In the back of the house, a group of eight also cheered—not just for the music they were about to hear, but for the pride they felt as the orchestrators of a successful event. 

They weren’t seasoned event producers, however; this was a group of 18- to 20-year-old students putting on their very first show—a culmination of seven weeks of in-venue job shadowing, panels with industry professionals, and career development workshops, all part of Music Forward’s live music internships. Launching first in Boston in 2022, in collaboration with Citizens, and in New York in 2023, in collaboration with Northwell, the intensive summer internships are designed to inspire and empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources to explore and pursue careers in the music industry. 

Participating interns have a unique opportunity to try out a bit of everything that goes into live entertainment, from shadowing box office and security to guest services and food/beverage at iconic venues across the Northeast. Additionally, interns partake in workshops designed to enhance their professional development, with topics including resume writing, networking, and even mental health. 

“I felt like I was always doing something towards expanding my skills and ways of learning,” says New York intern Iliana.

But the most exciting component may well be the final showcase: interns apply all they learn throughout the program to curate, market, and present a concert of their own. Three nights after the Boston interns celebrated at Brighton Music Hall, the 12 New York interns shared a similar sense of accomplishment as they oversaw a sold-out show at Jones Beach Theater. 

“Getting a group of people I never met before together to make something amazing was the best,” reminisces intern Angel. “I would never give up the knowledge, experience and people I met through it…and I made friends forever.” 

Beyond exploring different career paths and forming lifelong friendships, summer internships allow young people to grow in ways they never imagined. 

“My biggest takeaway was actually something personal,” reflects intern Victor. “I grew as a person and team player.”

“I’ve grown as a person,” adds intern Daniel J. “I’m confident in entering the workforce because of this opportunity!” 

Thank you to our partners at Citizens & Northwell and all of the fabulous venues that opened their doors to our interns in Boston and Jones Beach that made these programs possible.

Both programs will return 2024. Learn more here.

Wow. I don’t even know where to start. As my time as a Summer Intern at BMG – The New Music Company comes to an end, I just want to take a moment to reflect on everything I have learned, the incredible experiences I have had, the inspiring people that I have met, the amazing relationships I have formed, and most of all; how much I have grown.

Where I come from, packing up your things at 19 years old and moving to LA isn’t exactly the standard. I have been a part of historic signings, events, and experiences that my younger self could never have dreamed of being a part of. My time at BMG has taught me that this huge jump across the country has been worthwhile: all the obstacles and roadblocks included.

The little girl singing the solo in the 4th grade Spring Concert would never have dreamt that she would grow up to create pitch decks for some of her favorite artists, witness iconic label signings, be in rooms with artists she admires, and be able to work every day in rooms covered with ASCAP, BMI and Billboard Awards, and Juice WRLD posters signed by the icon himself.

The fangirl in me who begged for 5SOS tickets for her 13th birthday never even knew it could be possible to be a part of the team behind their music. If she could see me now, she would scream as loud as she did at their concerts.

Today, I am living every single one of my dreams, and I could not be filled with more gratitude, joy, appreciation, and hunger for what’s next. I am beyond blessed to be in the position that I am in, and this internship has allowed me to hone in on where I want my place to be in the music industry, my pathway to get there, and truly see myself as a future Music Industry Executive/CEO. I cannot thank Sam Corrado IV, Thomas Scherer, and Ed Holland enough for allowing me the space, responsibility, encouragement, and opportunity to work towards my goals, dreams, and aspirations. Also, special thanks to Oswaldo Navarro and Music Forward Foundation for connecting me with this life-changing opportunity.

I truly cannot wait to see what is next.

My music journey began at a very young age. I became obsessed with all things music growing up in choir, listening to my dad’s 70’s collections, purchasing CDs at record stores, and watching television music countdowns. However, unlike most music fans, I became obsessed with reading the credits. I always knew that music was the answer but became discouraged because I did not have a traditional music background. I never pursued an artist or compositional career and was under the impression that I had no place in the music industry. Instead, I entered the entertainment world through radio and stuck to that until the pandemic in 2020. After months of contemplating, I decided to network and research different career avenues in the music business. I quickly learned that a career in music was attainable for me, which began with Music Forward. 

