization.

“Music education is not only an art – it’s a science,” says Sykes. “We are grateful for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support to protect and expand music education programs that help shape both the creative and cognitive development of the next generation.”

iHeartMedia will amplify the partnership with a nationwide PSA campaign across the company’s 860+ radio stations, rallying support and awareness for music education programs in underserved communities. Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide financial support to the initiative.

“We’ve seen firsthand that music education doesn’t just create future musicians,” says Save The Music’s Henry Donahue. “It helps shape our future doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders. This partnership is about unlocking that potential for every child.”

The foundation has created over 2,800 music programs in public schools and raised more than $75 million, with recent support from partners and artists including Ed Sheeran, Becky G, Jelly Roll, Old Dominion and others. Earlier this year, STM announced its transition to a fully independent nonprofit, separate from Paramount Global. To ensure long-term sustainability, the organization has been building a $10 million endowment fund, raising over $4 million so far, with backing from a broad coalition of industry partners.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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