Annual Report FY2023 | Folk Alliance International by Folk Alliance International

Annual Report July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023

Land Acknowledgement

Folk Alliance International’s office is located on the land of the Osage, Kansa/Kaw, Kickapoo, and Očhéthi Šakówin nations, also known as Kansas City. We honor with gratitude their elders: past, present, and future. The purpose of making this land acknowledgment in post-colonial society is to show respect for

Indigenous peoples and their traditional territories, to recognize their unique culture and enduring relationship to the land, and to raise awareness about histories that have often been replaced, suppressed, or forgotten.

On the Cover Private Showcases

Front: Phyllis Sinclair. Back: Emily Johnson‑Erday. This year, our covers

spotlight the beautiful energy of our Private Showcase artists. While our juried Official Showcases are known for big names and breakthrough talent, our Private Showcases are equally unforgettable. Each room is hosted and booked by our community members. These small concerts show the huge scale and range of our community, but – like the incredible artists that play them – they often get the least exposure. While it’s not possible to include images from all of this year’s 1,685 Private Showcases, we feature a selection of them in this report. If you don’t recognize an artist, we encourage you to look them up, go listen to their music, and buy a ticket to their next show.

Contents

Land Acknowledgement

About Folk Alliance International

Our Team

Board of Directors

Letter from Our Board President

Strategic Plan

Our Regions + Global Connections

Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Accessibility

Black American Music Summit

Our Year-Round Work

Industry Alliances

Artist in Residence: Cary Morin

Your Support at Work

FAI 2023 Conference

International Folk Music Awards

Financial Report

Thank you, Donors

Photo Credits Cover photos by Shadow Scape Records; Valerie June Keynote by Katie Rich; Janis Ian, Neeta with Dan Navarro and David Amram, Cary

Morin, Reese Tanimura at the Festivals Peer Session by Shadow Scape; ASL Interpreter at IFMAs by Neal Eckstein; Pretend Friend by Scott Rohr; Staff Headshots (except Cindy Cogbill’s) by Shadow Scape; Women Affinity Group by Katie Rich; Black American Music Summit by Fawn Lies; Jake Blount Private Showcase, Membership / Abby Altman by Katie Rich; Group Exemption / Quebec Reception by Shadow Scape; Ethno USA by Ana Monteiro; Cary Morin Kayaking by Simon Morris; First Timers by Shadow Scape; Casii Stephan by Marisa Kolka; Sihasin at Rooted Reckoning Panel by Shadow Scape; Jackie Gage and Jonathan Woods by Scott Rohr; Gullywasher, Paula Boggs Band by Todd Zimmer; Goldpine by Shadow Scape; Elizabeth Pixley-Fink by Scott Rohr; Sons of Town Hall by Todd Zimmer; Queen Esther by Scott Rohr; Lessons from the Stage by Katie Rich; Scott Bevins and Javier Jara by Scott Rohr; Selling Tickets, Aysanabe by Katie Rich; Gullywasher by Todd Zimmer; Iris DeMent and Milk Carton Kids, Step and Repeat Photos at IFMAs by Shadow Scape. Decorative Photos: Instruments by Fawn Lies from their instrument collection–special thanks to Aengus Finnan for the mandolin, and to Elio Schiavo for the guitar; Plants by Han Chenxu (pg 1), Evie Fjord (3,6, 9, 11, 12, 25, 26), Doug Kelley (6), Karolina Grabowska (6), Igor Son (23), and Diana Schroder (24).

About Folk Alliance International Folk Alliance International (FAI) was founded in 1989 to connect folk music leaders aiming to sustain the community and genre. The leading international voice for folk music, FAI is an arts nonprofit and NEA designated National Arts Service Organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. FAI is also a member of the Performing Arts Alliance (PAA). Our network of 3,000+ members is the foundation of a worldwide community of artists, agents, managers, labels, publicists, arts administrators, venues, festivals, and concert series presenters.

Pretend Friend

Our Team

Neeta Ragoowansi Executive Director she/her

Jennifer Roe Deputy Director she/her

Cindy Cogbill Marketing & Programming Director she/her

Fawn Lies Lily Joiner Tisha Naipaul Digital Media Coordinator Membership & Graphic Design Assistant they/them Development Coordinator she/they she/her

Alex Mallett Development & Partnership Director he/him

Jerod Rivers Conference Director he/him

Marina Yudice Administrative Assistant she/her

Nick Loss-Eaton Publicist he/him

Our Conference Team Beth Hatch Volunteer Coordinator she/her Jim Schultz Private Showcase Coordinator he/him Kylee Lambert Production Coordinator she/her

Claire Diamond Official Showcase Production and Inventory Manager she/her Renata R. Robertson Official Showcase Artist Coordinator she/her

LaWanda Smith Official Showcase Artist Coordinator she/her Tim McIlree Official Showcase Artist Coordinator he/him

Rebecca Campbell Official Showcase Artist Coordinator she/her Arielle Silver Sponsored Events Coordinator she/her

Our Board of Directors

Vice President Reid Wick Sr. Membership & Project Manager Recording Academy

Secretary Rosalyn Dennett Executive Director Folk Music Ontario

Treasurer Kevin Dalton Certified Financial Planner Wiles+Taylor & Co.

