Americana Music Association
About The Foundation
The Foundation’s mission is to educate current and future generations on the music that’s resonated with us and soundtracked our lives as an indelible piece of our culture. To continue the growth of the Americana genre, which includes the rich threads of country, folk, blues, soul, bluegrass, gospel and rock in our tapestry, we strive to accomplish this through educational programs and live events with some great music, of course.
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Established in 2020 by the Americana Music Association, the Americana Music Foundation aims to preserve the beloved art form known today as Americana music. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, with a global vision, our Foundation serves as the charitable and educational resource through partnerships with cultural and educational institutions, including those with New York University, Salt Lick Incubator, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American Music, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Grammy Museum.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations to The Americana Music Foundation are tax-deductible. It’s as easy as clicking the yellow tab on the right side of this page labeled “Support Our Foundation” and complete the pop-up donation form. From $5 to $500, every dollar helps move this important education and preservation initiative forward.
Salt Lick Incubator Grants for AMERICANAFEST
Each year, AMERICANAFEST brings together legendary artists, rising stars, fans, and industry professionals for multiple days of music and education. To give more of our community members the opportunity to benefit from the insightful panels, seminars, discussions, and exclusive performances, the Americana Music Foundation is offering grants administered by Salt Lick Incubator to help them attend the event, increase their knowledge and engage in this rich exchange of ideas.
The Americana Music Foundation, the charitable arm of the Americana Music Association, has matched generous contributions from Brandi Carlile and Catherine Shepherd, founders of the Looking Out Foundation, and David Macias, co-founder and president of Thirty Tigers, to create this fund.
Each grant, valued at $1,750, covers up to $1,000 in travel expenses and includes a Silver Pass and a ticket to the Americana Honors & Awards ceremony. The event covers the interests and needs of artists, managers, labels, radio stations, publishers, agents, promoters, retailers, legal and business affairs executives, merchandisers, and new media professionals. This is not a grant to perform. All grant recipients are selected solely by Salt Lick Incubator.
Applications for 2026 grants will open soon.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Americana Music Foundation and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum have fostered a longstanding partnership at one of Music City’s leading educational institutions. Together, both entities have focused on the appreciation and preservation of American Roots music through a wide range of programming.
The collaboration has produced events during AMERICANAFEST featuring artist conversations, songwriter sessions, panels, and performances.
Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of country music” for collecting, preserving, and interpreting the evolving history and traditions of country music. Chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization.
NYU Steinhardt's Americana Artist-In-Residence Program
The Americana Music Foundation is proud to partner with New York University Steinhardt to advance the study of American Roots music. At the center of the partnership is the NYU Americana Artist-In-Residence program. Launched in 2021, it aims to educate the next generation of artists, producers, songwriters and more through a variety of programs featuring lectures, interviews, workshops and performances.
Furthering music education is one of the Foundation's primary goals, and this collaborative relationship with NYU gives emerging creators entering the music business the opportunity to gain hands-on experience from legends and contemporary artists.
Previous participants include the inaugural installment with Rosanne Cash (2021), Taj Mahal with Leyla McCalla (2022), Brandy Clark (2023), Allison Russell (2023), John Oates (2024), and Rodney Crowell (2025).
Roots To Pop
In 2023, we began a partnership 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.