OnRamp
OnRamp is a 12-month guaranteed income pilot launched in June 2023 by the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) for 20 young, Black artists and industry professionals in the Nashville, Tennessee music community. Each participant received a $1,000 unconditional monthly stipend distributed via the Steady platform, along with mentorship, professional development, and industry access. The program was designed to address racial inequities documented in BMAC's 2022 report 'Three Chords & The ACTUAL Truth' on Black representation in country music. It was funded by BMAC, ACM, and industry partners, and administered with support from social impact agency BreatheWithMe. The inaugural (and only publicly documented) cohort ran from June 2023 through May 2024.
Music Industry, Black Artists, Country Music, Racial Equity, Nashville, Steady
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Black Music Action Coalition & Academy of Country Music
- City
- Nashville
- State / Province
- Tennessee
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 20
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Corporate
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 12,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit (via Steady platform)
- Benefit details
Each of the 20 selected participants received a $1,000 unconditional monthly cash stipend for 12 months, distributed through the Steady platform (co-founded by Shaquille O'Neal). Alongside cash payments, participants received professional development, community mentorship, industry exposure, access to exclusive ACM membership panels and tentpole live events, and visibility with ACM Board members and industry leaders. The inaugural cohort launched June 15, 2023, coinciding with Black Music Month and BMAC's third anniversary.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to self-identify as African-American, be an artist or music industry professional early in their career, reside in the Greater Metro Nashville area (defined as Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson counties), and demonstrate financial need as determined by a Self-Sufficiency Calculator. Applicants also had to submit 3-5 professional/personal references and answer questions about their career goals and what they hoped to gain from the program.
Demographics
- Race / ethnicity targets
- African-American / Black
Geography
- US states covered
- Tennessee
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Nashville
- Counties covered
- Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, Wilson
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Application Process
- How to apply
Applicants applied online via a Google Form linked from acmcountry.com/onramp. The application window ran April 3-28, 2023, and required 3-5 professional/personal references, written responses about career goals in the music industry and what applicants hoped to gain from the program, and completion of a Self-Sufficiency Calculator to demonstrate financial need.
- Selection process
Applications were reviewed by BMAC and ACM, with members of the ACM LEVel Up: Lift Every Voice 2022 cohort playing an active role in guiding the program and helping select the inaugural class. Accepted candidates were notified in June 2023, with the program beginning that month in tandem with Black Music Month and BMAC's third anniversary.