At-Large Lynn Cingari Agent Wasserman Music

Ayappa Biddanda Sr. Director Concord

Beau Bledsoe Artist Ensemble Iberica

Mariah Czap Co-General Manager Yep Roc Records

Iona Fyfe Artist/Director Traditional Music and Song Association

Catalina Maria Johnson Journalist/DJ Beat Latino

Laia Canals Director Tempi - Roots Music Denmark

Sara Leishman Executive Director Calgary Folk Festival

Art Menius Folk Radio Promoter & DJ Art Menius Radio

Gary Paczosa VP A&R Rounder Records

Ann Powers Critic and Correspondent NPR Music

Caroline Randall Williams Artist / Author / Scholar Vanderbilt University

Guillermo Subauste Producer

Laura Thomas Owner/Agent ComboPlate Booking

Gerald Torres Professor of Law Yale University

Brandi Waller-Pace Artist/Founder Decolonizing the Music Room

Tina Wroblewski Outreach Manager Small World Music

FAI is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing leadership in the folk music industry worldwide. The board is elected by the voting members of the organization each fall, and an annual general meeting of members is held after the conference each year. Our board- and membershipapproved bylaws, board election process, and biographies of each board member are at folk.org/ board.

Board President listed on the next page. This list represents the current board as of December 2023.

Board President Ashley Shabankareh Artist / NFP Arts Administrator Artist Corps New Orleans

Hello friends,

As we continue to navigate our way back from the global pandemic and work through the challenges of our global spectrum, Folk Alliance International’s mission – to serve, strengthen and engage the global folk community – is increasingly relevant and needed more than ever. The ability of folk music to explain issues and struggles, to galvanize and catalyze movements, and to heal and bring peace, make it a powerful and valuable force that is worth preserving, presenting and promoting. As an organization, this past year was a year of transition for FAI, shepherding a new level of vision, optimism, and growth. In September, I was proud to be the first genderfluid woman of color to serve as Board President for FAI. This has been a great honor to serve this community in this role! In addition to our changes in leadership, FAI’s programs and operations continued to flourish. FAI hosted a very successful annual conference in February with over 2000 registrants and presenting speakers that reflected its continued work in engaging diverse voices with 40% identifying as BIPOC and approximately 60% identifying as women. Financially, FAI is on solid footing and showing marked improvement as we come back from pandemic losses. We forecasted a financial loss of $200,000; however, thanks to the work of our staff, we were able to reduce expenses, raise donations, and end the fiscal year without a loss.(See Page 23 for additional details) We are excited that the FAI Board of Directors and staff completed and posted a truly exceptional strategic plan that will set in motion action items that bring FAI engagement to communities

globally, striving to make FAI’s work accessible and equitable for all its members. Through our strategic plan, we seek to center the voices of our community, providing year-round resources to our members as the folk community continues to rebuild since the COVID-19 pandemic. For our full strategic plan, please visit our website.[https://folk.org/about/strategic-plan-2023-2025/] As we look towards 2024, we are focusing on how music can contribute to the well-being of our communities. The upcoming conference theme of Alchemy: A Transformative Force is designed to show the FAI community the multitude of ways in which folk music can be harnessed to provide meaningful change in the world. I am proud and honored to lead and work alongside the tremendous staff of this organization, and I look forward to what’s to come in 2024 and beyond. We recognize that the good work of FAI is a truly collective and collaborative effort, and it is not possible without the support and commitment of all of you. Thanks to the amazing team of FAI and its donors, volunteers, partners and friends for raising the organization up each and every day and making this a community effort we can all be proud of. All My Best,

Ashley Shabankareh (she/they) Board President

We’re In Tune with Our New Strategic Plan Financ ia

l Grow

Members

hip & Att endee Growth

Expand a n

d Promot e Folk Mus ic

Programming /Provide Year Round R esources

FAI as a l Leader Global Cultura Accessibility and Equity Innovative Infrastructure

Global Expansion

The future of Folk Alliance International is exciting! With our new Strategic Plan, we chart a path forward that uses innovation, education, and partnerships to expand our global network and enrich our community with diversity and opportunity. Our five-year vision includes the creation of new non-North American Regions, strengthening our existing Regions, and nurturing deep engagement. FAI will be known as the gathering place for the global folk community, inspiring and connecting musicians and creators. Our priorities are to strengthen and expand our reach, expand our funding approach, and improve our infrastructure. These priorities are supported by eight Strategic Areas, outlined on the following pages. You can view this and more at folk. org/strategicplan.

