Heartstrings Collective was founded in 2026, but the reason behind it goes back further than that.
It started with watching someone close to us, a songwriter, a musician, someone with real talent and a genuine drive to build a career from it, navigate an industry that seemed designed to extract from artists rather than support them.
What became clear was that this was not one person’s experience. It was the experience of most artists, most of the time. And the people it hit hardest were those who had the least access to begin with.
Heartstrings Collective exists because we believe that should change. We are at the beginning of this work. The programs are being built, the community is forming, and the resources are being put in place.
We are not waiting until everything is perfect to start, because artists are not waiting either. If you are reading this as someone who wants to support that work, or as an artist who has been looking for exactly this kind of community, you are in the right place.
Becky is a social impact entrepreneur and workforce development professional whose passion lives at the intersection of music, community, and opportunity.
She has dedicated her career to reshaping the music industry as a vehicle for systemic change; creating pathways for artists and communities alike. With a background in social work, public health, fundraising, and project management, she brings a rare combination of heart and strategy to everything she builds. Her deepest conviction: that music is more than art, it is a powerful force for healing, connection, culture change and equity.
Mike Doughty brings nearly four decades of executive leadership, specializing in cultural impact and scalability. A veteran producer, journalist, publicist, and strategist, Mike has managed a portfolio of hundreds of companies and brands, ranging from major productions to government tourism contracts.
He designs the strategic infrastructure that transforms creative vision into sustainable global assets. Operating with both artistic ambition and commercial precision, Mike leverages deep expertise in cross-border diplomacy and stakeholder alignment to drive impactful missions across the globe.
Dr. JR Vance spent more than three decades building and leading successful healthcare organizations, earning a reputation for strategic leadership, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of others. As a physician, college professor, entrepreneur, and business owner, he developed multidisciplinary practices, educated future healthcare professionals in human anatomy and physiology, mentored professionals, and built organizations founded on integrity, accountability, and service.
Today the Nashville entrepreneur, educator, and business leader is defined by one principle: helping people reach their highest potential in the entertainment industry. Drawing upon decades of executive experience across healthcare, higher education, and entrepreneurship, Dr. Vance brings a unique combination of operational expertise, strategic vision, financial stewardship, and servant leadership.
The modern music industry expects artists to operate as independent entrepreneurs, managing their own marketing, distribution, royalties, and intellectual property. But there is no accessible, standardized pathway for most artists to learn how to do this.
The result is a system where artists create enormous cultural and economic value while remaining financially vulnerable, often without ownership of their own work, and largely excluded from the long-term benefits of what they help build.
These challenges fall hardest on women, artists of color, and those from low-income or first-generation backgrounds. The communities whose creativity shapes the culture most are the ones the system supports the least.
Advancing access, equity, and economic opportunity through music, arts, and creative education. 501(c)(3) nonprofit, est. 2026.
© 2026 Heartstrings Collective, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
heartstringscollectiveincorp.org
