Texas Music Project

What Texas Music Project does

Texas Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with a stated mission of providing music education, therapy, and live music experiences to disadvantaged and at-risk youth across Texas. The organization operates three core programs: Music Heals, which delivers music therapy instruments and programming into pediatric hospital settings; Song of Hope, an initiative in which young patients and ambassadors write and record personal songs; and Classroom to Stage, a mentorship and performance program that places emerging Texas musicians onto professional stages. Program delivery is anchored by partnerships with five major Texas children's hospital systems (Texas Children's, Cook Children's, Methodist Children's, Dell Children's, and Children's Health Medical Center) and a network of school partners including Townview High School, Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy, and Lake Travis High School.

The organization's business model is donation- and event-driven rather than revenue-generating. It accepts individual contributions (including tribute donations in memory, honor, or celebration), corporate sponsorships (Taylor Guitars, Can'd Aid, Free Guitars 4 Kids, Schecter Guitars), merchandise sales through an online shop, and event fundraising through benefit concerts. The organization is also developing a cross-hospital Music Library of therapeutic recordings intended for reuse across multiple Music Heals program sites. There is no proprietary technology platform, no paid product or service tier, and no pricing model; the only commercial channel is merchandise sales. Reported cumulative impact since founding includes $5M+ awareness value generated, $1.5M+ raised for instruments and programs, and 750,000+ youth reached across 1M+ children benefited.

The organization is led by Co-Founder and Executive Director Michael Clay, with S. Theis Rice serving as Board Chairman. Honorary Chairmen are Willie Nelson (appointed 2003) and Grammy-winning artist Maren Morris, who was sponsored to GRAMMY Camp by TMP as a teenager. Texas Music Project holds unique regulatory recognition: it is the only music charity signed into a Texas House Bill by the Governor, and October 12 is officially recognized as "Music Heals Day" by both the Texas Senate (2024) and Texas House of Representatives (2025). Recent strategic activity in 2025–2026 includes the Two Step Farm flagship venue partnership, Free Guitars 4 Kids statewide guitar partnership, Can'd Aid instrument distribution alliance, and the "Miracle" single release under the Song of Hope initiative.

Name

Texas Music Project

Legal name

Texas Music Project

Website

https://texasmusicproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Texas Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2003 in Dallas, Texas, delivering music education, therapy, and live performance programs to disadvantaged youth and pediatric hospital patients across the state. Its core programs — Music Heals, Song of Hope, and Classroom to Stage — operate through a network of five Texas children's hospitals, school partners, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Music Education and Therapy Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Therapy (Educational/Developmental Programs) (EDAMANAK)

Keywords

• Music education programs
• Music therapy services
• Nonprofit charity programs
• Youth arts education
• Hospital music therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Grapevine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual donors contribute to the organization's music education and therapy programs through the website and direct mail. The organization receives donations in memory, honor, or celebration of individuals, and also accepts general contributions.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor Texas Music Project events, programs, and initiatives. Sponsors include Taylor Guitars, Can'd Aid, and other corporate partners that provide financial support or in-kind donations.
3. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an online shop selling merchandise. Revenue from merch sales supports the Music Heals program.
4. Event Revenue: Benefit concerts and events like the 24 Karat Release Party generate fundraising revenue. Proceeds from ticket sales and VIP receptions support hospital music therapy programs.
5. CD Compilation Sales: Historical revenue from the 'Don't Mess with Texas Music' compilation CD series featuring 80+ Texas artists, sold to companies and organizations including Starbucks, Texas Film Commission, and public/private businesses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Texas Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers music education, music therapy, and live music experiences to children across Texas. Its three core programs are Music Heals (in-hospital pediatric music therapy), Song of Hope (songwriting initiative for young patients), and Classroom to Stage (mentorship program for young musicians). Programs are supported through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, merchandise sales, and benefit concert proceeds.

