Program Details
On the heels of a successful 2022 program whose participants performed for Motown legends and local dignitaries at the opening of the Motown Museum’s Rocket Plaza, Hitsville NEXT opens its doors to 10-12 songwriters between the ages of 14 to 18, who will have the opportunity to engage deeply in lyric development, music production, and authentic expression, grounded in the legacy of Motown.
Participants will explore the process and tradition of songwriting at Motown as well as the changes and developments in popular music in the decades since Hitsville USA was founded in 1959. Songwriters will share ideas, receive feedback, and collaborate with each other and teaching artists in small group sessions, in clinics with current recording artists and legendary Motown Alumni. The young artists will have the opportunity to record their original music with award-winning sound engineers in the Elaine and Leo Stern Foundation Recording Studio in Hitsville NEXT. The conclusion of the two-week program will feature each independent artist in a showcase of original material generated in the workshop.
ELIGIBILITY
- Open to youth ages 13-18 years old
- Songwriters with at least 1-2 years of experience
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Deadline: June 1st
Application Checklist
- Complete the online application form using Acceptd
Your application must include:
- Audition video recording of an original track
- PDF of the original lyrics from your track
- 1-minute personal statement video that shares with us who you are as an artist, what your goals are as a songwriter, and why you desire admission into the Lyric Project
- Most recent school report card that shows your name, grade and school
ADMISSION NOTIFICATION
Application Deadline for all materials to be submitted is June 1st.
Review, admission, and notification for applications will be on a rolling basis. Space is limited. Admissions decisions will not be given by phone.
FAQs
Will Motown Museum require students to have obtained a COVID vaccine in order to participate in programs?
Motown Museum programs are not currently restricted to those who have been vaccinated. Motown Museum continues to monitor the situation and will keep students informed of any changes to requirements. Note that regardless of vaccination status, students should anticipate that there will continue to be COVID-19 related restrictions and students will be required to adhere to all rules and regulations throughout their program.
How will Lyric Project activities be adapted to comply with local guidance on COVID-19?
All activities will follow local social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines and CDC recommendations. For more information visit Motown Museum’s Safety Measures page.
I am under the age of 13 or over the age of 18, can I participate?
The curriculum framework for the workshop is research-based and developmentally appropriate and is therefore only open to young adults aged 13-18 during the time of the workshop. Youth who are younger are encouraged to check out our Spark Summer Camp!
What is the cost to participate?
This online program is available at no cost to participate thanks to the generous support of the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.