Strategic Areas Our Financial Growth will be driven by fostering new connections, improving existing donor relations and strategy, and growing our support from foundations and grants. The creation of an Advisory Board will help us identify key donors and partners to maximize our efforts.

Membership & Attendee Growth

have always been important, but with reimagined offerings, campaigns that bring in new audiences, and a focus on member feedback, we’ll create more engagement and valuable new member benefits. The creation of more global Regions will put us at new doorsteps, making it easier for the international community to experience FAI. To increase conference attendance, we’re exploring appealing yet accessible destinations for future conferences, as well as improvements to our programming and offerings.

Expanding and Promoting Folk Music is our plan to transcend the often

limited view of the genre and reintroduce folk. For the general public, “folk” can be seen as antiquated and narrow. But it’s growing popularity is due to how relevant, expansive, pervasive, and powerful folk music is. Collaborative campaigns will introduce the world to their new favorite songs and genre. This means including genres not traditionally viewed as folk music, promoting diversity and inclusivity, and embracing folk’s future and past.

Programming and Providing Year Round Resources is at the core

And while we’ve done the research, it doesn’t take another white paper to see how clearly our industry needs more racial and gender equity. We hear this especially from our artists and venues: often the same artists are playing to the same crowd. To solve this internally FAI will: implement partnerships with organizations and leaders representing marginalized communities; diversify our Board of Directors; and bolster our Cultural Equity Council. And outside of FAI, involvement in policy discussions is the next step in addressing this across the music industry.

Innovative Infrastructure – new

of our professional development and networking. Through the global pandemic, we supported our community with online webinars and resources. We’re committed to improving these offerings with new content and rich data sources. Our annual conference will continue to serve as our hub and deepen the ways our industry connects.

initiatives, technology, and systems – will support and enhance our efforts in incredible ways. Carbon neutrality, multi-language resources and webinars, and community offerings like our online platform Chorus, are just some of the ways we want to improve our work for greater accessibility, and better impacts for our community and environment.

Positioning FAI as a Global Cultural Leader will achieve broader name and mission recognition, create tangible collaborations with other organizations, and boost our efforts as a leader for musician advocacy. We’ll also offer new opportunities as we embrace more cultural diversity and establish a new ambassador program.

Finally, Global Expansion is the key to effectively represent a comprehensive, world-wide folk community. With strong strategic partnerships across all continents, new global Regions will be established that cultivate and maintain a

Accessibility and Equity are crucial to ensuring that everyone is represented in our industry. The need for accessibility in the music industry is dire, as artists and music professionals with disabilities continue to face barriers and reactive attitudes rather than proactive solutions.

Folk Music Ontario London, Ontario

INTERSESSIONS Conference St. Louis, MO

Pollstar Live! Los Angelos, CA

IBMA Raleigh, NC Music Biz & Americanafest Nashville, TN

SXSW & cdbaby DIY Coneference Austin, TX

MMF-US Miami Summit Miami, FL

Our Regions and Global Connections Our folk music community is made up of the FAI Regions and partners and friends around the world. While Folk Alliance International connects the global industry together, our six regional affiliate organizations, or FAI Regions, are targeted networks of support folk professionals: Folk Alliance Region-

West, Southwest Regional Folk Alliance, Southeast Regional Folk Alliance, Northeast Regional Folk Alliance, and the Nordic Folk Alliance. Each Region has a board of directors, hosts a regional conference, and other resources that strengthen these vital networks.

Newport Folk Festival Newport, RI APAP New York City, NY

Talin Music Week Talin, Estonia

NIVA Cleveland, OH Ethno USA & LEAF Festival Black Mountain, NC

WOMEX Lisbon, Portugal

Performing Arts Alliance Board Meeting New Orleans, LA

Our global partners extend our reach far and wide, beyond our own networks. We traveled many places this fiscal year, creating valuable connections for the future of FAI.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Our ongoing commitment to our DEIA work is unwavering, and while there is so much more progress to be made, this year boasted incredible strides we’re proud to share.

Accessibility

Affinity Groups

Accessibility remains a top priority for our work at the conference and beyond. Our team diligently captions all of our video content, and ASL interpreters are stationed at key conference stages. Our communications team follows strict guidelines to ensure collateral is easy to read and understand, and we’re always improving on existing systems to ensure everyone can access our work at the same level.

Our Affinity Groups are a popular and important part of our programming, which brings together individuals with shared experiences and/or cultural backgrounds (as opposed to our Peer Sessions which connect individuals with shared industry roles). We held 16 online Affinity Groups leading up the conference, and ten in-person at the conference. Folks Coping with Loss, Folks with Disabilities, Caregivers and Parents, Pan-Asian Folks, Indigenous Folks, Women, Folkies 55+, LGBTQ2IA+, and Latiné and Hispanic Folks are just some of the Affinity Groups that we offer at the conference and online.

