Here to Support You
NETWORKING
WORKSHOPS
COMMUNITY
Cutting-edge, savvy, and mindful solutions for the Music Industry.
We aim to cultivate ideas, skills, and relationships that will empower attendees to shape and elevate their careers, and to address key challenges they face in meeting professional goals.
We are committed to continuously evolving our network. If you are interested in exploring how we can support each other, let’s talk.
DCMS Resources
The DC Music Summit' is a resource for local musicians, other members of the DC music industry.
Our objective is to educate and organize musical entrepreneurs, administrative and technical professionals, and the larger community.
Don’t see what you need ? or Want to learn more?
SERVICES
-
A full-day (or multi-day) annual gathering that brings together artists, music professionals, and creatives for panels, workshops, conversations, performances, and community networking. The Summit serves as a flagship convening for the DC and broader DMV music ecosystem.
-
Educational sessions led by industry experts, covering topics such as music business, licensing, marketing, contracts, publishing, artistry, branding, revenue streams, wellness, and sustainability for creative careers.
-
Connecting creatives with professionals in law, marketing, business development, finance, production, and technology who offer guidance, coaching, and mentorship—often at low or pro-bono cost—to help artists advance their goals.
-
Creating spaces both virtual and in-person for artists, entrepreneurs, and industry members to connect, collaborate, and exchange resources. DCMS fosters community through mixers, Village Calls, Convenings, and ongoing engagement opportunities.
-
Providing multiple platforms that uplift, celebrate, and amplify artists. DCMS offers performance opportunities at the annual Summit and partner events, while also highlighting creatives year-round through digital features, interviews, social media spotlights, newsletter stories, curated playlists, and other visibility initiatives that elevate local talent.
-
Working with creative community organizations, cultural institutions, and local stakeholders to co-create programming, share resources, spotlight partner initiatives, and strengthen the region’s music and arts ecosystem. Includes major partnerships such as the Kennedy Center’s Social Impact program and collaborations with grassroots cultural groups.
-
Developing and producing projects that document, uplift, and advocate for the lived experiences of DC and DMV musicians. This includes storytelling initiatives like You Gotta Leave DC to Get Love, policy conversations, community research, and convenings that highlight industry needs and push for sustainable infrastructure.
-
Providing access to industry information, opportunities, and community support. DCMS connects creatives to resources including disaster relief information, grant opportunities, legal/financial guidance, and tools that help artists navigate their careers sustainably.
-
As a volunteer-driven nonprofit, DCMS offers unpaid internships and volunteer roles that support our programming while providing emerging professionals with hands-on training in event planning, social media, research, journalism, creative production, administration, programming, and nonprofit management.
Support Our Movement
The DC Music Summit has a mission to EDUCATE, EMPOWER, and SUPPORT artists so they can thrive. DCMS supports the local music industry by fostering community engagement, professional development, and creative inspiration, especially encouraging the inclusion of people of color and women.
Connect and engage with us!
Keep up with DCMS or join our conversations by subscribing to our newsletter below and support our mission.
There are several other ways to support and contribute to our community
-
We are currently fundraising for our 2026 Summit and Nonprofit Operations! Our annual full day summit event is an exchange hub of education, inspiration, solutions in support of the health and growth of the DC Music industry.
Online donation options include:
-
-
The DC Music Summit holds a number of fundraising events throughout the year. These are fun and exciting events that enable you to meet and network with other community members within the music industry. If you would like to hold your own fundraising event benefiting the DC Music Summit, we would be happy to work with you to hold a successful event.
Please contact us at events@dcmusicsummit.org on how we can work together to support the DC music community!
-
The DC Music Summit offers exceptional sponsorship opportunities to meet your organization’s marketing and philanthropic goals. We also offer many advertising opportunities at our events, on social media, and in our newsletters. By advertising, your organization will reach loyal professionals who believe in the DC Music Community. For more information contact us here.
-
Your time and commitment will allow us to reach, support, and help impact the DC music community. Give us as little or as much time as you are able. Many positions can be done remotely and require little or no experience.
For more information on how you can become a volunteer follow the link here.
Donate Here
Other donation options
Partners & Resources
The DC Music Summit is here to support our local music scene.
Scroll down for a list of resources including grants and relief funds available to musicians and creatives, courtesy of our external partners.
-
Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP) is FEMA’s E-Government program, designed to support people before, during, and after disasters. DAIP is centralized at DisasterAssistance.gov. Through this website, you can receive help to apply for FEMA disaster assistance and receive guidance to other resources to help you recover.
The site also provides resources to help you learn how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
You can learn how to handle immediate needs, like how to:
• Evacuate or shelter in place.
• Find emergency shelter.
• Get food and water.
• Handle emergency medical situations until help arrives.
• Find family, friends, and even lost pets.
-
Receive streamlined access to services and find out more through http://disasterassistance.gov/.
