Tour Support Grants

We’re excited to unveil the Sonic Guild Tour Support Grants, powered by Tito’s Vodka—an innovative initiative designed to support and elevate touring musicians like never before. As the first grant of its kind, this program is dedicated to helping artists expand their reach beyond Seattle and connect with new audiences across the country. If you are an eligible musician,  you can apply today here. 

In an effort to support Seattle’s vibrant music scene and help artists expand their reach, Sonic Guild Seattle is introducing a first-of-its-kind Tour Support grant program, designed to alleviate the rising costs of touring for the area’s musicians. With applications open September 19th – November 1st 2024 this program marks a critical step in ensuring that local artists can continue expanding their reach and build sustainable careers in music.

Supporting Seattle’s Music Scene

In response to the urgent need of local musicians, Sonic Guild Seattle created this program to help offset the financial challenges of touring, which have skyrocketed in the post-pandemic era. In an internal survey, 76% of Washington artists reported that they have turned down impactful touring opportunities due to the high costs . Touring is a vital pathway for musicians to connect with new audiences and grow their careers, yet many are struggling to make it work financially. This new grant aims to provide crucial support, ensuring that artists can remain on the road and grow the audiences they need for their careers to thrive.

“As gas, lodging, and transportation costs soar, this grant is about more than just money—it’s about keeping the next generation of Seattle musicians on track to succeed,” said Ben London, Executive Director of Sonic Guild Seattle. “Touring is essential for a musician’s career growth, and we’re determined to help make it easier for our talented local artists to reach new audiences.”

How the Tour Support Program Works

• Grant Amount: Artists and bands can apply for $150 per eligible tour date, with a maximum of 10 dates per application, totaling up to $1,500.

• Application Process: A panel of Seattle music industry experts will review applications tri-annually in the application period occurring three months before touring taking place in three blocks (January-April, May-August, September-December). Criteria include artistic merit, tour integrity, and the potential impact on the artist’s career.

• Eligibility: The program is open to individual artists or bands actively building a full-time music career, aged 21 or over, with the majority of the touring party based within a 90-mile radius of Seattle.

• Eligible Tours: Tours must span at least three sites, cover 250 miles, and occur within designated dates. Funding covers expenses such as travel, lodging, meals, backline equipment, and tour merchandise production.

Pilot Program Made Possible by Tito’s Handmade Vodka

This initiative is generously funded by Tito’s Vodka, supporting nonprofits through employee-directed passion projects through their grant program. ‘We’ve supported Sonic Guild Seattle since its launch, and we’re thrilled to help bring this critical new program to life,’ said Joey Dimarco, Field Sales Manager at Tito’s Handmade Vodka. ‘We look forward to seeing how this program positively impacts the careers of Seattle musicians.

For more information or any questions, reach out to us at k.vanpetten@sonicguild.org.