While our conference is our biggest accomplishment each year, it also proves to be the largest accessibility challenge. Even traveling to the conference is restrictively difficult for our international community members and those with disabilities. In response, this year saw the return of a virtual edition of our conference, called Folk+ (March 8 - 9, 2023), on our new community platform Chorus. Pre-recorded FAI 2023 programming was rebroadcast to an audience of hundreds; virtual networking and song-sharing sessions gave us all a chance to “meet” face-to-face; and an exclusive live interview and Q&A session with Janis Ian made Folk+ an unforgettable experience.

These sessions are often as powerful as they are serene and give people with these shared identities a rare chance to connect, discuss specific issues they face in the industry, and provide a greater sense of belonging. Many Affinity Group participants have described going their whole careers without connecting with anyone like them – until attending these sessions at FAI. At the conference, the Black American Music Summit took the place of the African Diaspora group, which brings together those of African ancestry or ethnicity. And an additional Women’s Affinity Group was held during our Folk+ virtual conference in celebration of International Women’s Day.

10/20/30 Pledge While we’ve already exceeded the goals of APAP’s 10/20/30 REDI Pledge, we strive to out-do ourselves each year to ensure we’re making impactful progress. Diversity is not just about meeting a quota for FAI, it’s a necessary part of our cultural philosophy that folk music should not just represent any one group and that everyone has a place in our community. We still have a great deal of work to do, however, and this data helps hold us accountable. We’re proud to be in our third year of the 10/20/30 Pledge. 9

Goal: 10-year Commitment Our Progress: 3 Years as of April

Goal: 20% of Programming/Artists Our Progress: 80%

Goal: 30% of Annual Programming Budget Our Progress: 47.8%

you don’t know somebody in this room, don’t Black American Music Summit “If leave this room without knowing them!” FAI’s Global Summits are extended sessions at the annual conference designed to convene peers to discuss in-depth the evolving processes, practices, and policies related to the rich ecology of folk music. Past summits have been held for funders, archivists, ethnomusicologists, cultural equity advocates, disability culture advocates, Indigenous community members, and more. This year’s Global Summit was the inaugural Black American Music Summit: What’s Next? This four-day gathering at FAI 2023, created by singer/ composer Lilli Lewis, held exclusive space for Black delegates at FAI, while an expert panel led the group in discussions about navigating the folk music world creatively and professionally. The purpose of the summit was to create a sense of community and belonging among folk professionals who identify as Black, African American, or of the African Diaspora. At one point one of the

organizers, Mehuman Ernst, demanded, “If you don’t know somebody in this room, don’t leave this room without knowing them!” Similar to our Affinity Groups, the exclusivity of the space ensures a sense of safety and focus: Black musicians can speak about sensitive issues and experiences with trust and confidentiality; the most relevant voices are given priority; and new, important connections create the foundation for a more inclusive community at FAI.

Each day started with a networking session where attendees grabbed refreshments and chatted. Shortly after, the panel would begin with opening remarks from Lewis about the day’s topic. The opening session, “Setting the Tone,” gave an overview of what to expect from the summit; “Day 1: It Takes a Village” focused on building community; “Day 2: Money Matters” was all about strategies towards financial prosperity, like grant funding, and barriers faced; finally “Day 3: Lifting the Gaze” was

a discussion about the perception of Black artists and professionals in the industry, and the often offensive and inaccurate projections they deal with. The speakers and attendees featured some of the best folk musicians and professionals from around the world. Each panel featured a slate of rotating leaders, including Caroline Randall Williams, Brandi Waller-Pace, Paula Boggs, and more. Every night, the Black American Music Summit Private Showcase Room was open to all conference attendees and hosted performances from the likes of Jake Blount (pictured below), Queen Esther, and UK artist Lady Nade, to name a few. The final night was an amazing jam session that, of course, went on early into the morning. Thank you to Lilli Lewis and all of the amazing leaders and attendees who made this such a success!

Our Year-round Work and Resources

Membership

Folk Charts

Group Exemption

Our membership empowers the folk community to take their careers to the next level with special benefits and data. Members get discounts on the FAI Conference, exclusive deals, and more.

For four years now, FAI has managed the release of folk radio charts which compile the top-played songs and albums each month. We also share the weekly NACC folk charts. Making it on the charts is cause for celebration for many in our community.

A benefit of FAI membership, small organizations seeking non-profit status can apply for our Group Exemption Program which registers them as 501(c)3 non-profits under our IRS certification. This helps simplify their verification process and keeps vital info organized.

Webinars

Peer Sessions

Ethno USA

Our webinars allow FAI and our partners to reach our community directly with professional development opportunities. This year, Bandzoogle taught how to build a website, MySeat introduced us to audience data strategies, Fan Club Cruises brought on a panel of expert artists on a high-value alternative to touring, and Myxt hosted a recording feedback session with singer-songwriter Mary Bragg and producer/board member Guillermo Subauste (pictured above).