-
MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community in three key areas:
• Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services: Support, referrals, and need-based financial assistance for counseling, psychiatric care, inpatient treatment, coaching, intensive outpatient care, sober living, and more.
• Health Services: Financial assistance during medical crises and preventive services such as dental and medical screenings, hearing clinics, and vocal health workshops.
• Human Services: Support for basic living expenses like rent, utilities, car payments and insurance premiums in times of hardship, plus programs addressing affordable housing, career development, legal issues and senior services.
-
Anyone working in the music industry is encouraged to contact MusiCares for help. This includes musicians, songwriters, engineers, producers, live crew, tour bus drivers, managers, agents, A&R, makeup artists, costume designers, music video creatives & technicians, and anyone whose livelihood depends on music or makes music happen.
MusiCares also provides a resource guide: https://www.musicares.org/get-help/relief-resources
For further details on our support services, resources, and support groups, please visit: https://www.musicares.org/get-help
-
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is an AFL-CIO affiliated labor union representing 70,000 professional musicians in the United States and Canada. The AFM, which has its headquarters in New York City, is led by President Tino Gagliardi. Founded in 1896, the AFM is the largest organization in the world representing professional instrumental musicians playing in orchestras, bands, clubs, and theater—both on Broadway and on tour. AFM members make music for film, television, commercials, and sound recordings. The AFM negotiates fair The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) is an AFL-CIO affiliated labor union representing 70,000 professional musicians in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1896 and headquartered in New York City, the AFM is the largest organization in the world representing professional instrumental musicians playing in orchestras, bands, clubs, and theater—both on Broadway and on tour. AFM members make music for film, television, commercials, and sound recordings. The AFM negotiates fair agreements, protects ownership of recorded music, secures benefits such as health care and pension, and lobbies for musicians and the rights of workers.
-
Learn more about becoming a member of AFM at https://www.afm.org/for-members/membership-benefits/
-
The Entertainment Community Fund fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.
We provide human services nationally for people who work in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance. We’re here for everyone on stage, camera and behind the scenes to support a life in the arts.
Since our founding in 1882, we’ve helped address the specific needs of entertainment professionals—with a unique understanding of the challenges involved with a life in the arts, and with the knowledge of what it takes to thrive in an often unpredictable industry.
-
We invite you to explore our health and wellness, career and life, and housing services—all designed to ensure stability, encourage resiliency and be a safety net for those who shape our country’s cultural vibrancy.
Find out more at: https://entertainmentcommunity.org/services-and-programs
-
MA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters, and our core values and goals help us achieve it.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employs more than 20,000 people nationwide. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we have 10 regional offices located across the country. We leverage a tremendous capacity to coordinate within the federal government to make sure America is equipped to prepare for and respond to disasters.
-
Go to https://www.fema.gov/ or DisasterAssistance.gov to:
Apply for assistance
Update your application
Track the status of your application
-
Giving = Living was created for one reason. To save lives.
Blood and plasma are needed on an ongoing basis to treat a variety of life-threatening conditions. The Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), created Giving = Living to increase awareness of the importance of donating blood and plasma and to encourage Americans to donate regularly.
-
If you have any questions or concerns about your eligibility to donate blood, contact your donation center. Help save the lives of people in your community by donating regularly.
Find Out if You Can Give Blood visit: https://www.hhs.gov/givingequalsliving/giveblood/can-i-give
-
Music Health Alliance programs and services are available to any person who has worked in the music industry for 3+ years. Spouses, legal domestic partners, and dependent family members also may qualify. Many of MHA’s services, including advocates assigned for each healthcare issue, are available for no cost.
MHA also provides access to mental health and dental health grants, in addition to LA wildfire disaster assistance.
-
-
Care for Creatives is a partnership between the DC Creative Affairs Office (CAO) and the George Washington University Community Counseling Services Center (CCSC) to provide pay-what-you-can mental health services to area creatives.
-
-
HRSA centers are local health clinics that provide primary and preventive care with fees adjusted by income and family size, regardless of any health insurance or your ability to pay. Centers are funded by the US Health Resources and Services Administration.
-
There are over 70 HRSA centers in the DC area.
Find a HRSA center near you at https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
Patient resource guide: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bphc/about/health-center-handout.pdf
-
Free and charitable clinics and charitable pharmacies are nonprofit healthcare organizations that provide health services for no charge or for a nominal fee to uninsured and underinsured individuals.
-
-
Provides grants to collect, analyze, and use data to address inequities in the physical, economic, and social conditions.
You can also reach out outside of the scope of their normal active funding opportunities.
-
Go to https://www.fema.gov/ or DisasterAssistance.gov to:
Apply for assistance
Update your application
Track the status of your application
-
Provides a support system to artists and crew members struggling with addiction issues. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, the Safe Harbor Room offers a support network to those in recovery while they are participating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events.
-