Save The Music, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, & iHeartMedia unite to champion Music Education Nationwide
In an unprecedented collaboration bridging music, media, and philanthropy, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, Save The Music, and iHeartMedia have announced a multi-year national initiative to revitalize public school music programs and inspire the next generation of musicians. The partnership will fund more than 25 new school music programs across the United States over the next three years, bringing vital arts education resources to communities where they’re needed most.
This ambitious effort will focus on cities including Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles/Compton, Miami/South Florida, and New York City, regions where Save The Music has cultivated long-term relationships and seen measurable success in empowering young artists. The program goes beyond just funding instruments and music rooms; it’s about restoring the creative heartbeat of schools, fostering mentorship, and ensuring music remains a core pillar of education.
At the heart of this collaboration is a groundbreaking commitment by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation: the creation of its first-ever grantmaking pillar dedicated to music education. Through this strategic initiative, the Hall of Fame will directly support efforts that empower students and educators through the transformative power of music. Save The Music has been named the inaugural recipient of this funding, setting the stage for an impactful expansion of its work bringing music instruction to underserved classrooms nationwide.
The announcement was officially unveiled this morning on Good Morning America, where Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sheryl Crow joined Save The Music founder John Sykes — now Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and President of Entertainment Enterprises at iHeartMedia, alongside Henry Donahue, Executive Director of Save The Music, to share details of the collaboration. Crow, whose own musical journey was shaped by early exposure to music education, will help kick off the partnership, embodying the program’s mission to connect established artists with young dreamers just beginning their creative paths.
To further amplify the message, iHeartMedia will launch a nationwide PSA campaign across its 860+ radio stations, spreading awareness about the initiative and rallying support for the importance of music education in schools. The campaign aims to highlight how music not only enriches creativity but also builds discipline, teamwork, and confidence among students. Bloomberg Philanthropies has also joined the effort, providing critical financial backing to help the initiative reach even more schools.
Perhaps most excitingly, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will take part in classroom visits, giving students firsthand mentorship from some of the most influential figures in music history. These interactions promise to be life-changing moments — opportunities for young musicians to see that their creative potential is boundless.
Together, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, Save The Music, and iHeartMedia are creating more than just new school programs — they’re shaping a legacy of inclusion, inspiration, and empowerment through music. By investing in the next generation, this collaboration ensures that the spirit of rock & roll will continue to echo in classrooms and communities for years to come.
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