Eligibility: 

This fund is open to artists who haven’t recorded at a local Memphis studio and will see this as an opportunity to learn more about the process and what it takes to make a quality recording. Artists must meet MEM's general eligibility requirements.

Timeline:

Applications are now open and will close on April 1. 

Once all submissions are received, The For the Love of Luke White team consisting of family, friends and fellow musicians will review and ultimately choose the winner(s). Depending on funding there may be an opportunity for multiple winners.

Grant winner(s) will be notified by May 1. Once notified, recording time will be scheduled with High/Low Recording.

• All Ambassador tour grant recipients must meet the eligibility requirements for all MEM opportunities.
• To be eligible for an Ambassador tour grant, you must have 5 or more tour dates in different cities booked outside of Memphis. The majority of those dates should fall outside of a 100-mile radius of Memphis. We do not typically fund artists with multi-date residencies (multiple dates at a single venue in a single city) unless they are part of a bigger tour. 
• Private events, radio performances OR any event for publicity (photoshoot, interview, or video shoots) are not eligible unless they are accessible to the public via ticketing and promoted publicly. 
• When prepping your application be sure you plan well in advance of your tour dates. Applications are reviewed on the 15th of every month. You should submit your application at least one calendar month before your tour starts. Ex: Tour starts on March 20. You should apply before February 15 or earlier.
• Funding decisions are competitive and made based on a number of factors, including the artist or band’s viability as an excellent ambassador for the city of Memphis. In most cases, artists meeting our eligibility requirements for the grant are funded. The funding amount awarded to each applicant is decided based upon the size of the band, geographic reach of the tour and number of tour dates.                              
  • Multiple members of the same band will not be funded. Bands should submit one application and indicate the total number of people the grant will fund. This goes the same for Hip-Hop and Rap artists - if you have a DJ joining you on the tour as accompaniment you must include them on the application. UNLESS they are billed as an artist on all the tour dates doing a separate DJ set.
  • If an artist or band is an opening act on a tour, they can be funded separately from the headliner as long as they are a billed artist and are performing a completely separate set.
  • If two solo artists are billed as "Artist 1 and Artist 2" but will be performing in the same set as a duo - they must submit one application for a duo. UNLESS they both have separate sets.
  • Artists cannot receive Ambassador grants for showcases already funded by other MEM programs (i.e.: Experiences or Export Bank). 
  • Some Ambassador artists will have the chance to highlight a favorite Memphis music location in a video promoting their music and the tour. 
  • Application timeline: Applications must be completed and received by 11:59PM on the 15th of each month. You will hear back from staff with results within two weeks after the deadline. Grant funding dispersals can be expected another two weeks after that. 

   

• Ambassadors receive between $500 – $2,500 per request. There is no limit to how many times an artist can be funded, with an annual cap of $5,000.

Solo artists or bands can receive up to 40% of the cost of the merch (or up to 50% when using a Preferred Partner) to support the creation of merchandise (tee shirts, koozies, CD pressing, vinyl records, etc.). The maximum grant amount for this program is $1,000. The money must be spent with a Memphis-based business or service provider and must be paid directly by MEM to the service provider on the artist’s behalf.

ELIGIBILITY

• All applicants must meet MEM’s eligibility requirements. 
• Merch Fund grants are competitive. If applicants wish to receive the maximum award possible for their application, they should ensure they provide all required information and answer questions in detail. 
• If an application is considered incomplete by the review staff after the deadline (15th of each month) the applicant will be asked to reapply for the next month. Applicants should explain the potential impact of the merch order, make a case for why they should receive support and how they rep our city.
• Applicants must submit the official invoice from the business in the application process. Merch Fund grants can be spent with a provider at any stage in product development, from the graphic designer to the printer or manufacturer. If an applicant fails to provide an official and itemized invoice from their provider they may be asked to resubmit for consideration the next month. 
• Applicants who use a Merch Fund Preferred Partner may receive a grant greater than 50% of project cost.
• Memphis Record Pressing has different quantities available for pressing short-run and larger quantities. For a short-run of vinyl MEM may award UP TO $750. For a larger quantity of vinyl MEM may award the maximum grant of UP TO $1,000. Our record pressing grants are one of our most competitive granting opportunities. You must take time to complete your application and make your case as to WHY your fan base would like vinyl.
• When reasonable, artists who receive a Merch Fund grant will be asked to donate one item produced with the grant to MEM for use in upcoming silent auctions or donor giveaways.
• Application timeline: Applications must be completed and received by 11:59PM on the 15th of each month. You will hear back from staff with results within two weeks after the deadline. Grant funding dispersals can be expected another two weeks after that. 
• There is no limit to the number of times an artist can be funded, but there is an annual cap of $2,000.

Music Export Memphis has funds available for artists and industry professionals to attend music industry conferences and professional development events outside of Memphis.

• All applicants must meet MEM’s eligibility requirements. 
• Your application should be framed around the specific conference or opportunity you would like to attend or take part in. Please note that for conferences with tiered pricing (based on how early you purchase a badge or pass) MEM will only fund the lowest tier badge price – plan ahead! Submit your application well in advance of the cut-off date for early bird pricing.
• If you are selected to receive a scholarship, MEM will purchase the badge directly from the conference or professional development opportunity provider in your name.

Artists with a tour planned can  submit for funds to ma. et promotion, e-mail retargeting, etc.). Limited grants of up to $1,000 are available.

• All applicants must meet MEM’s eligibility requirements.
• Finalists will be asked to submit either a line-item budget and strategy for use of the dollars to promote each market OR a proposal from a marketing consultant or agency. The strongest applications for this grant will include Memphis prominently in all marketing assets and will have a strategic, coordinated approach across multiple platforms.
• Applicants can submit budgets and plans in any format they prefer, but if you need a template you can download one here.

Artists with a release planned (album or EP) who will tour to support that release can submit for funds to subsidize the cost of a publicist. Limited grants of up to $3,000 are available.

ELIGIBILITY

• All applicants must meet MEM’s eligibility requirements. 
• Artists should submit a projected release schedule, planned tour dates (in as much detail as you have available now – projections will suffice) and any other relevant promotional strategies.
• Artists whose publicity costs are funded by Music Export Memphis will need to make Memphis a central part of their narrative. The strongest applicants for this grant will demonstrate how they will include Memphis in the story of their record.
• Artists will be required to submit a proposal from their preferred publicist. If awarded, Music Export Memphis will make payment directly to the publicist on your behalf.
• Finalists will be asked to interview with Music Export Memphis staff.