I initially signed up for Music Forward’s Office Hours late 2020 but received a notice that the programs were at capacity. Then unexpectedly, I was invited to join Music Forward’s Career Development series in February 2021. I participated in the 8-week program then continued onto the Artist Development series. I made incredible connections, learned how to get started in the business (i.e., pitching and resume workshop), and gained industry insights on how it all works. Shortly after Music Forward, I landed two internships for the Summer. I have remained connected to Music Forward through various workshops and resume pooling. I was ecstatic to be selected as a candidate for BMG’s Spring 2022 Internship program through Music Forward’s recommendation. Music Forward’s Education Coordinator, Clara Mohagen, even arranged a mock interview and provided feedback for improvement, which helped me gain confidence moving forward.

Now that I am halfway through my Creative Sync internship at BMG, I could not be more grateful! I have been welcomed throughout this entire experience, from the interview process to my first day in the office. My team- Laura Ogawa, Haylee Young, Bella Guerra, and Emily Stellar, have poured so much into me this semester. If I could write a brief about every person who’s impacted me at BMG, I would. I’ve learned more about sync and music publishing in the past ten weeks than I have in the last year thanks to the entire team at BMG! I’ve also had the opportunity to arrange informational meetings and assist multiple departments, including brand partnerships and licensing. It feels great to be in a position doing what I love, while having a team that values me as much as I value them. The inclusive community at BMG has contributed immensely to my growth; I would be thrilled to continue working with BMG beyond my internship. 

Moving forward, I will continue pursuing my career in the music business by learning, listening, and taking on internships like the one I have with BMG. As I enter the final three semesters of my MBA program at Long Beach State, I am excited to strengthen my skills and continue networking. I am excited to see where my journey takes me and will always be thankful for the support I receive along the way, including from the Music Forward Foundation.

Meet Kayla Erhardt a Music Forward alumn and past scholarship recipient, currently pursuing a Music Business Management degree at Berklee College of Music. Learn more about her journey!

Well, when I was about 12 years old, I signed up for an after school program called School of Rock. I had just sort of dabbled in music before I entered their program. They were where I first found out about the Bringing Down the House program auditions for Music Forward.

Bringing Down the House was a series of artist development master classes that took place over a couple months and then after the master classes, there would be a big showcase.

I think I was 16 years-old and 16 year-old Kayla was pretty hyped up to perform on such a renowned stage and growing up in Las Vegas, it had been my dream to perform on the House of Blues Las Vegas stage, as a couple of months prior to me entering the program I had gone to see Heart and was blown away. 

During that big showcase at the House of Blues, I was just enamored by the presence of the audience and the stage and the lights. It was really magical being 16 and being in front of a crowd like that, on such a tall stage.

Since then, I’ve participated in many other Music Forward programs and really admire the work that they do which is so important for young people who want to be in the music industry. Before Music Forward showed me that pursuing a career in the music industry was possible, I just remember feeling like this is just kind of a dream of mine–some kind of pipe dream, it’s just something that I like to do on the weekends, or whatever.

So, when it came time to make a decision on what college I wanted to attend, I had my heart set on Berklee College of Music. However, I knew that you have to be like a mini-Beethoven to get a full ride at Berklee, but I wasn’t going to give up on my dream. 

In order to save up money, I decided to perform during the Music Forward Mondays at House of Blues in Las Vegas and I would save up the pay until I had enough to buy a plane ticket to Boston for student orientation weekend. 

I flew there on a Saturday by myself, it was my first time ever flying to the east coast by myself. Once there though, I knew that this was where I belonged.

When I was scholarship searching for Berklee, before I ended up going to school there I came across the Music Forward scholarships. I applied for the David E. Ballard scholarship, which supports youth who have experienced homelessness or have been a part of the foster care system.

