Happy almost holidays!

As we mentioned in previous posts, this December, FMC is hosting the “Giving Rocks” campaign, where you can help us keep fighting for a brighter future for musicians and fans.

FMC advocates for real changes that will ensure that tomorrow’s music industry is sustainable and fair to creators. For more info about our history and mission, visit http://futureofmusic.org.

We know money is tight, but your gift in any amount helps FMC continue to fight for musicians on a range of crucial issues. Your tax-free donation lets us:

• expand community radio in the face of shrinking commercial playlists that keep too much talent from the airwaves.
• fight for net neutrality so artists can keep using the internet to reach audiences without interference from a few powerful corporations.
• protect musicians’ right to expression through high-level court filings and briefs.
• help artists understand their health insurance options via our FREE Health Insurance Navigation Tool, or HINT.
• offer scholarships so artists can attend the Future of Music Policy Summit and debate the issues with the big shots in music, technology policy and law.
• assist musicians in being empowered agents of positive change through education, research and advocacy

We’ve been doing this work for ten years, and we’ve made tremendous progress. But there’s still more to do! Think about it: if everyone who read this blog contributed $20, it would insure that our efforts on behalf of musicians could continue well into the next decade.

The future of music belongs to you. Help make it a great one.

As you probably know, FMC exists to improve the lives of musicians. This holiday season, we wanted to highlight our efforts in New Orleans, where too many artists are still struggling years after Hurricane Katrina drove many from their homes and communities.

Since the storm, FMC and our partners have been doing our part to make things better for Big Easy musicians. Each year, we bring a group of artists from around the country to New Orleans to witness community rebuilding efforts firsthand. Over the years, we’ve been honored to share in this important work with such amazing artists as brass sensations Bonerama, Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, the Nightwatchman, Street Sweeper Social Club), Mike Mills (R.E.M.) OK Go, Erin McKeown, Patrick Hallahan (My Morning Jacket), Kimya Dawson, Hank Shocklee (Bomb Squad, Public Enemy), Alec Ounsworth (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), Nicole Atkins, Wayne Kramer (MC5), and many more.

You can us help them keep up this important work by making a tax-free contribution to Future of Music Coalition. read more

Just wanted to let all of you out there in internet-land that FMC is once again seeking a Google Policy Fellow for Summer 2010. Meaning, it could be you who joins us for a wonk-and-music-filled season in DC!

FMC’s prime directive (sounds kinda Star Trek) is advocating for musicians and informing policymakers about the issues that impact artists. We work to ensure that musicians have access to platforms like radio and the internet, enjoy their right to speech, and can benefit from improved structures for compensation. We also keep a close eye on new business models and the tools that musicians are using in the digital age. read more

FMC is currently seeking to hire an International Project Fellow. For this position, we’re looking for individuals to work in 5+ month terms and help research and interview musicians and music business people from around the world. read more