This Is Noteworthy is a 501(c)(3) organization started in 2011 in Charleston, SC (originally called The Music Initiative) as a digital magazine and creator of video content, with the goal to promote independent musicians, venues, and organizations using music or film to elevate their communities.
The initial volunteer staff was 40 young professionals and college students from all over the United States, interested in furthering their skills and talents with real world experience in writing, designing, storyboarding, filming, and producing in a way that celebrated the artistic process.
Over the past decade, This Is Noteworthy added programs requested by the community, including:
- a print magazine called Found: Music Uncovered
- a 4-month SEC tailgating tour featuring music and interviews, including film-making and songwriting inspired by the tour
- production of an international music performance series in a 4-year collaboration with BalconyTV, owned by The Orchard/Sony
- 8 seasons of Eclectic Evenings, a music performance TV show with a mural art component, on the regional Comcast network, then at The Royal American music venue for Seasons 3-8
- a Colorado Spokesbuzz partnership pairing musicians from different cities for collaboration and creation, as well as delivery of arts entrepreneurship and creative culture workshops
- a live variety show in Charleston called Home for the Holidays
- a 5-year booking collaboration with ABC to employ and feature musicians on Lowcountry Live.
- a 4-year high school music industry mentorship program with volunteer mentors serving students from very disparate high schools, meeting once a week to develop real-world community- and team-building skills creating music magazines, television episodes, and mini-documentaries
- original live music programming for 7 years of the Cooper River Bridge Run (until the pandemic), named by USA Today as one of the Top 10 running races in the nation because of the music
- 2 Pandemic Benefits Livestreams for The Royal American & Musicians of Color.
- a filmed concert series collaboration with Nashville's WMOT, The Caverns &BriteHeart focusing on unity and voting.
Additionally,
In 2014, This Is Noteworthy started CHARM (Charleston Health Alliance for Regional Musicians) to subsidize healthcare and health insurance premiums for touring musicians and people in the music industry.
This Is Noteworthy programming has cumulatively created 720 jobs, featured 4540 musicians, and worked with 210 college students and 70 high school students. It currently operates in 2 states (SC and TN) in a 360 model where each component serves and is served by the other components.
As we celebrate the first decade of This Is Noteworthy, we aim to expand its life-affirming programs and grow its impact significantly over the next 3 years, ensuring the legacy of elevating communities through the arts for decades to come.
2021 welcomes program availability to Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. 2022 leans into Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, & Virginia. 2023 rounds out with Kentucky, Alabama, Ohio, Florida, & DC.
Partners and Board of Directors
Shelli Quenga, Palmetto Project
Kayla Bonezzi, First Citizens Bank
Robert Berman & Sandra Kemper, PSG
Heather McDonald, College of Charleston
John Kenney, The Royal American
Jody Graham, Francesca's
Brian Graham, Apple
Dr. Melvin Brown, Trident
Heather Bainbridge
Robert Graves
Justin Osborne, SUSTO