Salt Lick Incubator, a new non-profit founded this year in Boston, has detailed its mission to support diverse, emerging musicians with grants and collaborative opportunities to assist them in discovering pathways to sustainable careers through an exploitation-free ecosystem.

The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is led by executive chairman and former president of Berklee College of Music and Bright Horizons co-founder Roger Brown, president Liza Levy of Rounder Records and Universal Music Group, director of operations Jennifer Roe, and associate music director Tariqh Akoni. Along with a team of marking wizards, Salt Lick Incubator has an illustrious advisory board to keep them laser-focused, including Harvey Mason Jr, T Bone Burnett, Jon Batiste, Patrice Rushen, Claude Kelly, Alison Brown, and Will Wells, along with a leadership council with representatives from AWAL, CAA, Spotify, Universal Musi Group, Sony, Rock Nation, TikTok, Atlantic, Downtown Music Group and More.

“We believe in the power of music to inspire, transform, soothe, provoke, and give expression to our deepest aspirations and hopes,” said Brown in a press release. “We also honor the artists who are committed to join the tradition of the griots and troubadours who give us these musical gifts. Music is one of the most powerful tools we have to help people understand, hear, and embrace one another.”

“I’m delighted to be part of helping the next generation of music-makers bring their gifts to us all,” added T Bone Burnett. “The sacred, timeless act of making music is the way we nourish ourselves and rejuvenate the soul.  It is the source of our connection and commitment to one another.”

Salt Lick Incubator has a focus on neo-soul, R&B, singer-songwriters, Americana, bluegrass, and folk, along with Latin and African analogs. They set out to find artists with a “fire in the belly” to pursue a life in music and want to be a part of a larger collective. They offer no-strings-attached micro-grants of $5,000-15,000 per artist mean to help cover anything from studio time, vinyl pressings, video production, tour support, marketing and anything else they can think of to help further a career. Plans are proposed by the recipient, and Salt Lick Incubator advises.

Salt Lick Incubator also plans to produce artist and songwriter retreats, live performances and small artist-led meetings with advisors, including lawyers, managers, agents and labels. The organization will also further artist and fan engagement with their series, The Salt Lick Sessions, on YouTube with host and grant recipient Beane Hepler. The organization’s first grant recipients include Alisa Amador, Beane, PAMÉ and Tiny Habits, they each have their own sessions. Learn more about them and watch their Salt Lick sessions here. Future episodes will feature Lizzy McAlpine, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gaby Moreno, Dustbowl Revival, Sierra Hull, Aoife O’Donovan and India Carney.

Watch a promo video for Salt Lick Incubator below.