Support Local Music.
We believe music is one of the single greatest tools for connection, change, and celebration. When the pandemic hit in 2020 it highlighted so many aspects of our culture and society that we needed to readdress. Music was just one of the many industries that took substantial revenue losses, and was pushed to the wayside as we prioritized our health and our safety.
However, music as an art form has long been in crisis since before 2020. Schools struggle to fund music education, multi-million dollar businesses find new ways to profit from local art, and musicians are unsure how long they can afford to pursue their craft. And while some might say the time to act is now, in reality, it is long overdue.
This collaborative started in Rochester NY out of the realization that as gigging musicians, there is no financial safety net. No 401k or retirement waiting for us at the end of what has proven to be a scrappy and difficult way to make a living. What the pandemic revealed is that the biggest challenge to local art right now is not lack of inspiration to write new songs, or too few venues that want to host concerts. It is the lack of adequate monetary compensation.
In simpler words? Artists need more support.
And this is not a radical or new idea. In 1978 the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) gave 10,000 artists, and 10,000 arts support staff federally funded jobs. Just recently in 2022 an initiative called Creatives Rebuild New York released a plan to provide 125 million dollars in funding, a large percentage of which would go directly into musicians pockets. No strings attached. And then once artists can afford to live and their basic needs are met, we unlock a whole new realm of what is possible in our arts community. The work has been done, and now we can use this momentum, and bring this to the local level.
And it is just not just a question of financial stability. It is understanding how once we reinvest in music, we can improve the connectivity in our own local arts communities. We can help each other grow, rebuild, and empathize.
The vision of this collaborative is to accomplish three things.
1) To amplify local musicianship as a sustainable career path. We plan to do this through artist grants that go right to the individual musician. Our team will also provide affordable media services to independent artists who need them including video, podcasting, and photos.
2)Use music as a vehicle for building intrinsically connected communities. We believe music can bring people together. We plan to offer more opportunities for our local community to experience live music through benefit shows and concert series we produce.
3) Demonstrate music as an instrument for greater social change. The possibilities of what music can do are limitless. We believe music can bring people together from different backgrounds and experiences in a unique and powerful way.
Our local music scene is a treasure in our community. We intend to protect it, amplify the voices of those within it, and help it grow in more ways than we can imagine.
—
Meet The Local Sound Collaborative Team
Board of Directors
Zahyia Rolle - Board Chair
Kate DeLano - Secretary
Shannon Firkins - Treasurer
Herb Smith
Geoff Dale