Music for America
Encyclopedia
Music for America was a political organization
which used concert events and the social networks which surround bands and musical "scenes" as a way to promote progressive political values and participation among Millennial Generation Americans.
(PAC) in February 2003 to support the nomination of Howard Dean
as Democratic Candidate for President against George W. Bush
in the 2004 election. The organization was started in February 2003 by Michael Connery, Dan Droller, and Franz Hartl. They were quickly joined by Kevin Collinsworth, Josh Koenig, Rachel Postman, Nica Lorber, Taya Mueller and Molly Neitzel, who comprised the organizations founding staff during the 2004 election cycle.
In October 2003, the organization re-formed as a 527
after securing major funding from the Rappaports
. After the 2004 elections, the organization re-grouped as a 501c(4). In December 2007 the organization merged with the League of Young Voters and closed its doors due to a lack of funding.
), Music for America was founded and continues to run on the principle that partisanship
is an essential element to true political participation, and that an organization which failed to assume the responsibility of having a point of view would fail to make headway in galvanizing a new generation of citizens.
The organization was formed in the aftermath of the February 15, 2003 anti-war protests, which proved ineffective in deterring George W. Bush from launching an invasion of Iraq
, a decision the founders of Music for America opposed from the outset. With traditional activism falling on deaf ears, the founders decided to try utilizing electoral politics as a means for achieving their ends.
At these events, volunteers from the local community (and the musician's fan base) would set up a table within a venue. From that table they would register voters and hand out information on current political issues. Volunteers were coordinated online using the Drupal
open source content management system made popular that year through the campaign of Howard Dean
. Music for America partnered with over 300 artists at over 2,400 such events during the 2004 election cycle, reaching over 2 million young voters traditionally ignored by political campaigns.
to Republican incumbent George W. Bush
by a 3-to-2 margin.
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
which used concert events and the social networks which surround bands and musical "scenes" as a way to promote progressive political values and participation among Millennial Generation Americans.
Foundation
Music for America was founded as a Political Action CommitteePolitical action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
(PAC) in February 2003 to support the nomination of Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
as Democratic Candidate for President against George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in the 2004 election. The organization was started in February 2003 by Michael Connery, Dan Droller, and Franz Hartl. They were quickly joined by Kevin Collinsworth, Josh Koenig, Rachel Postman, Nica Lorber, Taya Mueller and Molly Neitzel, who comprised the organizations founding staff during the 2004 election cycle.
In October 2003, the organization re-formed as a 527
527 group
A 527 organization or 527 group is a type of American tax-exempt organization named after "Section 527" of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code...
after securing major funding from the Rappaports
Andrew S. Rappaport
Andrew S. Rappaport or Andy Rappaport is an American Silicon Valley venture capitalist partner in August Capitalan information technology venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California...
. After the 2004 elections, the organization re-grouped as a 501c(4). In December 2007 the organization merged with the League of Young Voters and closed its doors due to a lack of funding.
Partisan background
In contrast to many other culturally-centered youth politics organizations (e.g. Rock the VoteRock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit organization in the United States of America whose mission is to engage and build the political power of young people....
), Music for America was founded and continues to run on the principle that partisanship
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
is an essential element to true political participation, and that an organization which failed to assume the responsibility of having a point of view would fail to make headway in galvanizing a new generation of citizens.
The organization was formed in the aftermath of the February 15, 2003 anti-war protests, which proved ineffective in deterring George W. Bush from launching an invasion of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, a decision the founders of Music for America opposed from the outset. With traditional activism falling on deaf ears, the founders decided to try utilizing electoral politics as a means for achieving their ends.
Theory of change
Music for America was the first in a series of organizations to offer a departure from the traditional, celebrity-oriented model of youth engagement. The organization made on the ground, peer-to-peer outreach, rather than PSAs, the centerpiece of its organizing strategy. To accomplish this, the organization partnered with musicians and focused its efforts on small concerts attended by 100 - 1000 fans.At these events, volunteers from the local community (and the musician's fan base) would set up a table within a venue. From that table they would register voters and hand out information on current political issues. Volunteers were coordinated online using the Drupal
Drupal
Drupal is a free and open-source content management system and content management framework written in PHP and distributed under the GNU General Public License. It is used as a back-end system for at least 1.5% of all websites worldwide ranging from personal blogs to corporate, political, and...
open source content management system made popular that year through the campaign of Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
. Music for America partnered with over 300 artists at over 2,400 such events during the 2004 election cycle, reaching over 2 million young voters traditionally ignored by political campaigns.
Quotes
"We love what Rock the Vote does, but they're not allowed to take a stand. It's difficult to tell people to go out and vote if you can't get them excited about a particular issue."
"We came to the realization that physical protest is dead, and that we really wanted to communicate to young people in a way or a manner that worked for us and music was the medium, you know, the idea that there really is no difference between politics and culture. We wanted artists speaking about what's going on and how things can be changed and how people can participate, and that it's really not that hard for people to participate. It's basic steps like going to a show [and knowing the issues] and voting being the least that one can do."
2004 Election cycle
Music for America organized several thousand individual concert events in the 2004 Presidential election cycle, leading both to increased turnout among Millennials, and also to increased partisan identification. According to exit polling, in swing states where Music for America (and other organizations) were most active, voters under the age of 30 preferred Democratic candidate John KerryJohn Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
to Republican incumbent George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
by a 3-to-2 margin.