Leadership Music

What Leadership Music does

Leadership Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1989 in Nashville, Tennessee, by 12 music industry executives and inspired by Leadership Nashville. Its core product is an annual 8-month peer leadership program (October through May) for established music industry professionals, comprising an Opening Retreat, a Closing Retreat, and six full-day program sessions covering Songwriting/Publishing, Artist, Production, Record Company, Live Entertainment, and Media. Each year, an alumni committee and Board of Directors select approximately 45 participants from a pool of roughly 300 applicants; selected participants pay a $1,750 non-refundable tuition, with the majority of program costs underwritten by corporate donors and the remainder funded by annual alumni dues of $75.

The organization operates with three full-time staff members—an Executive Director, a Program & Finance Manager, and a Communications & Events Administrator—supported by a Board of Directors under Board President Neal Spielberg (2025-2026) and including founding-council member Joe Galante. There is no proprietary technology platform; the 'product' is delivered entirely through in-person programming in Nashville, and the curriculum is structurally self-renewing because each graduating class designs programming for the subsequent incoming class. Ongoing alumni engagement includes continuing-education sessions (such as 'AI For Good' featuring Randy Travis), social mixers, the Dale Franklin Awards, community volunteering, and the Leadership Partners Program that bridges Leadership Music alumni with Leadership Nashville alumni.

Revenue is generated from three streams: one-time participant tuition ($1,750 per accepted member), recurring alumni dues ($75/year, January-December), and recurring corporate sponsorships at tiers ranging from $500 to $25,000 (with confirmed Class of 2027 donors including the Academy of Country Music at $25,000, Amazon Music at $10,000, Red Light Management and Opry Entertainment Group at $7,500, Big Loud at $5,000, ASCAP at $2,500, plus in-kind support from CMA). The organization has built a network of more than 1,500 alumni across 37 active graduating classes since 1989 (no Class of 2021 due to the pandemic), with its headquarters at 34 Music Square E in Nashville's Music Row district.

Name

Leadership Music

Legal name

Leadership Music, Inc.

Website

https://leadershipmusic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Leadership Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 in Nashville that runs an annual 8-month peer leadership program for established music industry professionals, accepting roughly 45 participants per year from a 1,500-plus member alumni network funded by tuition, alumni dues, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Leadership Development

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory) (EDAAAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Music industry education
• Executive education programs
• Professional development training
• Peer leadership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition: Each accepted participant pays a non-refundable tuition fee of $1,750 upon acceptance in August. The majority of program costs are underwritten by corporate donors, with the tuition covering a portion of expenses.
2. Alumni Dues: Dues-paying alumni contribute $75 annually (January–December cycle). Alumni may also make optional additional donations beyond the base dues amount.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate donors provide financial support at multiple giving tiers ranging from $500 to $25,000 annually. In exchange, donors receive event tickets, logo placement, and recognition across programs, newsletters, and signage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Leadership Music operates an annual, application-based 8-month leadership development program (October–May) for established music industry professionals. The program includes mandatory Opening and Closing weekend retreats in Nashville plus six full-day themed program sessions covering Songwriting/Publishing, Artist, Production, Record Company, Live Entertainment, and Media sectors, delivered through site visits, expert speakers, and collaborative exercises. Approximately 45 participants are selected each year from roughly 300 applicants by an alumni committee and Board, and each accepted participant pays a $1,750 non-refundable tuition fee, with the majority of program costs underwritten by corporate donors.

Product overview

Leadership Music is a national non-profit educational organization offering a single, unified 8-month leadership program (October-May) designed for established music industry professionals. The core program includes mandatory Opening and Closing Retreats plus six themed Program Days covering Songwriting/Publishing, Artist, Production, Record Company, Live Entertainment, and Media sectors. Post-graduation, alumni gain access to an extensive network of over 1,500 professionals spanning 36+ years, with ongoing continuing education events, the Dale Franklin Awards, community service initiatives, and the Leadership Partners program that connects alumni with Leadership Nashville members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual 8-Month Leadership Music Program An annual, application-based 8-month leadership development program (October through May) for established music industry professionals. Includes mandatory Opening and Closing weekend retreats in Nashville plus six full-day themed program sessions covering Songwriting/Publishing, Artist, Production, Record Company, Live Entertainment, and Media sectors. Approximately 45 participants are selected each year from roughly 300 applicants by an alumni committee and Board; accepted participants pay a $1,750 non-refundable tuition fee, with the majority of program costs underwritten by corporate donors.
• Alumni Annual Membership (Dues) An annual dues-based membership for Leadership Music alumni providing access to the 1,500+ alumni community, weekly email communications, continuing education events (e.g., AI For Good featuring Randy Travis), social mixers, the Dale Franklin Awards, and community volunteer opportunities. Priced at $75 per calendar year (January–December) with optional additional donations accepted.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ alumni trained across 37+ graduating classes since 1989
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SOLID (Nashville)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Leadership Music partnered with SOLID (a Nashville professional organization) for the inaugural Music Row Litter Walk community beautification initiative. 15 mixed teams of volunteers collected 30 bags of trash. The event was co-organized with Metro Beautification & Environment Commission (NDOT) providing supplies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Country Music Association (CMA): CMA is a major Nashville-based music industry trade organization and existing Leadership Music sponsor. It operates educational programs, awards, and industry events that overlap with Leadership Music's mission of developing music industry leaders.
• Academy of Country Music (ACM): ACM is the Leadership Music's largest sponsor ($25K Leadership Giant tier) and a major country music industry organization. It is comparable as a music industry professional development and recognition organization, with overlapping industry leader audiences.
• American Association of Independent Music (A2IM): A2IM is a music industry trade organization providing advocacy, education, and networking for independent music professionals. It is comparable as a music industry professional development organization serving a similar leadership audience.
• The Recording Academy: The Recording Academy is a much larger music industry professional organization operating the Grammy Awards and extensive member education programs. It is comparable as a music industry professional development and recognition organization, though at significantly broader scale.

Direct peers

• Music Business Association (Music Biz): Music Biz is a music industry trade organization that produces education, conferences, and professional development programming for music industry professionals. It is directly comparable in mission to develop industry leaders through structured events and learning.
• Leadership Nashville: Leadership Nashville is the direct inspiration for Leadership Music and operates the same selection-based, multi-month leadership development model for Nashville's broader business community. It is the closest comparable in terms of program structure, selection process, and alumni-driven design.
• Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI): NSAI is a Nashville-based nonprofit music education and advocacy organization that provides workshops, mentoring, and community programs for songwriting professionals. It is directly comparable as a music-focused educational nonprofit serving Tennessee industry professionals.

Others

• Leadership Atlanta: Leadership Atlanta operates the same model as Leadership Nashville — a multi-month selection-based leadership program for established city professionals. Comparable as a peer in the broader Leadership program network that Leadership Music is part of.

Emerging players

• Folk Alliance International: Folk Alliance International is a nonprofit that organizes an annual conference and year-round programming for folk music professionals. It is comparable as a music industry-focused nonprofit providing professional development, networking, and community-building.
• ELEVATE (Music Industry Conference): ELEVATE is a music industry professional development conference focused on leadership and career advancement. While delivered as a shorter event rather than a multi-month program, it addresses the same target audience of mid-career music industry professionals seeking community and growth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/leadershipmusic
• Facebookfacebook.com/LeadershipMusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leadership Music