The New Music Business with Ari Herstand Save the Music Brings Music Education To Schools in Need
21 snips
Sep 10, 2025 In this engaging conversation, Henry Donahue, the Executive Director of Save the Music Foundation, discusses his mission to ensure equitable access to music education for students nationwide. He highlights innovative initiatives like the J. Dilla Grant, which empowers young musicians through donated instruments. The duo explores the evolution of music education, emphasizing modern technology's role and the importance of advocacy for underfunded schools. Donahue shares personal anecdotes about music's transformative power and the vital community support needed to keep music alive in education.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
How The J Dilla Name Came To Be
- Pharrell's team proposed renaming Save the Music's tech grant to have a recognizable patron saint name.
- They suggested J Dilla as the figurehead, which immediately resonated with the organization.
A Middle School Demo That Changed A Life
- Henry recalled being inspired by a middle school band demo that changed his life and gave him a reason to attend school.
- That early band experience led him to daily music involvement and ultimately shaped his career choices.
Scale Of Music Access Gaps
- About 4 million students across 8,000 U.S. schools lack access to music, mostly in city and rural districts.
- Save the Music provides full program startups (~$50–70k) when a district commits to hiring a certified teacher.
