As we look on the growth and impact of Project Music over the past decade, it’s evident that this groundbreaking tech accelerator initiative has significantly influenced the evolution of the music industry. Launched in 2016 as the first tech accelerator entirely dedicated to the future of music , it has consistently attracted an impressive roster of sponsors, investors, and participants from the globe. Today, in 2025, Project Music continues to revolutionize the music tech space, with a broad array of industry heavyweights supporting its vision. This blog post reflects on the early years of Project Music, its initial sponsors and partners, and how its innovative approach has contributed to reshaping the global music industry landscape.
Launch of Project Music
A comprehensive list of sponsors and investors lined up to support Project Music and its inaugural 2016 program. The title sponsor was the Country Music Association (CMA), and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, home of Project Music, was joined by Platinum Sponsors YouTube and LaunchTN, alongside key business leaders and service providers from national and local industries.
Sponsors and Partners in 2016
Among the Silver Sponsors and Donors for 2016 were Avenue Bank, BMI, DevDigital, and others. Gold Sponsors included Anderson Benson Insurance, Belmont University Curb College of Entertainment and Music, and individuals like Linda and Doug Howard. Partners for that year included Flo Thinkery, Baker Donelson, and LBMC, among others.
Investors and Funding
Additionally, industry heavyweights joined the investor group to help provide substantial funding for each startup chosen to participate in the 2016 accelerator program. Investors for that year included Broken Bow Label Group, RCA recording -on-bet” target=”_blank”> Chris Young, and Universal Music Group, among others.
Impact and Growth of Project Music
The Project Music program saw significant growth based on the results of its application process, which saw total applicants grow by nearly 55% over 2015, drawing from 19 of the 50 U.S. states. A full 25% of applications came from outside the U.S., originating from five continents.
Global Influence and Future Prospects
“Project Music is leading the charge to define Nashville as THE city for music-minded entrepreneurs to start, launch and grow their businesses,” stated Stuart McWhorter, Nashville Entrepreneur Center CEO & President in 2016. The depth of the 2016 Investor and Sponsor groups, coupled with applicants’ diverse hometowns, reflected the program’s growth as it became known as the premier global destination for music tech entrepreneurship.
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