Growing up, I was in foster care and I was considered a homeless youth in high school. I knew that I would need financial support in order to make Berklee more accessible to me. So, I applied for the scholarship and it was a very easy process, not too daunting. I do recall that I had to write an essay and submit the application by the March 31st deadline. 

I was mind blown when I received the incredible news that I was selected as the recipient of the scholarship and I was like “No way!!!”

I was so excited.

Receiving this scholarship has been such a blessing. It really helped me to fill in the gap financially to make my dream of attending Berklee a reality. I had previously been taking out like the maximum number of government loans that I could. 

It also helped to give me a little more financial stability. It helped me pay for books for my classes and other things that I needed.

I can’t recommend applying enough. You have nothing to lose by applying for a scholarship, in fact it’s the opposite, if you happen to be selected as a recipient you have a shot at making your career dreams come true. I am so glad that organizations that care so much about helping young people like Music Forward exist. 

Could you be one of our six 2022 scholarship recipients? Learn more and apply by March 31st here.

At this time, two years ago, I started my first semester at Loyola Marymount University after transferring from a community college.

I had no idea what lay ahead for me at the start of my university experience and I most definitely did not think that almost exactly two years later, in my final semester, I would have the opportunity to dance in the Super Bowl Halftime Show or intern at an international music company.  The second of which was thanks to Music Forward who presented me with his unexpected opportunity after having completed an amazing digital marketing internship with them last fall.  I could not believe that I’d gone from ending that internship to wondering what I would take on in spring only to be given these two wonderful opportunities. 

With the Super Bowl being in Los Angeles for the first time since 1993, I was so excited to be able to have even just a small part in this event that is watched by millions of people.  

Dancing in the Super Bowl Halftime Show was one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve had as a dancer (I’ve been dancing since I was a child) and as a student interested in live entertainment production. Although my part was small in comparison to the legendary acts being highlighted on the stage (Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar), it felt amazing to contribute to one of live music’s biggest performances of the year. Being on the field with these iconic performers and seeing the nods to Los Angeles culture that surrounded me, everything felt larger than life! 

The multiple elements integrated into the performance that television could just not capture in its entirety. During our rehearsals, we got to witness the building and break down of the stage after each practice that required hundreds of people to complete. It did not feel real being at SoFi Stadium, nearly every day a week before the game, walking onto that field, and rehearsing over and over to make sure everything was perfect. It never felt not-exciting and I’ll never forget the way I felt each time the lights dimmed, with the halftime show introduction leading into  “The Next Episode” by Dr. Dre. 

To share the field with some of my favorite artists is a memory and experience I’ll forever cherish.

From a learning perspective, it was fascinating to see all of the effort that goes into executing a show of this scale! I learned that in order to make it all happen you need patience, encouragement, communication, kindness, and a desire to persevere. Everyone was so appreciative of each other’s work and shared words of encouragement anytime they could. One of the things I love most about having had this experience is sharing it with my mom, who danced in the Super Bowl Halftime Show the last time it was in Los Angeles! In the week, leading up to the Super Bowl, I had long practices almost every single day. It was a lot of work in a short period of time, but I enjoyed every minute of this experience. 

It was at this same time that I was also starting my first week with BMG as their Catalog Digital Marketing Intern. This opportunity, presented to me by Music Forward, is one that I am learning so much from already, every moment is exciting! 

I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to work in music, but I wasn’t 100% sure which area was the right career for me.  I’ve explored the music industry the various ways that I’ve had access to, such as through live music entertainment (both attending concerts and shows or producing them from behind-the-scenes) or via music education like some of the programs that Music Forward offers. 

In this new role, I work closer to the artist and their teams on the music publishing and recording side. I specifically work in the catalog department, working on projects including an incredible roster of artists across all genres from Iron Maiden to the incomparable Nina Simone to legendary Stevie Nicks and more! 

