Tarpon Cellars Launches Nonprofit to Support Musicians Through Spotify
Let It Rock Foundation Provides Relief for Musicians Facing Adversity During COVID-19
NAPA, Calif. Tarpon Cellars, a Napa-based wine label focused on bringing people together through music, art and philanthropy, launches the Let It Rock Foundation. Leveraging Spotify’s Artist Fundraising Pick platform, the organization supports touring bands and musicians who have been affected by COVID-19, with future plans to expand efforts to fund music education.
Jeremy Carter and Parrish Owens, co-founders of Tarpon Cellars, have pledged 20 percent of all online wine sales through at least June 2020 to the Foundation.
“Live music is the ultimate connector, and while we can’t physically bring people together at the current time, I want to make sure that we are there for the artists who provide the music that has always been here for us,” shares Jeremy Carter, founder and winemaker for Tarpon Cellars. “A lot of these artists provide the soundtrack to not only my work, but my life. It’s the least we can do to help our friends in an unprecedented time.”
Spotify recently announced Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief and its Artist Fundraising Pick, which allows musicians to raise funds for themselves, their crews or a Spotify-vetted music relief initiative of their choice. Spotify has pledged to match donations via this project up to $10 million. Initially, the Let It Rock Foundation will donate funds raised to SUSTO, Futurebirds, Heartless Bastards, and Illiterate Light via the bands’ Spotify Artist Fundraising Pick.
“Throughout history, music has served as a source of comfort, connection and joy during times of uncertainty,” said Brian Berner, Head of North America Advertising Sales at Spotify. “We’re happy to be able to support artists during this time with our COVID-19 Music Relief project and are thankful to the Let It Rock Foundation for joining us in our mission.”
Future plans for the Let It Rock Foundation include an exclusive vinyl compilation record of songs from the artists that the Foundation supports. The record will include live recordings, along with previously unreleased songs. All of the proceeds from the sales of the record will go to the bands. The Foundation also plans to shift its focus to supporting music education after the COVID-19 crisis is over.
To launch fundraising efforts, Carter and members of the participating bands have hosted interactive Instagram Live chats on Tarpon Cellars’ channel, featuring live performances and wine tastings. To date, the Foundation has raised more than $2,000.