Product overview

Texas Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003 offering a portfolio of music education and therapy programs. The organization operates three core programs: Music Heals (music therapy in hospitals), Song of Hope (songwriting initiative for young patients), and Classroom to Stage (mentorship for young musicians). These programs are supported through merchandise sales, tribute donations, and community partnerships. The organization connects people and music to touch Texas children's lives through live performances, instrument donations, and therapeutic music experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Heals A music therapy program that brings instruments and music-based experiences into hospital settings, providing pediatric patients and families with opportunities for emotional expression, comfort, and connection. Serves children's hospitals across Texas including Texas Children's Hospital, Children's Health Medical Center, Cook Children's, Methodist Children's Hospital, and Dell Children's Hospital.
• Song of Hope An initiative dedicated to bringing healing, encouragement, and connection through music by empowering young artists to write and record their own songs. Young patients leave hospitals with personal anthems of hope, including releases such as the 'Miracle' single by Junior Ambassador Skyler Derrington.
• Classroom to Stage A mentorship program that provides young musicians with opportunities to perform on prestigious stages, collaborate with industry professionals such as Cory Wong, and share their talent with at-risk and disadvantaged youth. Partners with schools, community leaders, and youth groups.
• Texas Music Project Merch Store Online merchandise store selling Texas Music Project branded items to support fundraising efforts for music education programs.
• Tribute Donations Donation program allowing contributions in memory of loved ones, in honor of special people, or in celebration of life events, directly supporting Music Heals programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• $5M+ awareness value raised | $1.5M+ for instruments and programs | 750,000+ youth reached | 1M+ children benefited by experiencing the power of music
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Free Guitars 4 Kids (FG4K)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Strategic partnership naming FG4K as official guitar partner for statewide music education and music therapy initiatives. FG4K distributes guitars across 23 states partnering with 100+ nonprofits, schools, and after-school programs. Through this partnership, thousands of guitars and educational resources will be placed into the hands of young musicians across Texas, supporting creative development and emotional well-being.
• Can'd AidcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 February 2026Can'd Aid focuses on providing underprivileged communities with tools for health, creativity, and self-expression. Their nationwide network of volunteers assembles and delivers ukuleles, bicycles, and other resources to communities. This partnership helps Texas Music Project connect instruments to hospitals and music education programs across Texas.
• Two Step Farm (Oxland Group)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTwo Step Farm, a master-planned community in Montgomery, Texas, chose Texas Music Project as their community's music charity of choice. Texas Music Project will help raise funds and awareness for music education programs, book local artists for events, and provide young artists opportunities to perform live at Two Step Hall.
• Texas Dance Hall PreservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the design of Two Step Hall at Two Step Farm, paying homage to iconic dance halls built by German and Czech immigrants in the mid-1800s.
• Texas Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for Music Heals program bringing music therapy to pediatric patients. Coldplay donated a Yamaha keyboard to the hospital through this partnership.
• Methodist Children's Hospital (San Antonio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Music Heals program at the San Antonio facility. Laura Linda's 24 Karat Release Party raised over $5,000 to fulfill the hospital's music therapy wishlist.
• Cook Children's Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital for Song of Hope initiative and music therapy programs. Eagle Scouts have contributed instrument donations to this facility.
• Dell Children's Hospital (Austin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hospital for music therapy programs and instrument donations as part of the Music Heals initiative.
• Children's Health Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal hospital partner for Layers Project (now Song of Hope initiative). The Music Heals program originated at this facility.
• Townview High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to inspire students in musical pursuits and preserve jazz in Dallas area schools. Donation of $7,500 in instruments and equipment. TMP has supported Big 'D' Band programs for many years.
• Taylor GuitarscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing guitar donations for giveaways and hospital music therapy programs. Supported Taylor Guitar giveaways for Texas Music Project beneficiaries.
• Shaquille O'Neal (DJ Diesel) and Sullivan King / Schecter GuitarscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerous donation of 6 guitars to Music Heals Program through collaboration with Schecter Guitars. Guitars distributed to children across Texas hospitals.
• ColdplayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChose Texas Music Project as charity of choice to donate a Yamaha keyboard to Dell Children's Hospital.
• Lauren DaiglecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGrammy-winning artist joined Music Heals Program and donated $25,000. Also visited Skyler Derrington on Fox & Friends after hearing her story.
• Cory WongcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGrammy-nominated artist partnered with Texas Music Project and Free Guitars 4 Kids for Classroom to Stage initiative. Selected Caleb Hernandez for once-in-a-lifetime experience at House of Blues Dallas including guitar donation and backstage access.
• Lakeside DFWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLakeside Music Series partnership providing platform for emerging talent through Texas Music Project's Classroom to Stage program.
• Frontiers of Flight Museum / Dallas Love FieldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Turn Up events at the museum, featuring young Texas musicians and benefiting Texas Music Project programs.
• Big Thought / Dallas City of LearningminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partners for Turn Up 2021 event and other educational programming in the Dallas area.
• The George A. Robinson IV FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner that helped launch efforts to work with children of fallen soldiers and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.
• Newport Festivals FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMade generous contribution on behalf of Texas native band 'The Oh Hellos' performing at Newport Folk Festival. Donation enabled reaching schools like Townview High School with music program resources.
• American Idol / CMA Foundation / ABCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJack Blocker, Texas Music Project-associated artist, was featured as American Idol finalist with donation made to TMP through the CMA Foundation and ABC partnership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: Nonprofit that donates musical instruments and technology to schools to restore and sustain music education. Same core model — instrument donations to under-resourced schools — with comparable celebrity ambassador-driven fundraising approach.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Nonprofit that donates musical instruments and supports music education programs in schools across the US. Closely aligned mission (instrument access for school music programs), and similar donor-supported operational model.
• Sing for Hope: Nonprofit that mobilizes professional artists to provide free arts programming in hospitals, schools, and communities. Directly comparable model of placing artists and instruments in healthcare and education settings.
• Free Guitars 4 Kids (FG4K): Nonprofit distributing guitars to under-served youth across 23 states via schools and nonprofits. Recently announced strategic partner of TMP; comparable instrument-donation nonprofit with national reach.
• Little Kids Rock (now Music Will): National nonprofit that provides free music instruction and instruments to under-served public school students. Directly comparable as a music-education-focused nonprofit serving disadvantaged youth through instrument donation and school partnerships.
• Notes for Education (Notes Education Foundation): Nonprofit dedicated to funding music education in schools through instrument donations and programming grants. Same core beneficiary (school-age children, instrument access) and funding mechanism (charitable donations).

Broad incumbents

• MusiCares (Recording Academy charity): Established music-industry nonprofit providing health, financial, and humanitarian support to music people. Broader in scope than TMP but comparable as a music-focused charitable brand with deep Recording Academy/Grammy institutional ties.
• Berklee City Music Network: Berlee-affiliated network providing music education to under-served youth, including instrument access and mentorship. Comparable music-education nonprofit with institutional backing and a focus on pathway development for young musicians.
• Country Music Association Foundation: Philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association investing in music education across the US. Comparable genre-anchored (country/Texas-adjacent) approach to raising funds for school music programs.
• Grammy Music Education Coalition: Industry coalition advancing equitable access to music education. Comparable nonprofit advocacy and program delivery model anchored in music-education funding for under-resourced schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tmporg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@yourtmp
• Instagraminstagram.com/texasmusicproject
• Facebookfacebook.com/TexasMusicProject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-music-project-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Texas Music Project