Our Peer Sessions let professionals with shared roles connect with each other to discuss the issues they face and solutions they’re testing. Agents meet with agents, DJs with DJs, venues with venues, and so on. These popular sessions started at the conference, but this year we continued to offer online Peer Sessions that bring more people to the table.

Ethno USA is the newest edition of JM International’s Ethno program, which brings together young musicians from around the world for a two-week multicultural music intensive. Ethno has taken place in 30+ countries, and we’ve partnered with JMI to bring it to the US. Participants bring a song from their cultural heritage to share with the group. All songs were performed on the main stage of the LEAF Festival. Learn more at ethno.world.

Industry Alliances

Kansas City Hispanic Economic Development Corporation and Rochester Brewing and Roasting

This year FAI expanded strategic partnerships at grassroots levels and within the music and cultural sectors at large.

Music Biz and Pollstar Live!

In Kansas City, our Finest Folk First Fridays concerts expanded to three venues in May and June thanks to the Kansas City Hispanic Economic Development Corporation and Rochester Brewing and Roasting Company. This gave us an opportunity to present more acts, to engage the community of Kansas City’s Westside Neighborhood, and leverage the event to encourage much needed clean up of areas of our shared neighborhood.

In order to continue to build new new relationships with the music industry at large, we entered co-promotional partnerships with the Pollstar Live! conference (the world’s largest gathering of live entertainment professionals and the flagship event for Pollstar magazine) and MusicBiz (a membership-based organization that connects and supports industry professionals across the global music business). The relationships formed through these alliances will ensure that FAI continues to update our members on industry trends and that new voices are represented in our community.

Performing Arts Alliance

Music Export Memphis

In 2020, FAI was formally invited to be a member of the Performing Arts Alliance (PAA), which is a group that advocates for America’s professional nonprofit arts sector before Congress and key policy makers. Other members include theater, dance, opera, chorus organizations, and more. This partnership is continues to be key in participating in the national conversation of preserving the arts, while also elevating the folk music industry as a performing art that’s essential to the cultural sector.

Working in partnership with Music Export Memphis, we announced Memphis as the 2023 City of Honor, highlighting exciting parts of the city’s unique and thriving music industry and elevating artists from Memphis through showcase and networking opportunities. This partnership lead to direct bookings for many of the participating artists and shone a spotlight on a truly thriving and dynamic musical city.

Artist in Residence Cary Morin

Every year, our Artist in Residence program pairs a folk musician with a mission-based organization to produce a collaborative project representative of both. This year, we paired blues singer Cary Morin with Friends of the Kaw, tying in with our conference theme of sustainability. Cary Morin was born in Billings, Montana. A Crow tribal member with Assiniboine Sioux and Black heritage, his grandfather was what is now colloquially known as a “water warrior,” an activist who protests and resists

I knew the boats before your time Together we live side by side Changes came with a conversation dyin’ No it’s not broke but please don’t stop tryin’ the industrialization and pollution of water sources. Friends of the Kaw is a grassroots organization that’s been dedicated to the conservation of the 173 mile-long Kansas (or Kaw) River for thirty years. This massive waterway is not only home to wildlife, but a water supply for over 800,000 Kansans. However, decades of privatization has invited unchecked pollution. In Kansas City, the River is synonymous with the trash that floats on its shores, with frequent industrial wastewater discharges and mining turning the water unsafe and an uninviting murky green. We invited Cary to kayak the Kaw River and write a song about the experience to be performed at FAI 2023. He drove down from Colorado (where the river starts), and met us in Coronado, Kansas, where he and his partner Celeste Di Iorio began their over nine mile trip. They started on a cool August morning and reached Kaw Point – just north of downtown Kansas City – that late afternoon. Watch Cary as he kayaks down the river and shares his grandfather’s story and his song “Kaw River” at folk.org/air2023.

Your Support at Work

Support from our donors, funders, members, sponsors, and partners made our work possible, surviving and thriving despite the challenges of this year. This charitable support helped with mission-driven initiatives.

Providing artists with much-needed educational and professional development services and resources that directly impacted their ability to nourish and sustain careers. These services spanned the annual conference, educational webinars, and direct our participation in other events where we are able to meet with artists, understand their needs, and coach them in their development.

Participating in national advocacy efforts that impact our community. Working in coalitions we encouraged fairer ticketing practices, timely service for international artist visas, and an approach to AI policy that reinforces human creativity.

Awarding $44,562 in first-time scholarships to artists and industry professionals. Named after our

founding members, the Clark & Elaine Weissman Scholarship for First Time Conference Attendees has long been a source of support to lower barriers for first-time artists and industry delegates alike.

First Timers Gathering at FAI 2023

Managing our group exemption program, which gives nonprofit status to over 50 grassroots organizations. This program helps these organizations report annually to the IRS and encourages grassroots initiatives around the United States.

Resuming First Friday concerts in our Kansas City office. These concerts featured talent from the Kansas City

region and beyond. Through our partnerships with Rochester Brewing and The Kansas City Hispanic Economic Development Corporation, we were able to hire more performers and diversify audiences.