In a short time, I’ve already learned so much more about the music industry from a publishing and recording standpoint. It’s a challenging role that I love. It feels great to learn so many new things about an industry that  I am passionate about, and to be able to explore the music of many artists by strategizing ways to creatively promote their work. I would never have known that this was a role that existed in the music industry if it wasn’t for opportunities like this. 

As the year kicks off with these incredible blessings, I am so very grateful and excited to see what’s next!

I feel so fortunate to have had these incredible learning experiences, and to have the support of my school LMU, Music Forward, and BMG as I navigate the end of my college career and continue to work on these exciting endeavors. 

What is your role at Music Forward and what is your favorite part of what you do?

I currently serve as the Education Partnerships Manager. My goal is to serve as the bridge between Music Forward and education institutions. My goal is to collaborate and partner to help students gain awareness and participate in our programs such as Office Hours, mentoring programs, internship opportunities, scholarships, etc. My favorite aspect of my role is connecting with universities and students across the country to share just how Music Forward can provide support to them in their academic and professional journey.

What drew you to the education sector and how did you get your start?

I always wanted to become a teacher, but when I graduated in 2008 (at the height of the recession) the credential program that I had been admitted to decided to not continue with our cohort due to funding issues. I instead decided to pursue my degree in social work and started out my career as a clinical therapist working with probation and foster youth. I soon realized that the common denominator with all of my clients seemed to be the education system failing them. I later decided to leave the clinical world and go into the K-12 setting.  I served as a Dropout Prevention Counselor in South Central Los Angeles and  it was honestly one of the best experiences of my professional journey! 

I learned so much from the community that I served for five years and this experience pushed me harder to continue to serve students and communities and to continue to pursue my career into the area of workforce development, committed to providing opportunities for others.

How do you feel your background helps you to support young people in your role?

My personal and professional experience has really allowed me to understand the youth we serve. 

Being a product of immigrant parents and a first-generation college student, I understand where the students are coming from– not knowing about the resources to support our academic and professional journey, the importance of a resume, networking, and all the essentials needed post-graduation. Knowing this drives me to support our students in our programming and also to help them take advantage of various other opportunities such as internships.

What do you enjoy most about working with youth?

Working with youth is my driving force.

Seeing each student’s tenacity, resilience, and growth inspires me to continue to serve the youth. Seeing our youth’s eagerness to want to learn and grow inspires me to serve them with our programming and opportunities that we have. I always think back to what my 21-year-old self would want, what would have helped me feel supported during those first few years of my professional development. What would have helped set me up for success? Now, having the opportunity to serve as a resource for students and seeing them develop into young professionals makes it worth the countless hours we as a team put into our programs.

Growing up, who or what were some of your inspirations?

My older siblings. I have two older brothers and one older sister who served as substitute parents at times, while growing up. At the time I hated it, but now I understand why they pushed me to excel in my academics, leadership, and work ethic. Being older, I now understand that their tough love was shaping me to prepare myself as an adult and that they only wanted to see me thriving. Witnessing them all graduate from college really motivated me to continue my education and follow them in their path towards success.

What piece of advice would you give to young professionals pursuing their dream career?

Never give up. I know it sounds cliché, but do not let a “no” or multiple “nos” deter you from your career aspirations. Working with students, I have seen how one rejection has impacted their decision to continue their dream. As I tell students, just because they say no doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to continue on your journey.  A rejection is an opportunity for you to better your toolkit with a stronger resumé, network, practice your pitch, interview skills, and to use the resources around you to land an opportunity.

What has been your most memorable or favorite live music experience?

Coachella 2018. Beyoncé. 

Witnessing one of the best performances I have ever seen live. I have been to five out of her eight tours (yes, I am part of the Beyhive) and this performance was indescribable and worth the three-hour wait!

How does music move you?

