Founding Mentor Class of 2026. 

Thank YOU for being part of The AUDION Foundation’s Founding Mentor Class of 2026 - consisting of roughly 20 industry creatives + 10 music business professionals. 

Through our Creative Mentorship Program, we connect selected emerging creatives with industry shapers; established songwriters, producers, musicians, and business professionals. Not for surface-level advice, but for real collaboration and interaction, including co-writes, recording sessions, creative conversations, and career discussions.

With a small time commitment from you, you make possible a lasting and transformational impact on those working really hard to propel their careers to the next step. By choosing mentorship, you join our efforts to strengthen our creative community, simply by giving a bit of time, experience, and expertise. We appreciate and celebrate this choice. 

Mentorship + Collaboration = Artist Amplification.

This information below covers everything you need to know — and exactly what we need from you.

OUR ASK OF YOU  / YOUR COMMITMENT: 

• Participate in 2, 60-minute lunches or coffee conversations and career discussions per year with emerging creatives of your choice. The Foundation covers the bill. The only expectation is a real conversation - insight, encouragement, and perspective that they wouldn't otherwise have. 

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS - Our Process:

Step 1: Submissions & Selection

• Mid-May 2026: Founding Mentor Class is publicly announced

• May 15 – August 15: Emerging creatives are encouraged to submit their artist packages (music, videos, tour info, artist statement, career goals, etc.)

• August 16 – September 30: A juried and anonymous panel of 3–5 industry professionals review submissions

• By October 1: 10 finalists are selected

The entire process is free for applicants.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS: Mentorship in Action:

Step 2: Your Mentorship in Action

• Around October 1, you’ll receive profiles for the 10 selected creatives

• You’ll choose 2 of them you’d like to meet with

• We’ll help coordinate and schedule these meetings, based on your availability. Our goal is to make this seamless and convenient for you.

Timing:
Meetings/Conversations can take place anytime between October 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 

The only expectation: kindness and creativity.

Key Dates

• May 15, 2026 – Program announced / submissions open

• August 15, 2026 – Submissions close

• Aug 16 – Sept 30, 2026 – Review and selection process

• October 1, 2026 onward – Collaborations begin

HOW YOUR PROFILE WILL APPEAR ON THE AUDION FOUNDATION WEBSITE:

We’re committed to representing you with intention and excellence across our website, social channels, and in all communications. You’ll be featured alongside the other mentors within a curated grid on The AUDION Foundation website. Your profile will begin with a simple, elegant card — and upon selection, will open into a dedicated page featuring your full bio, photo, and links to your website and social platforms.

Below is an example of how this will appear.

We’re thrilled to have you on board! Feel free to reach out with any questions….we’ve got answers!

• Zac Koffler (615-891-0886)

• James Dail (865-719-7571)

• Max Abrams (615-485-8778)