Administering the Folk DJ Chart. This chart provides a

platform for folk artists to shine and track their radio plays from over 150 contributing DJs across multiple radio formats.

Supporting our six regional organizations serve the extended community. We are proud to provide FARM,

Far-West, NERFA, SERFA, SWRFA, and Nordic Folk Alliance with promotional and administrative support so that they can best serve our shared membership at more regional levels. Casii Stephan Finest Folk First Fridays Concert

FAI 2023 Conference The FAI 2023 Conference was our largest in-person gathering since before the pandemic, with a 60% increase in attendance from last year. Our theme “Facing the Future: Sustainability in Folk Music” explored the longevity of our environment, careers, creative practices, mental health, and much more. Our keynote speaker was GRAMMYnominated, singer, songwriter, poet, actor (and so much more) Valerie June, who gave a rousing speech about what it means to sustain our very humanity. The legendary Janis Ian (pictured top right) shared insights from her life-long career in the music industry. Sam Lee, Jake Blount,

and Janeda and Clayson Benally (known together as the music duo Sihasin; pictured middle right) spoke to the urgency of climate action during our Rooted Reckoning. In a live interview with Marilyn Rea Beyer (The Midnight Special, WFMT), singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier (bottom right) shared excerpts of her new book “Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting,” and about trauma, recovery, and therapy, and songwriting’s transformational role “in making sense of confusion.”

Jackie Gage with Jonathan Woods jamming in the Black American Music Summit Private Showcase room

1,966 Conference Attendees

up 737 from last year Breakdown 49% Artists 26% Industry 11% Associate 9%

Presenter

Media

Presenter Breakdown 40% Festival 27% Concert Series 17% Venue 16% House

1,685

Private Showcases

up 671 from last year

340

One-on-One Meetings

306 Grain Thief

Paula Boggs Band

Agent/Presenter Networking Meetings

159

Official Showcases

Panels and Events

Peer Sessions

Countries Represented Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, England, Ecuador, Estonia, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America, Venezuela, Wales

Goldpine

Panelist Diversity 6%

Elisabeth Pixley-Fink

Outside US

42% BIPOC & Latine 17% LGBT2QIA+ 9%

Disability

55% Female/Nonbinary

Peer Session Diversity 7%

Outside US

42% BIPOC & Latine 13% LGBT2QIA+ 13% Disability 73% Female0/Nonbinary

International Folk Music Awards Diversity

Sons of Town Hall

12% Outside US

35% BIPOC & Latine 8%

LGBT2QIA+

Disability

65% Female/Nonbinary

Affinity Group Host Diversity 60% Outside US 30% BIPOC & Latine 40% LGBT2QIA+ 10% Disability 90% Female/Nonbinary 18

Queen Esther

Miranda Mulholland, Joy Clark, Jaimee Harris, Nickie Conley, and Bruce Molsky on the panel “To the Font, To the Side: Lessons From the Stage”

Javier Jara jamming with Scott Bevins of No Cosmos

Mary Brabec, Molly Driessen, Noelle and Renee Coughlin (The Pairs), Hilary Watson, John Taylor and Lara Supan on the panel “Selling Tickets: Whose Job is it Anyway”

Aysanabee

Gullywasher

ARTIST OF THE YEAR Janis Ian

ALBUM OF THE YEAR Crooked Tree by Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway sponsored by Sound Royalties

The International Folk Music Awards honor our community through recognizing their accomplishments and legacies. This year, our member-voted Best of the Year Winners were Janis Ian for Artist of the Year, “Crooked Tree” by Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway for Album of the Year, and Song of the Year was presented to both “Bright Star” by Anaïs Mitchell and “B61” by Aoife O’Donovan. Our Lifetime Achievement Awards honored the historic

achievements of Janis Ian, Josh White (accepted by his son Josh White Jr., pictured below), and John Prine’s Oh Boy Records (accepted by Fiona and Jack Prine). Performances featured a tributes to these legends by the likes of Jake Bount, Iris DeMent with The Milk Carton Kids, Wallis Bird, and more. You can watch a recording of the full awards show at youtube.com/folkalliance.

SONG OF THE YEAR Bright Star by Anaïs Mitchell

SONG OF THE YEAR B61 Star by Aoife O’Donnovan

sponsored by Sound Royalties

Business/Academic Lifetime Achievement

Oh Boy Records

People’s Voice Award

Leyla McCalla

Clearwater Award sponsored by Levitt Foundation

Shambala Festival

Folk Radio Hall of Fame

Alisa Amadour

Marilyn Rea Beyer

Robert Resnik

Harry B. Soria Jr.

