Jay-Z‘s streaming company TIDAL will help up-and-coming artists by launching a $1 million grant called TIDAL Unplugged that will help boost their careers.
The grant is part of a donation from venture capitalists Robert Nelsen as well as Mark Lampert, and artists will apply by submitting their music directly on the streaming site. Those selected will split the $1 million.
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From there, an individualized game plan will be assembled for each recipient to help them use the funds for obtaining equipment and booking studio time in a professional recording space. Other forms of mentoring will be provided as well.
Each person selected will also get the funds through a monthly stipend, plus, their music will receive promotional support from TIDAL Rising, a separate program that helps shine light on emerging artists from around the globe. Grant recipients will get to perform in a TIDAL Unplugged showcase as well.
The grant will officially launch on March 1 in Detroit, and on that date local artists can submit their entries to Tidal.com/Unplugged. But all submission must either be in a capella form or performed with an acoustic guitar, and music from all genres is accepted. The final recipients will be announced this coming May.
At that point, TIDAL will work with each artists to develop four songs that will be distributed on the streaming site, and they’ll also be able to keep all of their master recordings.
Although the grant is coming through Jay-Z’s steaming company and not his own pocket, TIDAL Unplugged follows a pattern of the Brooklyn rapper showing complete altruism to younger musicians, particularly rappers.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that he hired an attorney to help the U.K. born 21 Savage, who was arrested by ICE for overstaying his visa.
Plus, a few weeks ago, Meek Mill revealed that Jay paid his legal fees when he was locked up. Lil Wayne also said the the “4:44” rapper once paid all his back taxes when he couldn’t.
There’s more too.
Last month Jay and Mill, along with CNN’s Van Jones launched a prison reform organization called The Reform Alliance, and their mission is to cut the probation or parole time for 1 million prisoners in five years.
As it relates to the TIDAL Unplugged grant, other artists outside of Detroit will eventually be able to apply, however, that date hasn’t been announced.