Music is everything to me. Music is universal and a form of expression. From having those bad days and hearing your hype song- your mood changes and the day gets better, getting ready to start your day, to pump you up to tackle the workday, to building community with friends. Music to me has been healing, motivating (running marathons, like I do, your playlist has to be fire!), and has created lasting memories with my friends. Music is an outlet and allows expression and every morning before I start my routine- I start the day off with hype music to handle the day.

Interested in joining our Music Forward team and empowering the next generation of diverse music industry leaders? Visit our Careers page for current available roles and opportunities

LaTisha Stephens is a recent graduate of California State University, Chico, and a past participant of our Office Hours Career Development Series which led to a fall internship with our organization, learn more about her experience with Music Forward below. 

My experience with Music Forward began when I attended the Office Hours Career Development Series, which my major advisor emailed me about earlier this year. After checking it out, one of the sessions that I was initially most drawn to was the one focused on resumes, described as being one where industry experts would provide tips and guidance to improve the resumes and cover letters of each participant. 

During the Office Hours programming, Music Forward also gave us valuable resources and the practice with professionals who coached us on how we could pitch ourselves during interviews. Once Office Hours ended, I felt like we really were given an advantage over other young aspiring professionals, feeling as prepared to begin applying for jobs as possible thanks to the Music Forward staff and the professionals that volunteered their time to offer us guidance. 

What happened next, I couldn’t have expected! It wasn’t long after the Office Hours series, that I got an email announcing fall internship opportunities with Music Forward for the Fall 2021 semester. 

I had applied to so many internships and jobs but experienced more rejection than I had expected in the past. The Office Hours series really showed me that I am not alone in that experience. However, armed with my newfound knowledge and confidence, the rejection didn’t stop me, and more than ever I was persistent about obtaining an internship. I am so glad that I followed my instinct because it brought me the opportunity of a virtual internship as the Program Intern with Music Forward Foundation! 

After learning that I had been selected for this chance to continue to gain professional experience within the music industry that I am so passionate about, I was excited but also incredibly nervous all at the same time. I had accomplished getting my first internship and I felt like this was a major stepping stone to new beginnings, or rather the next chapter of my life. 

I had a gradual start with my internship which I truly appreciated. Since running programs has so many critical details and deadlines, it was nice to be eased into it. I learned quite quickly that while all workshops flow at various paces, everything needs to come together for the program to be successful and have the impact intended. 

One of my first experiences with my internship was being a participant in  All Access Fest, the all-day virtual career fest that happened right before the official start of my internship. It was my first time ever attending something like this.

All Access Fest was very informative and it was interesting seeing how each topic in the discussion rooms was organized for participants to join based on their own personal interests such as venue careers, music marketing, a day in the life of a music professional, artists pitching and branding, and more. Not to mention networking can be difficult in the music field if you don’t have any guidance so it was great to connect with so many of the awesome keynote speakers who have found success in the music and entertainment industry. I appreciate Music Forward and the industry professionals taking time out of their day to give the youth advice in their field so they can one day follow in their footsteps.  

After All Access Fest, as a program intern, I worked with data in the operations department, spoke to young people who were participating in various Music Forward programs, developed and worked out all of the details for a successful workshop, and more. I’m glad that Music Forward saw my potential and brought me in to gain the experience of what it is like being behind the scenes of their programming and how they are developed from start to finish. 

I can truly say that this experience has helped me grow in a field that interests me, while I also focused on finishing my degree. And to think that it all began with me attending the Office Hours series!

We were curious to hear what our participants have thought about our fall programming, therefore we asked our alum Heather Howard, a junior at Middle Tennessee State University, if she would share her experience with all of us. Read on for what this Recording Industry Music Business major has gleaned from our artist and career development opportunities.

Since I was very young, I always dreamed of pursuing music as a career. 

I have been singing since I was very young and always told my family that one day when I grew up I would be famous.  However, growing up in Baltimore did not always present me with the best access to the music community. 