Spirit of Folk

Rising Tide

Steve Edge

Amy Reitnouer Jacobs

John Platt

Marcy Marxer

Adrian Sabogal

Folk Radio Hall of Fame

Pat Mitchell Worley 22

Financial Report

In a strategic move, the board approved a budget with $200,000 loss for FY23 recognizing that government relief funding would no longer be available and our community is still grappling with economic challenges. Despite the budgeted loss, we concluded the fiscal year with a small profit. With the finances below not yet audited, the final profit may be lower than these figures.

We thoughtfully weighed decisions to reduce costs across the board while maintaining world-class services. We saved significantly on workforce expenses as our team faced shortages for a significant portion of the year resulting in additional savings in operational expenses. Additionally, strategic partnerships with various organizations allowed us to optimize our resources efficiently.

Careful reduction of expenses was the primary factor that led to a surplus.

The collaborative efforts of our community played an important role

in mitigating potential losses, as well. We rely on the continuous support of ongoing donations to FAI and were honored to receive a significant anonymous donation. As we navigate these challenging times, the collective actions of our team, strategic cost-saving initiatives, and the steadfast support from our community position us favorably to weather fiscal challenges and emerge stronger in the coming year.

Total Income: $1,489,928 63.04% CONFERENCE TOTAL

$975,842

47.07% Registration

$442,130

33.51% Sponsors & Ads

$314,796

19.41% Other

$182,347

27.15% Donations and Grants

$404,576

6.01%

Ethno USA & Other Programs

$89,544

2.43%

Memberships

$36,213

1.36%

Other

$20,320

Total Expenses: $1,458,410 78.48% Program Services Total

$1,144,557

85.26% Conference

$975,842

14.74% Other Program Services

$168,715

19.31% Management/General

$281,557

2.21%

$32,296

Fundraising

*Data not yet audited 23

Thank You to Our Donors! Angel ($100,000+) Anonymous

Legacy ($50,000 – $99,999) The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust

Sustainers ($10,000 – $24,999) Mick Hellman

Benefactors ($5,000 – $9,999) Anonymous (2) Pete Browne and Julie Walker Browne CCS Family Fund – Topeka Community Foundation Christmas Valley Foundation Fan Club Cruises David and Janis Francis – The Francis Family Foundation J.B. Reynolds Foundation Jaggers Family Fund at The Dallas Foundation Janet L. Lewis Trust Steve and Polly Revare – the West Egg Fund Dan and Kathy Tappan – Tappan Family Fund Woody Guthrie Publications

Patrons ($2,500 – $4,999) Dorothy W. Gach Family Foundation Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc.

Leaders ($1,000 – $2,499) Anonymous Taylor Caffery Donald Cohen and Madeline Janis Laura Kohler & Steve Proudman Giving Back Fund Jeff and Carol Lowe Kim McDowell Chuck Schmitz

Partners ($500 – $999) Nancy Clark Mike Doll Aengus Finnan Five-String Charitable Funds Hart Family Fund – Greater Kansas City Community Foundation John & Kristen Hawkes Ralph A. Jaccodine, In Honor of All the hard working musicians that bring light to our community

Our deepest thanks to the people that make our work possible, our donors who supported FAI during our 2023 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023). The Village Fund donations are listed separately at folk.org/thevillagefund. Si Kahn Karakter Worldwide Barbara Manners Marian R. Stuart, Ph.D. Foundation Kathy Peters Sam Meers and Julie Nelson Meers Charitable Account Shawn Underwood

Advocates ($250 – $499) Carl Apter B & L Foundation Phyllis Barney Dave Bartlow Ayappa Biddanda Beau Bledsoe David HB Drake, In Honor of Gordon Bok Neale Eckstein and Laurie Laba Bernie Finkelstein Patricia Henderson Sara Henderson David Holiday Frank Iacobucci, In Memory of Michael Wrycraft Independent Media Arts Foundation Kari Estrin Mgmt/Consulting & Radio Promo Treasa Levasseur Grant Mallett James McKew, In Honor of Clark and Elaine Weissman Steve Paul Susan Pepper Keith and Cydney Perske Jennifer Roe Jim Rooney Karin Stein Laura Thomas Reid Wick Deborah Winograd, In Memory of Elaine & Clark Weissman

Supporters ($100 – $249) Airshow Mastering Anonymous (5) Art Menius Radio, In Memory of Chris Stracwitz Carey Avenia, In Memory of Gene Shay Lee and Claudia Barewin

Jim Bizer

Stephen Proudman

Brian Doucette

Kristine Bretall

Sarah Goslee Reed

Josh Dunson

Jeremy Butler

Mary Faith Rhoads-Lewis

Mark Fernandez

Lynn Cingari

Roaring Fork Sessions

David Finley

Mary Cliff

Gary Rosen

James Floyd

Stephanie Coronado

Jennifer Ross

Steven Foxbury

Bill Cutler

Tom Rush, In Memory of Gene Shay

Robin Gierer

Claire Diamond

Jim Schultz

Jeff Gotellitonthemt

Scott & Rosemary Duncan

Stephen Schwartz, In Honor of John O’Connor

Dennis Gredell

Ashley Shabankareh

Susan Hengelsberg

Lisa Fancher Deirdre Finnan Wanda Fischer, In Memory of Dick Pleasants and Bill Staines Five Head Entertainment Greggory Gehrig Scott Gerloff Eliza Gilkyson, In Memory of Jimmy LaFave Max Glenn Karen W Haggman

