The NAMM Foundation scholarships are awards offered by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) through its Foundation to support students and professionals pursuing careers in the music products industry. Programs include the Lamond GenNext Award ($750), the Bernice Ash Memorial Award ($5,000), the Women of NAMM Scholarship ($1,500), and the NAMM Foundation-CMS Faculty Fellows Award ($500). The Foundation also distributes music program and research grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to organizations.
How NAMM Foundation Scholarships Work
The NAMM Foundation administers several scholarship and award programs designed to support career mobility in the music products industry. Each program targets a specific career stage, from college students to mid-career professionals.
Lamond GenNext Award
The Lamond GenNext Award supports students enrolled in two- or four-year college, university, or technical programs who are preparing for a career in the music, sound, and entertainment technology industry. Recipients can also qualify if they have graduated within the past two years. The award provides a $750 travel stipend to attend The NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. Recipients participate in professional development sessions, networking events, and have access to the tradeshow floor to explore music products, pro audio, and live event technology exhibits.
Bernice Ash Memorial Award
The Bernice Ash Memorial Award provides mid-career professionals employed by a NAMM member company with a $5,000 award to use toward professional development. Recipients also receive an optional $750 travel stipend to attend The NAMM Show and a one-year mentorship through the NAMM Young Professionals organization. This award targets individuals who have already established themselves in the industry and are seeking to advance their careers.
Women of NAMM (WoN) NAMM Show Scholarship
The WoN Scholarship supports women who have at least three years of experience working in the music products industry and seek to expand their leadership and professional competencies. Up to three scholarships are awarded, each providing a one-time stipend of $1,500 to support attendance at The NAMM Show. Priority is given to women who have not previously attended a NAMM Show. Recipients must participate in NAMM Idea Center sessions, NAMM U Breakfast Sessions, three hours of job shadowing with WoN-affiliated leaders, and a year-long mentorship program.
NAMM Foundation-CMS Faculty Fellows Award
This program supports college and university music faculty who develop curricula related to business leadership and innovation in music, pro-audio, and event technology. Selected faculty receive a $500 travel stipend to attend The NAMM Show, a complimentary NAMM Membership, and a show badge.
NAMM Foundation Grants
Beyond individual scholarships, the Foundation distributes music program and research grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to organizations over a 12-month grant period. These grants support music education programs, research initiatives, and general operating support for music-related organizations.
Eligibility
- For student awards: enrollment in a two- or four-year college, university, or technical program (or graduation within the past two years)
- For professional awards: employment by a NAMM member company
- For WoN Scholarship: at least three years of industry experience and NAMM member company affiliation
- Application deadlines typically fall in September, with notifications in October
- The NAMM Show takes place annually in January in Anaheim, California
Real-World Example
A junior studying music business at a US university could apply for the Lamond GenNext Award in September. If selected, they would receive a $750 travel stipend to attend The NAMM Show in Anaheim in January 2026. At the show, they would attend GenNext professional development sessions, network with industry professionals from companies like Fender, Yamaha, and Sweetwater, and explore the tradeshow floor. This exposure could lead to internship or job offers from NAMM member companies, making the $750 stipend a small investment with potentially large career returns.
A woman with five years of experience working at a music retail store owned by a NAMM member could apply for the WoN Scholarship. If selected, she would receive $1,500 to attend The NAMM Show, where she would job-shadow women leaders in the industry, attend NAMM U Breakfast Sessions, and participate in a year-long mentorship program. This experience could position her for a management role or ownership opportunity within the music products industry.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The NAMM Foundation scholarships are not traditional music performance awards. They target the business and technology side of the music industry. If you are a musician who wants to work in music retail, distribution, manufacturing, or pro audio, these scholarships provide direct access to the industry's largest trade show and networking event.
The NAMM Show hosts more than 100,000 attendees from 120 countries and features 7,000 brands across music products, pro audio, and event technology. Attending as a GenNext or WoN scholar puts you in front of hiring managers from major companies. The Bernice Ash Memorial Award's $5,000 can fund certifications, courses, or conferences that advance your career beyond the NAMM Show itself.
Apply early. Most programs close applications in September, with notifications in October. You need to be a NAMM member or affiliated with a member company for most programs, so check whether your employer or school has NAMM membership before applying.
Eligibility Criteria (plain terms)
Each NAMM Foundation scholarship program has specific eligibility requirements:
Lamond GenNext Award ($750 travel stipend):
- Must be enrolled for the Fall 2026 semester at a two- or four-year college, university, or technical program in music (education, performance, business), sound, or event technology
- Must be a sophomore, junior, senior, graduate student, or recent graduate within the last two years
- Must have or had an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Preparing for a career in the music, sound, or entertainment technology industry
- This is a one-time award. Past winners cannot reapply
- Required materials: resume, transcripts from two most recent semesters, two letters of recommendation (one from a faculty member), and a short essay or 3-minute video
Bernice Ash Memorial Award ($5,000):
- Must be a mid-career professional employed by a NAMM member company
- Awardees aged 40 or under also receive a one-year mentorship through NAMM Young Professionals
- Requires nomination by a NAMM member company
Women of NAMM (WoN) Scholarship ($1,500):
- Must be a woman with at least three years of experience working in the music products industry
- Must be affiliated with a NAMM member company
- Priority given to women who have not previously attended a NAMM Show
- Up to three scholarships awarded per year
- Recipients must participate in NAMM Idea Center sessions, NAMM U Breakfast Sessions, three hours of job shadowing, and a year-long mentorship program
NAMM Foundation-CMS Faculty Fellows Award ($500):
- Must be a college or university music faculty member
- Must develop curricula related to business leadership and innovation in music, pro-audio, or event technology
- Committed to helping students pursue careers in music
Deadlines
The 2026-2027 application cycle timeline:
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| April 6, 2026 | Applications and nominations open |
| June 30, 2026 | Bernice Ash Memorial Award nominations close |
| September 9, 2026 | Lamond GenNext Award and Bernice Ash applications close |
| October 5, 2026 | Award notifications for all programs |
| January 26-30, 2027 | The NAMM Show in Anaheim, California |
| February 8, 2027 | Report deadline for award recipients |
Applications typically open in April each year and close in September, with notifications in October. The NAMM Show takes place annually in January in Anaheim, California.
Past Recipients
2026 Lamond GenNext Award:
- Nearly 150 recipients were recognized
- The award is named in honor of NAMM President Emeritus Joe Lamond, who led NAMM from 2001 to 2023
- Supported by Dinah Gretsch and the Mrs. G's Music Foundation
2025 Lamond GenNext Award recipients (featured):
- Margo Neth (flutist)
- Clayton Gaskamp (vocalist)
- La'akea Garcia (percussionist)
- Nearly 150 total scholarship recipients
The NAMM Foundation does not publish a full public list of all Bernice Ash Memorial Award or WoN Scholarship recipients. Contact the NAMM Foundation at info@nammfoundation.org for information about specific award winners.
Videos
Related Opportunities
- Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
- Music Schools Directory to find music business and technology programs
- Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your music earnings
- Sync Licensing Directory for opportunities in music licensing
- Visit the NAMM Foundation for official scholarship details and application portals
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