The MusicianShip
The MusicianShip is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free music education, performance opportunities, and cultural programming to approximately 1,200 youth ages 5-24 annually in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersHyattsville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The MusicianShip does
The MusicianShip is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in October 2009 in Washington, D.C., delivering free music education and cultural programming to youth aged 5-24 in the DC metropolitan region. The organization operates a community development platform that serves approximately 1,200 youth annually through after-school programs, summer programs, music therapy, master classes, and the flagship Washington Youth Choir, while also operating two major cultural events — the DC Funk Parade and the Wammie Music Awards (acquired in 2018 from the Washington Area Music Association). Core delivery infrastructure includes on-site programming at 73 partner sites since inception (including DC Public Schools such as Randle Highlands ES and Jackson-Reed HS), partnerships with community centers, and a free online learning library hosted on Thinkific that extends content reach globally.
The organization is funded primarily through grants and donations, with a stated annual revenue of approximately $1.1 million supported by major funders including Spotify (Grand Maestro level, $100,000+), The Coca-Cola Foundation ($50,000), NBCUniversal ($50,000), the National Endowment for the Arts, the DC Commission on Arts & Humanities, Amazon, T-Mobile, and EventsDC. International programming extends to South Africa, France, and Sint Maarten through the Professional Development/Cultural Exchange vertical. The organization rebranded in 2024 at its 15-year milestone, is governed by a board chaired by GWU Law Professor Robert Brauneis, and operates with a small core team of approximately six staff including Executive Director Eric Liley and Deputy Executive Director Dana Nearing.
The MusicianShip firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The MusicianShip
- Legal name
- The MusicianShip
- Website
- https://themusicianship.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The MusicianShip is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free music education, performance opportunities, and cultural programming to approximately 1,200 youth ages 5-24 annually in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The MusicianShip industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Education Services
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)
Keywords
Where The MusicianShip is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hyattsville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The MusicianShip business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit relying on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Major funders include Spotify, DC Commission on Arts & Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, Amazon, T-Mobile, The Coca-Cola Foundation, and NBCUniversal.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Programs for Youth |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The MusicianShip product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The MusicianShip is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free music education to youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Founded in 2009, it provides in-school and after-school music programs, instrument instruction, summer camps, and workshops designed to make music accessible to underserved young people.
Product overview
The MusicianShip is a non-profit youth development organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of free music education programs and community events. The core educational offerings include After School Programs, Summer Programs, Music Therapy, Master Classes and Assemblies, and Professional Development/Cultural Exchange programs. The organization also operates two prominent sub-brands: the DC Funk Parade (an annual free cultural festival celebrating DC's U Street funk music history) and The Wammie Music Awards (a 35+ year annual awards program recognizing regional artists). Additionally, the Online Learning platform provides free virtual education content through Thinkific. The Washington Youth Choir serves as the flagship performance ensemble, having performed for multiple U.S. Presidents. All programs are provided free of charge to youth aged 5-24 across the DC metropolitan region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Wammie Music Awards: 35-year-old music awards program recognizing DC, MD, and VA area artists for artistic works and community impact.
- DC Funk Parade
Products and services
- Rising Stars
- Groove!
- Summer Strummers
- Drumline Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 6,500+ youth served since 2010; 750 artists amplified; 297 events hosted; 73 partner sites served; 1,750 hours of youth programming in 2022
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The MusicianShip
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The MusicianShip technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The MusicianShip partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Chuck Levin's Washington Music CentercorePartner for instrument donation drive accepting used instruments for youth programs. Located at 11151 Veirs Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD 20902.
- Ben's Chili Bowl FoundationmajorCommunity partner for DC Funk Parade events and cultural programming.
- WUSA9majorMedia sponsor and strategic partnership for community outreach and marketing.
- iHeartMediamajorMedia sponsor providing promotional support for events and programs.
- Right Proper Brewing CompanyminorBrewery partner for Funk Parade Beer, a blonde wheat ale brewed for the annual festival.
- Sankofa Beer CompanyminorBrewing collaborator for Funk Parade Beer supporting festival fundraising.
- Urban Garden BrewingminorBrewing collaborator for Funk Parade Beer.
- The PR AllianceminorPR partner sponsoring the first 50 beers at Funk Parade Beer Day event.
- The Kennedy CentermajorPartner providing venue support through Millennium Stage for DC cultural events.
- Project CreateminorVenue partner for Saturday music therapy program at their location.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The MusicianShip competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock): National nonprofit providing free music instruction and instruments to under-resourced schools, with a similar mission of democratizing music education for youth. Comparable in scale, donor mix, and free-program delivery model.
- Midori & Friends: NYC-based nonprofit providing free music education and performance opportunities to public school students. Closely comparable in mission, free delivery model, and youth ensemble focus.
- VH1 Save The Music Foundation: Music industry-affiliated nonprofit that funds music programs in public schools. Operates with a similar mix of corporate/celebrity partnerships and instruments-in-schools programs aimed at underserved youth.
- Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute: Educational arm of Carnegie Hall offering community and youth music programs including Musical Connections for underserved populations. Comparable in providing ensemble and performance-based music education to youth.
- Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Nonprofit that donates instruments and supports music programs in underfunded K-12 schools nationwide. Closely aligned mission around access to music education, with similar corporate funding structure.
- Berklee City Music: Berklee College of Music's nonprofit network providing free music education to underserved youth across the US. Directly comparable as a tuition-free music education nonprofit serving similar age groups.
- Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National arts-in-education nonprofit network delivering programs including music to K-12 students. Comparable as a youth-serving arts education organization relying on school partnerships and grant funding.
Others
- D'Addario Foundation: Music industry nonprofit that donates instruments to underserved music education programs. Functions as a peer funder/supplier in the same ecosystem — explicitly listed as a Harmony Helper supporter of The MusicianShip.
- National Guild for Community Arts Education: Membership and advocacy organization for community arts education providers. Not a direct competitor, but a peer ecosystem enabler that serves similar nonprofit music and arts education organizations.
- DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative: DC-focused coalition of arts education organizations serving DC public school students. Operates as a peer ecosystem organization with overlapping geographic service area and partner schools.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The MusicianShip social profiles
Digital presenceThe MusicianShip financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The MusicianShip leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The MusicianShip subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The MusicianShip funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The MusicianShip M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The MusicianShip
What does The MusicianShip do?
The MusicianShip is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free music education to youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Founded in 2009, it provides in-school and after-school music programs, instrument instruction, summer camps, and workshops designed to make music accessible to underserved young people.
Is The MusicianShip a public or private company?
The MusicianShip is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The MusicianShip founded?
The MusicianShip was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The MusicianShip based?
The MusicianShip is headquartered in Hyattsville, United States, in the North America region.
How does The MusicianShip make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are The MusicianShip's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), Midori & Friends, VH1 Save The Music Foundation, Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, Berklee City Music and Young Audiences Arts for Learning. Others are D'Addario Foundation, National Guild for Community Arts Education and DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative.
Does The MusicianShip have an API?
No public API is recorded for The MusicianShip.
What industry is The MusicianShip in?
The MusicianShip's product category is Music Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAE, Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal), with a secondary code of EDAMANAC, Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir). Its NAICS code is 71113 and its SIC code is 7900.