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.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, all donations to The Americana Music Foundation are tax-deductible. It’s as easy as clicking the small blue “Donate” tab on the right side of this page 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 AMERICANAFEST Grants
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.
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 open on April 15 and close on May 15. See application link below for eligibility guidelines.
Congratulations to the inaugural cohort of AMERICANAFEST grant winners administered by Salt Lick Incubator! Click here learn more about our outstanding 2024 grant recipients.
Applications have closed for 2025 grants. Winners will be announced this summer.
In Honor of Mark Moffatt
Please consider making a tax deductible contribution, in honor of our dear friend and colleague, Mark Moffatt, the lifelong musician and producer who devoted his life to music. Moffatt’s overriding focus for the past two decades was to bridge the international divide on behalf of the Americana Music Association, serving as its Board President for three terms, and educating everyone in his musical orbit on the complexities and history of this storied genre of music. He was a founding board member of the Americana Music Foundation, served for ten years as APRA’s Nashville Ambassador, and was awarded the CMA Global Achievement Award for his remarkable international efforts. Your donation will help continue the work he began with The Americana Music Foundation to preserve Americana music through educational outreach highlighting Americana's rich musical heritage.
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.