Where Does My Membership Money Actually Go?

It’s one of the most common (and most important) questions we hear:
“What happens when I pay for my membership?”

We believe you deserve a clear answer. Unlike a traditional membership that just keeps the lights on, your dollars fuel new music.

The Cooperative Difference

In most arts organizations, membership dues are used to cover perks, receptions, or administrative overhead.

But in a cooperative, the model is different. Every dollar is funneled right back into the community — into composers, performers, educators, and the infrastructure that helps them thrive. Membership isn’t a transaction. It’s an investment in shared creation.

Where Your Membership Dollars Go

Here’s the breakdown of how we use each dollar you give: 

• Commissions & Artist Fees (42.1%)
  Direct payments to composers writing these new works.

• Professional Development (21.1%)
  Stipends for presenters, and open access for members to workshops, panels, and masterclasses.

• Community Platform & Tools (15.8%)
  Maintaining the digital platform (Hivebrite), project management (ClickUp), and website that connect us all.

• Publishing & Distribution (10.5%)
  Printing, shipping, and ensuring works are accessible in both digital and physical formats.

• Staff & Operations (10.5%)
  Fair wages for the dedicated team  who keep projects moving and support our members.

(Imagine this as a pie chart — each slice fueling part of the creative ecosystem.)

Why This Matters

Every membership has a direct, tangible impact. You’re not just paying “dues.” You’re funding new commissions, professional development, and a more equitable arts ecosystem.

Think of it this way:

• Jordan, the composer — receives a commission because your membership helps fund their project. Their piece will live on in classrooms, concert halls, and communities.
  Maya, the student — logs into the platform, downloads Jordan’s score, and performs it at her recital. She’s learning what it means to collaborate with living composers.

• Dr. Rivera, the professor — attends a professional development workshop supported by memberships. She brings those insights back to her curriculum, shaping the way future musicians are trained.

Each time you log into the platform, attend a workshop, or download a score, you’re participating in something your dollars helped create — access and action, working together.

The Impact of Just 10 Memberships

Here’s one concrete example: it takes just 10 memberships to cover the commissioning fee for a brand-new solo work.

That means a handful of people — maybe you and nine others — can make it possible for a composer like Alex to write a new piece. Once completed, that piece is added to the MiniWorks Library, where performers like Maya (a clarinet student searching for fresh repertoire) can study, play, and share it with audiences.

Your membership literally puts new music into the world, shared by a community of musicians and supporters like you. 

Your Membership = Your Impact

At $18.75 a month, your membership doesn’t just buy access.
It fuels creation. It supports artists. It builds community.

And most importantly: it ensures that music that would not exist otherwise comes to life — because of you.

‘Join today and take your place in the cooperative — together, we turn membership into music.