(SEATTLE, WA – February 16th, 2023) – Sonic Guild Seattle (formerly known as Black Fret Seattle) is happy to announce $80,000 in grants to ten Seattle area artists, concluding its 2022 giving season. Each 2022 Sonic Guild Seattle artist will receive an $8,000 unrestricted grant to support their music career development.

2022 SEASON GRANT RECIPIENTS
Brittany Davis, Cumulus, Dean Johnson, Deep Sea Diver, King Youngblood, La Fonda, Shaina Shepherd, Small Paul, Thunderpussy, Wild Powwers

“We are so grateful for this unexpected grant! This is such a huge help as we are getting ready to make our next album.”
– Jessica Dobson, Deep Sea Diver

Sonic Guild launched its Seattle chapter in 2020 and has managed to grow despite the pandemic. 2022’s grant pool increased by 45% supporting musicians as they continue to find steady footing after a prolonged period of forced inactivity. Now with chapters in Austin, TX, Colorado, and Seattle, Sonic Guild has passed the $3.5 million dollar mark of money distributed to musicians since 2013.

“This grant is truly a blessing. I am so honored that Sonic Guild in my community believes in my music. Because of this funding, I will now be able to buy a specialized computer that will allow me to create music at a new level. Thank you so much for this gift.”
– Brittany Davis

HOW SONIC GUILD WORKS
Each year, Sonic Guild Members pay dues ($750 for an individual, $1,500 for a dual, or $3,000 for quad membership) that fuel the organization’s events and grants. Members gain access to monthly private curated performances featuring an amazing cross section of
local music, the right to nominate artists (along with a panel of music industry advisors and past Sonic Guild grant recipients) for yearly grant
consideration, and the ability to vote for the allocation of grant dollars at the end of each season. Along with sponsors, individual & corporate donors, foundations, government, and strategic partnerships, Sonic Guild has built a new model of philanthropy to support the creation and performance of popular local music.

HOW TO JOIN
Those interested in supporting the future of Seattle music can join Sonic Guild today by going to www.sonicguild.org/membership/.

“It’s no secret that I love our city and its music community. Sonic Guild provides valuable support to Seattle’s musicians as they work to take their music to the next level. If you love music like I do, then consider joining Sonic Guild and support the future of Seattle music.”
– Mike McCready, Pearl Jam

COMMUNITY
In addition to the work Sonic Guild does to support musician career development, they work with other non-profit partners to support the larger Northwest music community including curating the annual SMASH (Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare) Benefit Concert
that in 2022 raised over $220,000 to support SMASH’s mission to provide access to free and low-cost medical, dental, and mental health services for working musicians in the Puget Sound area, produced events for Bloodworks Northwest as part of their Music’s in Our Blood
campaign that cultivated over 18,000 new and re-engaged blood donors and provides ongoing curation assistance for the annual SMOOCH (Seattle Musicians for Children’s Hospital) Benefit that’s raised approximately $30,000,000 to date for uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Sonic Guild is also currently working to support the United Way of King County’s annual 2023 Eat Drink and Be Generous Event.

“Sonic Guild believes It’s important that all the music related non-profits in our community find ways to support each other” said Sonic Guild Seattle Executive Director Ben London. “Musicians are the lifeblood of our city and by working together we can create new ways to support their complete physical, emotional and economic health.”

PAST SONIC GUILD SEATTLE GRANT RECIPIENTS

CLASS OF 2021
Acid Tongue, Beverly Crusher, Black Ends, Caitlin Sherman, Da Qween, Parisalexa, SassyBlack, Shelby Earl, Sol, True Loves, Zan Fiskum

CLASS OF 2020
Bearaxe, Chong the Nomad, Naked Giants, Sera Cahoone, Stephanie Anne Johnson, The Black Tones, Smokey Brights, Tomo Nakayama, Tres Leches, Whitney Mongé

“We are so incredibly thankful for Sonic Guild. This grant makes our childhood dreams come true of seeing the album we wrote and recorded over the last two years be pressed to vinyl. With these funds, our band will have the opportunity to elevate our distribution and promote this record as independent artists“
– La Fonda

2022 SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation, The Head & The Heart’s Rivers & Roads Foundation, Tito’s Vodka, Amazon, Microsoft, City of Shoreline, Port of Seattle, The Bradley Family Foundation, The Raynier Institute and Foundation, SITY Foundation, Arts Fund, Department of Commerce, King County Creative, The Recording Academy, The M.J. Murdoch Charitable Trust, Gibson Guitars, Flatstick Pub, BMI, Bloodworks
Northwest, Big Rock Productions, Northwest Polite Society and Sleight of Hand Cellars.

“We believe the world cannot become a better place to live unless we all contribute. The Bradley Family Foundation, as a champion of Sonic Guild, collaborating to make a difference in their support of emerging musicians, enriching our community through creating and performing original music, resonates with our Foundations’ goals and objectives.“
– Carl Bradley, The Bradley Family Foundation

HOW TO DONATE
Tax deductible donations can be made today at www.sonicguild.org/donate/

ABOUT SONIC GUILD
Founded in 2013, Sonic Guild (originally known as Black Fret) is a 501c3 public charity headquartered in Austin, TX whose mission is to build community that supports the creation and performance of new music by exceptional musicians. The organization is an innovative evolution of the age-old symphony patronage model that is instead focused on supporting popular local music. Together, Sonic Guild’s limited membership, sponsors and supports have supported musicians with over $3.5 million in grants and direct payments since 2013. In return for annual dues, members enjoy a broad range of private events in a multitude of venues. Grant recipients are selected annually through a yearlong process where members, advisors and prior grant recipients nominate, attend performances by and finally vote on their favorite artists.

ABOUT BEN LONDON
Ben London is a Seattle based music professional/recording artist who currently serves as Executive Director for Sonic Guild Seattle. Prior, London held senior positions with Experience Music Project (MoPOP), The GRAMMYS (The Recording Academy), Hewlett Packard and Northwest Polite Society. London was the inaugural chair of the Seattle Music Commission and has served on boards including KEXP and the Vera Project. London has recorded for indie and major labels and his music has been featured in a wide variety of movies and television programs. London’s prior bands include Alcohol Funnycar, St. Bushmills Choir and Sanford Arms. He currently performs as a member of the Seattle band STAG.

PRESS CONTACT
Ben London
Ben@sonicguild.org