Douglas Shevlin Dudley Smith, In Memory of Gerry Smith Eric Steck Sue and Lester Reingold Fund Michael Surgalla, In Memory of Susan Tanner

Chuck Honnet Thea Hopkins Dave Humphreys Janet Eileen Irwin Larry Isberg Marty Kohn Michael Kornfeld

Ed Sweeney

Joan Kureczka

Liz Levitt Hirsch

Kendra Terry, In Memory of Michael A. Terry

Peter Lee

Mark Kaufman

The Bluegrass Situation

Christie Kelton

Monica Mansfield

Dorothy Thomas

Susan Kessell

Jonathan Mead

Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association

Adrian and Meredith Krygowski

Brant Miller

Clyde Tyndale

Kylee Lambert

Chuck Mitchell

Katherine Ungerer

Maggi Landau

Tisha Naipaul

Uptown Concerts, Inc.

Sara Leishman

Jimmy Joe Natoli

Michael W. Varner

Diane Lincoln

Nick Loss-Eaton Media

Marilyn Walker – Lilienthal Walker Fund

Kathryn Lorenzen

Jerod Rivers

Molly & Steve Wendland

Celene and Geof Lyon

Nicole Rochefort

Sammi and Alex Mallett

Worldstrings Promotion, In Honor of Manfred Maurenbrecher

Lisa Schwartz

Rodger William McBride Jr.

Mark Young

Rick Hesch, In Memory of Pete Seeger

Deana McCloud Tim McFadden Denis McGilvray James McGreevy Nancy Meis Bruce Newman Tracy Newman, In Memory of Clark Weissman Dobe Newton

Friends ($50 – $99) Rene Garzoria Alcocer Forrest Anderson Anonymous (2) Anonymous, In Memory of Dick Pleasants and Scott Alarik Anonymous, In Memory of Gregory Lehman

Lyzy Lusterman

Les Siemieniuk Mollie Stephens Guillermo Subauste Dave Sullivan Sandra Sutter Grace Tsao Trisha and John Tubbs Guy & Katie Webster, In Memory of Tupper Dooly Webster Tom West

William Barton

Kenny White

Betty J Berry

Caroline Randall Williams

Marian and Dennis Bires

Laurel Zydney

Enrique Chi

Fans ($1 – $49)

Regina and Paul Porzio

Laura D’Alisera, In Memory of Nanci Griffith

Amazon Smile

Andrew Potter

Barbara Denz

Gary Paczosa Muriel Palmer-Rhea Alan Perry Christopher Porter

Glenda Shelley, In Memory of Debby Schenk

Jean Hatfield

Carolyn Andre

Kris Angelis

Jennifer Thomas

Anonymous

Claire Von Gahlen

Anonymous, In Honor of Brandi WallerPace

Phil Ward, In Memory of Mark Humphreys

Joan Athey

Linda Yelnick, In Honor of Dan Ashley, FAI/Folk Radio Charts Recording Artist

Marnie Barrett Joanna Castillo Leah Cleary Steven Comeau Cindy Davis Elexa Dawson, In Honor of Shelley Morningsong Kelly Dougherty Susan Downman Deb Ewing Iona Fyfe Sara Gougeon Rob Hanning Beth and John Hatch Rachel Holmen Tim Hoops Steven Horner

Don Wise

Would You Like to Make a Contribution? Donate ONLINE at folk.org/donate Donate BY CHECK to the address below

FOR MORE DONOR OPTIONS CONTACT

Alex Mallett, Development & Partnership Director development@folk.org 816-221-3655 ext. 106

Contact Folk Alliance International 601 Avenida Cesar E. Chavez, Suite 100 Kansas City, MO 64108 816-221-3655 folk.org EIN 56-1698333

Our Funders J.B. Reynolds Foundation Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation

Catalina Maria Johnson Lily Joiner Bob Kaat-Wohlert Steve Katz Fred Knittel Marisa Kolka Mark E Levine Kandee Lewter Alison Loerke Marty Mcknew Mellberg Heather Miller Roger O’Meagher Brooke Ratliff Renata Raphael Robertson Carla Sciaky Scott Skeabeck LaWanda Smith Jack Spring Paul Stagani Scott Stanton JM Stevens Zachary Taylor, In Honor of Christopher Milan Devon Teran Gregory Thomas

Green Folk FAI is committed to recycling, wastediversion practices, and reducing its environmental impact at its office, conference, and all FAI-produced events. The print copy of this document is made from recycled paper and eucalyptus fiber, and is printed with soy ink. 26