I searched for years for a company, like Music Forward Foundation, that would provide me with opportunities to develop as an artist and prepare for a career in the music industry. I had no luck and decided it was best to move to a city and school where my dreams could flourish. Around August of 2020, I had finally decided to take that leap and transfer universities mid-year. When I enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University, I had no idea that it would be one of the best decisions I would make for my future. 

Just a few short months after transferring, in the beginning of the Spring 2021 semester, I was introduced to the Music Forward Foundation and all they had to offer. At first, I was taken aback by just how much this organization provided to the youth who were considering joining this industry. 

They offer opportunities such as Office Hours for artist development and career development, All Access Fest (a music industry career fair), Industry Sessions, Scholarships, Gigternships (their version of an internship), Mentorships, Open Mic Showcases, among so much more. As someone who once thought that obtaining a career in the music industry was so out of reach, discovering this foundation and all of their programs was the inspiration I needed to continue to work towards my ultimate goal: a career in the music industry.  

OFFICE HOURS

I started out this fall by diving into Music Forward’s Office Hours. In the month of September, the career development series launched and every Friday we focused on a new topic. The topics included things like building your resume and having it reviewed, developing a professional pitch, and then finishing it off with meeting a mentor to receive coaching and tactical advice. This was one of my first big exposures with the organization and the Music Forward team and I cannot express how lucky I felt to be a part of it. 

All the staff who participated in these sessions were knowledgeable, ready to help, and showed an interest to get to know my professional background and aspirations. One of my favorite experiences was practicing my professional pitch with everyone in the session because not only could I speak about what I am hoping to accomplish in the world, but I could hear about others as well. Right away, I made connections with the fellow participants and the staff and knew that the Music Forward would be a place where I would feel safe to explore. I would say some of my biggest takeaways from the Career Development series include making connections with everyone who is in the session with you, not feeling afraid to ask questions, and feeling free to be yourself and tell your story. 

Music Forward also offers an Artist Development Office Hours series. It started in late October and ran through last week. This installment of Office Hours focused on developing an artist pitch, creating an electronic press kit (EPK) and artist website, and once again brought mentors to answer questions and guide me and my fellow emerging artists on our career journeys. After having an incredible time with the Career Development Series, I had to give this one a try as well! I never quite knew how to develop an EPK before attending Music Forward’s Office Hours, but I left with multiple examples, an industry professional who was willing to help and answer further questions in the design process, and the right path to convey my brand to everyone else. 

ALL ACCESS FEST

Outside of Office Hours, Music Forward also held a Music Industry Career Fair, All Access Fest, this year, and it ran for the entire day on September 30th, 2021! 

The name is not an understatement either! This day-long career fair was complete with exciting panels, networking and job opportunities, lightning rounds with chances to showcase your music to A&R representatives or have your resume reviewed by HR pros. As soon as this was announced, there was no way I was going to miss it! Some of my favorite experiences included “Preparing your Next Release: The 45 Day Blueprint” with CD Baby,  “Lightning Rounds with HR Pros,” “Helping Dollars Make Sense,” and “The Artist Team” to name a few. I simply walked away from this career fair with an insane amount of knowledge, industry connections, and so much confidence that I was on my way to discovering which path in this industry I was going to pursue. 

OPEN MIC FRIDAYS

I recently as an artist got to participate in their Open Mic Fridays showcase line-up. When I was invited to showcase my talent, I thought it was the absolute coolest thing in the world. 

Open Mic Fridays are a chance for emerging artists to showcase themselves on a virtual platform while having their fans engage and support them during their performance. I was given this opportunity and performed live virtually on Twitch. As part of my experience, I received performance coaching in advance of the big day. I also got the experience of creating my own marketing and promoting myself to my fans to get them to tune in and vote. However, the best part was that I got to receive actual real-time industry professional feedback on my performance. If you are starting out as an artist and do not know how to take yourself to the next level, I definitely recommend applying to their Open Mic Fridays!

BMG Mentorship Series

However, the greatness of the foundation does not end there. They also have an outstanding mentorship program in partnership with BMG and this semester, I was partnered with an established industry professional from BMG’s legal and business affairs division.

