Become a Friend of Folkways
Friends of Folkways are key stakeholders in the label, helping us sustain our non-profit mission. As a Friend of Folkways, you gain access to our entire collection, streaming from our website while supporting the legacy of our artists directly. Smithsonian Folkways is more than just a record label; we are driven by our mission of preserving cultural heritage and amplifying the voices of all people, which means working with communities and artists from across the globe. From the sounds of the office to the songs of whales, from Pete Seeger to Woody Guthrie to Lucinda Williams and beyond: the Folkways catalog is like no other. Smithsonian Folkways is one of the few non-profit labels in operation today. Our operations are funded through record sales and contributions by fans like yourself, and not with federal funds. When we use the phrase “Music of the people, by the people, for the people,” we really mean it. Raise your voice with ours and become a Friend of Folkways today!
It’s easy to become a Friend of Folkways: just sign up for one of our monthly donation options. The minimum contribution is $5 per month, but you can choose to give more (for example, $5, $20, $50, $100, or any other amount you prefer). As a thank you, subscribers gain unlimited access to stream all of the available titles in the Smithsonian Folkways catalog from our website (within the US only at this time), including all its subsidiary labels such as Arhoolie, Folk-Legacy, Paredon, and more. A portion of that monthly donation will then be paid out directly to our artists as royalties. Enjoy discovering not only a new favorite song, but entire worlds of music and sound, right at your fingertips. From bluegrass to gamelan to jigs to poetry, the catalog offers countless avenues of exploration. As an added bonus, the full amount of your contribution is tax-deductible. Read our Terms and Conditions to learn more.
Smithsonian Folkways is committed to supporting new artists, as well as highlighting historical works that illuminate the past and help us understand the complicated present. We offer the liner notes for every album as a free resource to the public, along with lesson plans and other tools for educators. Our Friends of Folkways help us maintain our independence and our unique position as a mission driven record label, which is key to the Folkways ethos since Moses Asch founded the label in 1948.
Become a Friend of Folkways today!
Choose a monthly donation amount
Smithsonian Folkways receives no operational support from Federal funding. We support our work primarily through the sales of sound recordings and with contributions from our members and donors.
All Friends of Folkways donations are 100% tax deductible.
- Why should I become a member?
- How does streaming work?
- How do I cancel?
By enrolling in Friends of Folkways, you acknowledge and agree that these terms and conditions are a binding agreement between you and Smithsonian Folkways. Accordingly, please review this agreement carefully.