The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and the Save the Music Foundation have formed a new partnership to support public music education nationwide.
The initiative will fund at least 25 new music education programs in public schools across the country over the next three years, with a focus on communities where the Save The Music Foundation has a longstanding presence. Target cities for the initiative include Los Angeles/Compton, Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Miami/South Florida, and New York City.
The partnership marks the launch of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s first-ever grant, which was awarded to Save The Music in hopes of accelerating the foundation’s ability to bring music into classrooms across the country. As part of the effort, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will take a hands-on approach with students by visiting classrooms to mentor and inspire them.
Studies have shown that students receiving music education instruction earn better grades, achieve higher reading and math test scores, and demonstrate higher rates of college enrollment.
“We’ve seen firsthand that music education doesn’t just create future musicians,” said Save The Music’s executive director, Henry Donahue, in a press release. “It helps shape our future doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders. This partnership is about unlocking that potential for every child.”
Save The Music was founded nearly 30 years ago by John Sykes, then President of VH1, with the mission to restore music programs in public schools nationwide. The Foundation spun out as an independent 501c3 in 2008 and has since doubled its impact and scale. Sykes is now Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and President of Entertainment Enterprises at iHeartMedia.
The foundation gained national recognition through the iconic VH1 Divas concert series, featuring legendary performances by Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and more. It has created over 2,800 music programs in public schools and raised more than $75 million, with recent support from partners and artists including Ed Sheeran, Becky G, Jelly Roll, Old Dominion, and others.
iHeartMedia will also support the partnership by launching a nationwide PSA campaign across its over 860 radio stations to raise awareness and support for music education programs in underserved communities. Bloomberg Philanthropies will also provide financial support to the initiative.
“Music education is not only an art – it’s a science,” said Sykes in a news release. “We are grateful for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support to protect and expand music education programs that help shape both the creative and cognitive development of the next generation.”
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sheryl Crow joined Sykes and Donahue on Good Morning America to outline the new partnership, featuring a performance of Crow’s hit song “Every Day Is A Winding Road.” Crow, who holds a BA in music education and was an elementary school teacher before her breakthrough with her debut album, “Tuesday Night Music Club.” She was one of the initial supporters of Save the Music when it first launched in 1997 and continues to provide her longtime support to the organization.