As part of the House of Blues and Live Nation Entertainment family, Music Forward inspires ambition and creates momentum to redefine what’s possible for the young people and the industry we serve. Focusing on young people ages 13-24 in underserved communities, we set the stage for success by providing workshops and showcases to inspire the next generation of music industry leaders, innovators, and artists.
Music Forward transforms young lives, inspires careers, and champions a more inclusive music industry.
We use music as a catalyst for discovery, connection, and transformation.
We foster out-of-the-box thinking, flexibility, and innovation in every aspect of our work.
We believe in the power of the individual voice and we provide a forum so those voices can be heard.
We aim to do our best, be our best, and achieve the most we can for the young people we impact every day.
We initiate purpose-driven partnerships that produce win-win outcomes for our communities and our supporters.
We create a warm, welcoming, and respectful environment to nurture success in our workplace and our communities.
We honor the rich cultural roots that shaped our founding and leverage their significance to shape what we will become.
Music is a powerful force in people’s lives. It’s a universal language that influences everyone and moves our culture. There is a new generation of leaders whose voices will shape the future. Music Forward empowers this generation to succeed and lead while celebrating the diversity of their voices and viewpoints.
Music Forward kick-starts musical careers through workshops and showcases that connect passions to professions. We open doors to an unmatched, nationwide network of music industry insiders to redefine what’s possible for tomorrow’s innovators and leaders. Both community and industry are transformed by Music Forward experiences bridging opportunity for the music community to become more innovative and inclusive.
In addition to defining pathways to success in the industry for high-school and college-age young people, Music Forward offers music industry professionals a way to give back by connecting with GenZ, sharing insight and experience, and uplifting communities.
Also in service of the music industry, Music Forward in partnership with Live Nation, established the Crew Nation fund- a global relief fund to support live music crews who have been affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We are honored to play a role in developing and managing this fund that provides support for these independent workers who are the backbone of the live music industry.
Music Forward is proud to hold the Platinum GuideStar Nonprofit Profile Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition for organizational efficiency and transparency offered by the world’s largest source of nonprofit information.
Today’s youth face a nationwide crisis when it comes to education and employment.
11.7% of our nation’s 16-24 year olds — or 4.5 million young people — are disconnected, meaning they are not currently enrolled in school or working and that disconnection is even greater for youth of color. Experts also expect youth disconnection rates will spike dramatically as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, these young people face a variety of challenges, including:
Music Forward is doing its part to address these sobering statistics by helping youth turn their passion for music into professions, both on-stage and behind the scenes. Our programs help youth who have a passion for music develop skills to secure employment in the music industry and related fields, leading them to promising futures.
Music Forward is unyielding in our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
We are rooted in the knowledge and respect of the Black community’s integral contribution to music and culture and recognize that a diverse, inclusive industry is critical to ensuring its vitality and evolution.
It is our charge to create equity by removing barriers to entry and increasing access and opportunity for under-resourced communities, with a focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) youth and young womxn.
We promote an environment where our employees, partners, and young people are included, celebrated, and empowered to contribute to a more equitable industry and just society.
These guiding principles help us to bridge our communities to the music industry, move culture forward, and champion the youth and industry we serve.
Music Forward was first established in 1993 as the International House of Blues Foundation (IHOBF). The founders of House of Blues envisioned IHOBF as a charitable arm that they could use to bring the arts to schools and communities through programs that promoted cultural understanding, encouraged creative expression, and manifested their core belief of Unity In Diversity.
The organization officially changed its legal name to House of Blues Music Forward Foundation in 2014, and later shortened its moniker to Music Forward to help the public understand its role as an independent 501(c)(3) provider of direct services for youth.
For more than 25 years, Music Forward has impacted over 1,000,000 young lives and invested more than $25 million towards providing transformational music opportunities to youth from under-represented communities.
Music Forward team members are a group of driven and passionate individuals that harness their skills and inspiration to elevate our communities. We believe ingenuity requires diversity and are proud to champion the many benefits of hiring and engaging diverse teams of contributors that benefit the young people we serve.
Nurit has two decades involvement in the arts and entertainment social sectors as artist and executive. A UC Berkeley grad, her work as a performer and creator has been seen on TV and film and on stages across the country. She has managed positions within varied organizations including Blue Man Group, SAG-AFTRA Foundation and Grand Performances. Born in Israel and raised in Los Angeles, she currently lives in her hometown of LA with her husband and two daughters.
Laura is an experienced nonprofit professional with an extensive background in providing outcomes driven youth service programming. She began her career in Western New York where she developed and delivered educational access programs for at risk youth. Laura has presented best practices workshops at national youth at risk conferences and continues to lead dynamic teams in the delivery of engaging programs.
I have over ten years of experience building and implementing Music Forward programs in locations across the country. This background allows me to tell the organization’s story from the voice of direct impact and to align partners in harnessing the power of music for social good. I am a hip hop and soul music enthusiast and I love exploring the world around me near and far.
Elisa loves bringing people together, big ideas, and implementing a bit of process. She brings diverse experience from the social and business sectors, from developing school projects to driving recruitment for established and start-up offices in a global firm. Elisa deeply values respect for one another, learning, and openness to the possibilities.
Siria is a creative and innovative marketer with a passion for the arts and empowering the next generation.
Since beginning her career at Variety, Siria has led marketing initiatives for NBC, CBS, and AT&T/DIRECTV managing content strategy, live streaming, experiential, branding, and campaign launches for #1 shows and specials such as GRAMMYs®, TONYs®, Kennedy Center Honors, The Late and Late Late Shows (Stephen Colbert & James Corden), Big Bang Theory, Governors Ball NYC, and more. The music-loving CA native is also a founding member of music non-profit Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls L.A.
Cinnamon joined Music Forward with a history in the non-profit world, most recently as Program Director of HollyRod Foundation. Along with expertise in administration, events and programs, she brings a firm belief that life is better with music.
Nalini has a lifelong love for music and serving others. She loves how music moves her, how it creates shared experiences, influences emotions, and brings together people from all walks of life. She is excited to work with Music Forward to celebrate a non-profit devoted to diversity, impact, and serving youth.
Chelsea Mae Taruc is a senior majoring in Communication, with an emphasis in music marketing and partnerships, at the University of Southern California. As a first-generation Filipina immigrant and music enthusiast, her mission is to empower under-resourced communities through inclusion and equal opportunity and amplify diverse talent within the music industry.
Phebe is currently a senior at Emerson College, studying Visual Media Arts. She has a passion for creating learning opportunities, having founded an organization on campus that focuses on allowing students to try new creative endeavors, and is excited to combine that with her love of music at Music Forward.
Keely is a rising senior at UC Santa Cruz studying Literature and Film & Digital Media. She has been a freelance video editor for 4 years and an alto saxophone player for over 10. She looks forward to combining her passion for editing, music, and storytelling as an intern at Music Forward.
Emily is currently studying Political Science and English at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Passionate about music, from consumption to creation, she is excited to bring her programming and editorial experience to Music Forward. However, she is also half-deaf from years of blasting music way too loud, so you might have to yell to get her attention if you see her out and about.
Mia Marquez is a social media designer with a focus on digital strategy. She is a marketing major at the University of Florida and designs graphics and campaigns for student organizations and nonprofits. She also works as a freelance social media manager for independent musicians. Her passion is in digital music marketing and her goal is to help artists of color and diverse backgrounds share their stories and grow their following.