Thank you for your interest in the Country Music Association’s inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship! Allow us to introduce ourselves and share more about the fellowship.
What We Do:
The Country Music Association (CMA) is the premier trade association of the Country Music industry. We are built by and for the Country Music community. At the core of our identity is our service to our members. With more than 6,000 talented and unique professionals who proudly call themselves CMA members, we are committed fostering connection through professional growth opportunities, celebrating excellence within our genre, and providing platforms for music discovery. We exist to inspire, connect, educate and bring the love of Country Music to everyone, everywhere. Learn more about what we do at CMAworld.com/about.
About the Fellowship:
The CMA Diversity & Inclusion Fellowship is designed to provide a select group of students with an immersive experience in the Country Music industry, offering qualifying students an insider look into CMA’s Communications team in the weeks leading into the 50th anniversary of CMA Fest, June 8-11, 2023. This fellowship is open to all applicants and students from underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Participants will begin working remotely with CMA’s Communications team in April, taking part in various planning meetings with cross-departmental teams and industry partners before joining CMA team members in Nashville in the weeks leading into the event. Following CMA Fest, each participant will take part in a six-week assignment with a Country Music publicity partner, allowing students to further gain real world experience in the industry. Throughout the fellowship, students will be matched with an industry expert who will serve as a mentor throughout the program. All participants will receive compensation for their work in addition to a stipend to cover living expenses while in Nashville.
Learn more about the fellowship at CMAworld.com/fellowship.
Fellowship Eligibility & Evaluation:
Students eligible for the fellowship must attend The University of Alabama, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville or Belmont University and must be an incoming junior or senior majoring in public relations, advertising, journalism, business or a related field. An advisory committee comprised of the fellowship’s managing faculty member, Dr. Kenon Brown, select faculty representatives from the university partners, and CMA staff members will review all applications. This fellowship is open to all applicants and students from underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
All applicants will be thoroughly reviewed based on several key factors including, but not limited to (a) an overall understanding of and prior collegiate and/or professional experience within the Communications/Public Relations field, (b) a desire and passion to further professional development within the music industry, and (c) a demonstration of unique perspectives specific to the Country Music industry. Applications are due Friday, March 17, 2023. Selected participants will be notified by the end of March.
