Empower Creatives USA East North Central Edition: A State by State Guide To Music Support Funding, Systems, & Services

Empower Creatives: USA East North Central Edition

A State-by-State Guide to Music Support Systems, Funding, and Services in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio

This eBook is part of a series including the Global Edition and Territory Editions.

The East North Central region—home to Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio—is a bedrock of American music history and working-class creativity. From the industrial rhythms of Detroit and Chicago to the folk traditions of the Great Lakes and the community-driven scenes of Ohio and Indiana, this region has long been a source of musical innovation. But behind the legacy lies a living network of support systems—public, nonprofit, and grassroots—that continue to empower music creators today.

Empower Creatives: USA East North Central Edition is a 370+ page guide (final page count may vary slightly by format) designed to make those systems visible, accessible, and actionable. Whether you’re an emerging artist, a music educator, a nonprofit leader, or an independent manager, this guide delivers clarity in a landscape often obscured by paywalls, gatekeeping, and fragmented information.

Inside, you’ll find:

• State-by-state breakdowns of music support systems in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio
• Listings of public grants, nonprofit initiatives, community programs, and artist-led organizations—all vetted to exclude tuition-based services unless they offer sponsorship or access programs
• Resources for Indigenous creators, including support systems for Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Miami, and other First Nations communities with historical and contemporary ties to the region
•  Insights into regional values, showing how each state’s infrastructure reflects its cultural diversity, economic priorities, and community resilience
•  Practical guidance on how to apply for funding, access rehearsal and recording spaces, join mentorship programs, and build sustainable careers
• Cross-state collaboration models, highlighting how organizations partner across borders to amplify impact and share resources
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This guide is built for action. It’s not just a directory—it’s a strategic tool for navigating the real-world scaffolding that supports music creators. If you’ve ever asked, “Who’s out there to help?” and struggled to find a clear answer, this book delivers it.

Created by Lionel Lodge—a lifelong musician, entrepreneur, and global advocate for creator rights—Empower Creatives: USA East North Central Edition reflects years of research, outreach, and lived experience. It’s part of a global series, but this edition is laser-focused on the unique cultural, economic, and institutional landscape of the East North Central region.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building, this guide is your compass.