Music is a community, not a commodity.
Artists Over Algorithms
A Kentucky nonprofit to help Kentucky artists, songwriters, producers, and music entrepreneurs turn talent into sustainable businesses.
Music is a community, not a commodity.
Who We Are
Respecting Artists as Creatives, and as Small Businesses
Amplify Artist Resource Fund exists to strengthen the creative economy of Kentucky by treating artists as small businesses. We provide the education, coaching, production support, performance opportunities, and industry connections artists need to build sustainable careers from home.
For generations, Kentucky's music has traveled farther than its artists' economic opportunity. Amplify is changing that pattern.
The Amplify Hub
Headquartered in downtown Prestonsburg at dedicated space adjacent to the restored Star City Strand — a working creative hub for workshops, coaching, and artist development along Country Music Highway 23. A second hub is in development in Lexington.
Board of Directors
Maggie Noelle
Trustee
Appalachian-born musician, official PRS Guitars Artist, and Magnolia Boulevard front-woman. Maggie brings her experience building an independent music career, touring nationally, and performing alongside acts like Blues Traveler and the North Mississippi Allstars. As a working artist, she is dedicated to fostering sustainable arts careers by championing accessible resources and support systems Kentucky creators need to thrive.
David T. Royse
Trustee
Professional mediator, veteran civil litigator, independent music producer, and Kentucky civic leader. David brings his experience representing the state's top equine, banking, utility, and healthcare industries, serving as a Special Justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court, and directing organizations like Commerce Lexington. He's dedicated to advancing the Commonwealth's creative economy by producing award-winning regional artists and building professional support ecosystems for musicians.
Jesse Wells
Trustee
Kentucky-born fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, and educator known for his deep roots in Appalachian music and work as a musician and producer with Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps. A lifelong student and teacher of traditional styles on a variety of instruments, Jesse shares his expertise as an instructor at Morehead State University’s Kentucky Center for Traditional Music, where he mentors the next generation of Appalachian musicians.
David Helmers
Executive Director
Entrepreneur, event producer, artist manager, former attorney, and statewide music industry advocate. David brings his experience building major Kentucky music events (including Railbird, Black Mountain Jamboree, and Sleeping in The Woods), developing venues, managing artists, and coordinating industry partners across the Commonwealth.
What We Do
Supporting Artists in Ways That Matter
Several interconnected services, delivered from the Hub and across the Commonwealth:
Education,Training & Business Coaching
Workshops, masterclasses, and cohort learning on contracts, booking, touring, release strategy, digital marketing, merchandise, and budgeting. One-on-one coaching, business planning, templates, and guidance about opportunities, contracts, and growth.
Production & Performance Support
Artist Resource Vouchers for recording, production, video, and marketing through approved vendors — plus paid performances, showcases, and regional/national market access.
Networking & Industry Connections
Real relationships with venues, festivals, studios, managers, promoters, academic programs, and industry leaders.
Wellness
Sustainable careers require sustainable people — including wellness programs, affordable health insurance, and recovery.
Housing
Sustainable careers require sustainable people — including emerging exploration of stable and affordable places to live and create.
Built to Grow
The same platform later powers artist pages — extending the incubator's support directly to the artists it serves.
Who We Serve
Four Doors Into the Ecosystem
For Artists
Whether you are just starting out or ready to scale, Amplify helps you build the business side of your music career. Tell us about yourself and your needs.
Take the Amplify Artist Survey →For Venues & Festivals
Partner with us to strengthen the artists who perform on your stages and create paid opportunities, showcases, and a stronger regional pipeline.
For Recording Studios
Join the approved vendor network and help artists complete professional, market-ready work through the Artist Resource Voucher program.
For Artist Support Businesses
Managers, promoters, educators, and service providers that collaborate with us to build a stronger ecosystem around Kentucky artists.
Proud to Partner With
Amplify supports the Kentucky music ecosystem through an artist-first approach. What this means is we understand that artists exist, grow and thrive in a healthy economic relationship that includes venues, festivals, management groups, recording studios videographers, graphic designers and a host of other businesses and individuals that are interconnected. Our support of artists, through your help, fuels the entire machine and supports the statewide industry.
Donor Partners
Amplify With Philanthropy
Donor support plays a critical role in the health and future of Kentucky's creative community. These donors have made philanthropic investments to amplify potential for Kentucky artists.
- Tallent Foundation
- The Rex Chapman Foundation
Donate
Build Sustainable Careers For Kentucky Artists
Your support fuels education, coaching, production vouchers, performance opportunities, and the Prestonsburg incubator so more artists can build sustainable careers from home in Kentucky.