Americana Music Association
About the
Foundation
The Americana Music Foundation (AMF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational and charitable organization, was founded to preserve Americana music through education. Its endeavors strengthen understanding, awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, shine a light on inspiration, and promote the capacity and engagement of future creators. The foundation accomplishes this mission through educational programs, musical performances and public events. Throughout the year, its partnership with The Americana Music Association focuses on the preservation of past legacies and traditions that spotlight Americana music’s heritage, while also looking ahead to ensure the future of the community’s generations to come.
Launched in 2020, this new entity was born out of a need to preserve and educate people on the beloved art form we know today as Americana music, which includes the rich threads of country, folk, blues, soul, bluegrass, gospel and rock in our tapestry. We want the foundation to educate not only today’s generation but also future generations on the music that’s resonated with us and soundtracked our lives as an indelible piece of our culture. We aim to accomplish this through educational programs and live events with some great music, of course.
How To Contribute
Your contributions will go directly towards funding our educational initiatives. In other words, every donation that we receive brings us closer and closer to helping us keep this incredible art form alive for your grandchildren — and beyond! Since the Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization, your donations will be tax-deductible. We’ve made it super easy to contribute below, and you even have the option to set up reoccurring donations if you’d like.
Roots To Pop
In 2023, we partnered with the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History for their inaugural Roots to Pop series. This initiative focused on connecting contemporary music to the genres at its root through conversations with renowned Americana artists.
Held and recorded in Washington D.C., it is now being presented online to the general public. The videos feature the artists who make the music and provide insight into American musical history, including Taj Mahal with Allison Russell, Flaco Jimenez with Max Baca, Rhiannon Giddens, and Blind Boys of Alabama with Ruthie Foster.
The series explores the American musical past and how it might affect present-day American music. In a conversation format punctuated by live music, Krystal Klingenberg, musicologist, curator and host of the museum’s Collected podcast, explores important genres of American music with these artists, discussing their work, influences and legacy. Recordings of the four-installment Roots to Pop series are available online via the link below.