House of Blues Music Forward Foundation’s Bringing Down the House is a vibrant emerging artist incubator that helps young musicians navigate the music industry, learn music business strategies, and develop the knowledge and confidence for a career in the industry, both on and off the stage. Each year, Music Forward receives hundreds of submissions from around the country for a select number of spots offered to some of the most talented young artists participating in the Bringing Down the House program.
Like all of Music Forward’s programs, Bringing Down the House is designed to create transformational experiences for young people, connecting passions to professions.
Over 100 young musicians gathered across four cities (Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New Orleans) in a series of inspiring Saturday sessions throughout spring 2018. During the interactive workshops, participants learned about music marketing, music as a business, stage presence, and live production, by connecting directly with leading industry experts who hail from companies like Live Nation, Maverick Management, MGM Resorts International, The Marketing Arm, and more.
Following the intensive workshop sessions, Bringing Down the House artists apply what they’ve learned and perform live on a legendary stage: Sunday, May 20 at 6 p.m. at The Wiltern.
House of Blues Entertainment plays an integral part in connecting community to industry through support of this program. Each venue provides access for local young artists to learn first-hand about the industry by engaging venue professionals as industry experts during workshop sessions and creating the life-changing experience of performing on its legendary stage. The company additionally supports Music Forward through integrated revenue streams and organizational infrastructure that allows the charity to invest a majority of every dollar raised directly into programs for under-represented youth.
This year’s lineup includes talented teens from a range of diverse backgrounds and genres including indie, alt-pop, rock, hip hop, jazz, R&B and more:
100 Miles – Bassic – Ear Ringers – MYLN – Rookie Season – Sick of Sarahs – The Antidote –Untitled Document
Alumni across the past 4 years of the program’s history have gone on to achieve impressive accomplishments in the industry including being signed to prominent record labels Atlantic Records (Ravyn Lenae, Class of 2015) and Tommy Boy Entertainment (Almost Awake, Class of 2016) to performances on larger platforms including SNL musical appearances (Elliot Skinner, Class of 2015), American Idol placements (Trevor Douglas, Class of 2015; Zach Person, Class of 2015; Sabrina Lentini, Class of 2016) as well as festivals like Made In America (Red Letter Day, Class of 2016) and Vans Warped Tour (Hoity-Toity, Class of 2016).
“I love being involved because I see myself in these young people—they are curious and passionate about starting a career in the music industry,” said Manuel Moran, Live Nation’s Vice President of Latin Touring. “We have an opportunity to inspire these young people and show them the many possibilities available to them in this industry and the experience provided me with a unique sense of purpose.”
The shows are free and open to all ages. Free tickets are available from the participating bands, online at wiltern.com as well as at the box office on the day of the showcase.
Discover the Bringing Down the House Class of 2018 and learn more about the program here.
