Mission: Empowering the creation of the song through education, collaboration and mentorship
History
The idea for the Network was born in January 2020 at the Folk Alliance International (“FAI”) Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Shortly thereafter, a group of like-minded people from a variety of backgrounds began meeting informally to articulate a vision for a sustainable music ecosystem that could reach all levels of musicianship and experience, regardless of genre. HSN Members are afforded unique opportunities in education, collaboration, and performance that promote and support a career in music. Since its inception, HSN has executed a number of successful fundraising activities, collaborative songwriting exercises, performance opportunities, and industry workshop events. In 2021, HSN was selected by FAI to curate and present the Kansas City Showcase for Folk Unlocked: Connection, Discovery, Inspiration and has served a Private Showcase Presenter at the FAI 2022 and 2023 International Conferences.
Board of directors
Danny Powell (Secretary-Treasurer)
Beau Bledsoe (Board Member) - Artistic Director, Ensemble Iberica (Generative Artist)
Eboni Fondren (Board Member) - Jazz Vocalist and Entrepreneur
Rex Pryor (Board Member) - Retired Corrections Officer, Songwriter and Generative Artist
Julie Bennett Hume (Board Member - High School Educator, Activist and Generative Artist
Nick Carswell (Board Member) - Program Director Kansas University Audio Reader Program, multi-discipline arts business owner and bandleader
Debbie Vilchis (Board Member) - Hospitality Industry
The affairs of HEARTLAND SONG NETWORK INC. shall be managed by a Board of Directors of not more than seven (7) Directors, all of whom shall be voting members of the Board of Directors.
Members of the Board of Directors shall serve 3-year terms subject to Article 5 of these bylaws. By a majority vote of the Board of Directors, a Board Director may serve consecutive terms.
The Board of Directors shall have all powers of management of the affairs of HEARTLAND SONG NETWORK INC. No expenditure or commitment for expenditure of HEARTLAND SONG NETWORK INC. funds shall be made without the approval of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the sole power, by a majority vote to grant powers of management to any Board Director or a designate of the Board not outlined in Section VI of these bylaws.
The Board of Directors shall set rules for HEARTLAND SONG NETWORK INC. members’ attendance of Board of Directors’ meetings.
Board Meetings are once a month. Board Directors may appear in person or through telephonic or face-to-face electronic means (e.g., Zoom).
Membership 502
Newsletter 520
Instagram 984 posts, 970 followers
Facebook 2.1K likes • 2.6K followers
YouTube 143 subscribers, 86 videos
Bank balance - 5k
Webinars/Workshops: (11)
YouTube Playlist
Artist of the Month (48)
YouTube Playlist
Industry Spotlight Interviews (12)
YouTube Playlist
Carole King Tapestry 50th Anniversary (2021)
YouTube Playlist
Song writing collaboration Events (5)
Covid Collaborations, Summer Song Collaboration, Winter Collaboration 2022, Elder Songs, Calgary Songwriters Collaboration
Soundcloud Playists
Fundraising
We have provided scholarships to youth for music lessons, instrument repair, and attendance at music camps.
Fundraising Pandemic
$20k raised for Midwest Music Foundation during the pandemic
Song Chef Series
With Professor Odie Blackmon, Middle Tennessee State University
12 Song Chef Sessions
36 Hours of online content
57 Songwriters and Poets
102 Songs/Lyrics reviewed/critiqued
Sensory Friendly Concert Series
Song Sanctuary
On the 3rd Sunday of each Month at 3 pm, our Songwriting Sanctuary convenes at PH Coffee in NE Kansas City, Missouri. Participants register to participate through Eventbrite. Walk ups are accepted and PH Coffee assists in marketing and promoting the event. Original compositions by the participants are required (no covers).
On the 1st Saturday of each Month from 11 am to 1 pm, a listening room performance series from local and touring artists at Mike Kelly's Westsider in Kansas City (through December 2023)
Folk Alliance
Since 2020, HSN has been meaningfully involved with Folk Alliance International (FAI) and its annual Conference; preparations are ongoing for the 2024 gathering in Kansas City. HSN is presenting two Private Showcase Rooms for the 2024 event; Room #742 for the HSN Room (Amplified) and Room #609 for the Lawrence Free State Room (Acoustic). Collaboration with the Lawrence Free State Room grantees involves a multi-pronged approach led by HSN Board Member Nick Carswell and others, with plans to engage artists as nightly hosts, showcase performance opportunities and deployment of complementary collateral.
Elder Song Project
A HSN Member songwriter is commissioned to write an original song based upon the life story of an elder nominated to share their life experiences via a recorded/videotaped interview. To date six original songs have been commissioned. Once completed the recorded story and song are given to the family for their family archives.
Youth Recording Studio Grant Program (new and ongoing) - funded by a local family foundation.