The Color Me Country Foundation (CMCF) believes in supporting a generation of artists that are equipped with knowledge and financial resources who can then in turn support themselves. Founded by me, Rissi Palmer, an independent singer/songwriter, host of Color Me Country Radio on Apple Music, and subject of a recent PBS American Masters documentary, Rissi Palmer: Still Here.
The CMCF is an incubator and one stop resource for information and opportunity for independent artists through our two major programs: The Color Me Country Artist Fund (CMCAF) and Hidden Gems.
Through the CMCAF, we seek to level the financial playing field for artists of color pursuing careers in Country/Americana/Roots music. Our application process is no frills: apply and you are granted. Since its inception in 2021, we have raised over $100k, given over 65 grants, and have taken 12 BIPOC artists on an historic, all expenses paid trip to London to perform at the Long Road Festival on the Color Me Country Takeover Stage in 2022, 2023, and soon, 2024. It is our goal to make all programming at the foundation free through this fund.
Hidden Gems is restorative justice through music. This program seeks to identify marginalized and forgotten artists of the past, trace and assist them or their families with claiming any lost royalties, and make the music available to a new generation of fans.