This nonprofit’s just landed a $90K grant to supercharge the Pacific Northwest’s music scene.
How2Listen, a newly formed nonprofit, has received a significant boost with a $90,000 grant from 4Culture, part of a larger $2.5 million funding initiative aimed at supporting emerging arts and heritage organizations across King County. Launched in June 2025, How2Listen is on a mission to empower independent music artists in the Pacific Northwest by facilitating connections, offering grants, and creating valuable opportunities for exposure and growth.
Co-founders Justin Pinder, Babar Ali, and Vanessa Rodriguez envision How2Listen as a ‘public arts utility for music.’ The organization’s Executive Director, Pinder, who has a rich background in the music industry, expressed gratitude for the grant, stating, “We’ve been sprinting pretty fast in just a few months, and we’re fortunate enough to get this 4Culture grant award.” Pinder’s journey in music led him from Los Angeles back to his roots in Seattle, where he and Ali identified a pressing need for better support for local talent.
Ali, serving as the Director of Finance, highlighted the challenges independent artists face in the current streaming-dominated landscape. “This business is absolutely brutal,” he noted, emphasizing that How2Listen aims to alleviate some of those pressures by providing alternatives that don’t require artists to make drastic financial sacrifices. The organization is designed to offer musicians an easier path to realizing their projects without needing to ‘mortgage their house.’
Both Ali and Pinder share a deep connection to Renton, where they grew up, and pride themselves on the area’s creative potential. They believe the Pacific Northwest can be a stronghold for a self-sustaining music ecosystem that empowers artists from the ground up. “We do have a lot of art and a lot of talent here that’s under-discovered and under-served,” said Pinder.
How2Listen aims to create an environment where local artists can thrive through various initiatives, including musical events that engage the community. They refer to their funding strategy as the ‘Bernie Sanders model,’ where smaller contributions can cumulatively make a significant impact. Ali hopes that in five years, individual donations will surpass grants, reflecting greater community investment in local music.
The $90,000 grant will primarily be used to support artists directly by covering costs related to studio time, artwork, and mixing. Currently, about 40 local artists have submitted applications for grants, seeking assistance to take their projects to the next level.
In addition to financial support, How2Listen emphasizes the importance of performance opportunities, exemplified by their first event, the ‘Listen Better’ session, held on December 11 at Métier Brewing Company in Seattle. Local DJs and producers like Vitamin D, Brain Got Blaps, Stas THEE Boss, and Jusmoni showcased their talents, providing them with a platform to connect with new audiences.
As How2Listen navigates its early stages, there’s a belief that the groundwork being laid will lead to substantial contributions to the local music scene in the years ahead. “We’re still early in our mission, and I think we’re going to do great work in the years to come,” Ali concluded.