Vh1 Save The Music Foundation

The mission of the Save The Music Foundation (STM), a 501c3 non-profit organization, is to help students, schools and communities reach their full potential through the power of making music.

Save The Music Foundation (STM) was founded at a school in Brooklyn in 1997, as part of a pro-social initiative of VH1, the cable music channel. Since 2008, STM has operated as a standalone non-profit organization – donating school instruments and technology; working as a convener, expert, and catalyst; helping to train and support teachers; and starting and building thousands of new music programs in over 2,800 schools working in partnership with 287 districts nationwide.

STM addresses the systemic inequities in music education by investing in communities across the country – donating musical instruments and technology; working as a convener, expert, and catalyst; helping to train and support teachers; and starting and building new music programs in public schools nationwide.

Our goal is to build out sequential, standards-based K-12 music education as a universal offering for all students in the communities we serve.

We build community-level partnerships with school districts, educators, local music advocates, and artists. Then we co-create a plan and select individual school grantees via thorough needs assessments from those partners.

When successful, this approach catalyzes growth across a community music ecosystem – creating impact for students, schools, and other arts & music non-profits.

Nationally, in 2024, STM delivered music education grants to 130 public schools with an approximate total enrollment of 92,392 students.

STM recently began a new chapter as a fully independent nonprofit, separate from Paramount Global (the owner of VH1). 

This move completes a process that began back in 2019, when we first dropped “VH1” from our name. Over the last five years, we have:
- Increased our impact by investing in major, community-driven, system-wide initiatives that benefit entire cities and rural communities.
- Diversified our programs, to include music tech grants and more Latin music options.
- Created a teacher training budget as a component of each school grant, and developed and implemented a teacher professional development plan with input from each partner community.

Since 2019, STM doubled the number of schools it reaches every year with significant support from the broader music industry and philanthropic donors. Currently, 95% of STM’s budget comes from non-Paramount sources including community-based foundations, individual donations and the music industry.

In parallel, STM has also launched a $10 million endowment fund to ensure long-term sustainability (for which we’ve already raised $4 million).

Music is not only important for its intrinsic value. Music in schools improves student, teacher, school and community outcomes.

Decades of research consistently demonstrate music education improves self-discipline, early cognitive development, basic math and reading abilities, self-esteem, teamwork, and school attendance.

While we have made great strides, and see many positive signs of change, right now approximately 4 million American students across 8,000+ public schools don’t have the opportunity to make music as part of their education.

We are building a movement to fight for social justice and equity within education and society through the power of making music. We believe that every student benefits from music education and that music education builds life skills that benefit students after they leave the music classroom. By definition, a quality education includes music and the arts. Yet far too many students have limited access to the music education they deserve.

By collaborating and convening with community stakeholders, we strive to authentically support our district and school partners to create sustainable, in-school music education programs and professional pathways for young people.

Success does not come until every student in America has equitable access to a comprehensive school music education, taught by qualified teachers.

STM partners with public school districts across the United States that show an immediate need for support and resources to build their in-school music programs. STM primarily serves Title 1 schools, with a high percentage of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch and with a limited inventory of instruments and music education materials.

STM including in: Anaheim, CA; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Bay Area, CA; Detroit, MI; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; 3 counties in Mississippi; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; 4 counties in New Jersey; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; 5 counties in Ohio; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Sacramento, CA; San Diego, CA; Sonoma, CA; and Twin Cities, MN.