The BMI Foundations Offers Several Programs for Performers and Songwriters
BMI Foundation offers awards and has programs for aspiring songwriters and musicians. Don’t forget to explore opportunities outside of scholarships like these programs.
Here are some programs offered to aspiring songwriters and musicians that the BMI Foundation offers by application.
https://bmifoundation.org/by-application
Overview of all BMI Foundation programs by application. There are more than the two programs below.
https://bmifoundation.org/by-application/dollypartonsongwritersaward
$20,000 Dolly Parton Songwriters Award (for emerging songwriters), D: Jan 15, 2025
Selected criteria from webpage:
All applicants must be “between the ages of 17 and 24 as of February 15, 2025,” “must be in residence in the United States or its territories,” and “may only submit works that have not been assigned to any major music publisher or major record label.”
“The Dolly Parton Songwriters Award is an annual, nationwide competition open to aspiring songwriters. The awards can be used as a career grant for study, instrument purchase, recording costs, or other professional expenses and are not restricted to tuition costs.” The program “offers $20,000 for up to two of the best original song entries in any of the following genres: Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk, or roots.”
Click above for more information.
https://bmifoundation.org/by-application/bmifuturejazzmaster
BMI Future Jazz Master Award (for young jazz composer/performers)
Selected criteria from webpage:
All applicants must be “between the ages of 17 and 24 as of February 15, 2025,” “in residence in the United States or its territories,” and “may only submit works that have not been assigned to any major music publisher or major record label.”
Applicants will submit “audio recordings of three (3) songs featuring the applicant, at least one of which must be of an original work. Applications due January 15, 2025.”
“The BMI Future Jazz Master Award is an annual competition open to young jazz composers and creators. The award was established by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) in 2015 in honor of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters Fellowship, a lifetime achievement distinction widely considered to be jazz music’s premier accolade, and pays tribute to the artistic excellence of jazz pioneers while providing crucial support for emerging performers.”
https://bmifoundation.org/by-invitation
The BMI Foundation offers more scholarships and prizes by invitation. Explore those at the link above.
More Scholarships, Awards, and Grants
https://nafme.org/student-opportunities/scholarships/
Scholarship Resources for Music Students, including college students, high school seniors, and high school juniors as well as helpful links (more scholarships and opportunities)
https://www.ascapfoundation.org/programs/scholarships
ASCAP Foundation Scholarships: “ASCAP Foundation Scholarship programs seek to ensure that opportunities for the study of music are available to students at all levels. Unless otherwise indicated, it is the music faculty at each High School, College or University that selects scholarship recipients for their particular school. The scholarship recipient is not selected by The ASCAP Foundation. Check with the financial aid office at your school to see if an ASCAP Foundation scholarship is available and if you are eligible to apply.”
Scholarship Tigers--Students Helping Each Other Find Money for College 