During this mentorship, I have received advice and coaching on networking and skill development, along with the amazing opportunity to create a lasting professional relationship with my mentor. I meet virtually with my mentor twice a month for an hour and we discuss career readiness, how to protect the rights to my music, finding internships, and so much more. This opportunity has given me the ability to break out of my shell and become more comfortable asking questions and seeking knowledge. It also further opened my eyes to how valuable networking is in an industry like this one and has given me the confidence that I am ready to enter an internship next semester.

To Music Forward, I am forever grateful and amazed at how far I have come from the beginning of the semester. I can honestly say that prior to Music Forward Foundation’s programs, I did not feel half as ready to pursue a career in the music industry as I do now. 

If anyone is questioning whether to get involved, look no further.

Music Forward has a diverse range of program offerings and has something that will fit just about every need of anyone considering a career in this field. Not only does the foundation focus on empowering you as a young person, but they also provide you with the resources and experiences to gain hands-on knowledge to obtain that career you have always dreamed about. Music Forward Foundation truly cares about your dreams and wants to provide you with the best chance of success, so take the chance, dive into some amazing opportunities, and I promise after you are done you will never want to stop exploring what Music Forward has to offer. 

Enjoy this post-event write-up from one of our youth attendees, Rosmary Alarco Villalva, a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida who also provided social media support via our partner RUTH PLUS.

At the age of five, I wanted to be a pop star.  At the age of fourteen, I ran a Twitter fan account for my favorite boy band with over 7,000 followers.

Regardless of how different both of my past dreams may have been, they had one thing in common– music.

Fast-forward to the present day…

“How do I find the career that’s right for me within the music industry?”

That was a question constantly on my mind until I attended All Access Fest. Now I can confidently say, at the age of twenty-three, I know what my future career will be.

In early July, my manager at RUTH PLUS gave me the role of Project Manager for the partnership between Music Forward and our company. When I read all about the purpose behind the event, I knew this was the project for me. The main focus of what we would be providing for the event was creating content and doing outreach alongside Music Forward’s wonderful marketing team. In spite of standard event challenges, seeing it come to life was worth every second spent designing, editing, and typing up email templates for my team to use.

On the day of the event, not only was I continuing to assist with their social marketing by posting reminders, engaging with the audience via Instagram, and perfecting feed posts, but I also was able to attend the event and learn about my future.

There was a panel for everything!

Whether you were an artist, producer, aspiring artist manager, future venue owner, a creative who wants to go into marketing, or any other career within the music industry, Music Forward opened doors into the industry by providing panels, workshops, and even resume reviews, and real time A&R feedback.

The one experience that really resonated with me was “A Day in the Life: Agent Edition with United Talent Agency (UTA).”

My manager would always tell me that I’d do great at an agency, so I was thankful All Access Fest gave me the chance to get more insight on what the job entails aside from my own general research.

Inspirational was the word I would use to describe the conversation between Tessie Lammle and Ruth-Ann Wynter. There’s nothing that I appreciate more than honesty and that is exactly what was given to participants in this conversation. Along with sharing the greatness of being a booking agent, we were also told the real struggles one goes through in this role. Overall what was most important to me, as a woman, was feeling like I was represented by these two amazing women.

The best advice that I heard was that “it doesn’t matter your age or where you’re from, you have the power to gain experience wherever you are. Don’t be afraid to ask local bands if they need help with marketing. Reach out to venues around you and see if they need volunteers for the next concert or event. Even without an internship, opportunities are all around you. Don’t let anything bring you down from following your dreams.”

I can definitely say, All Access Fest was inclusive and diverse, from speakers to participants.  We all have one common goal, to shape the future of the music industry. It was amazing to be a participant and hopefully one day, I’ll be able to attend as a speaker and inspire others.

Thank you Music Forward for providing these opportunities to teens and young adults to create their pathway of success in the industry.