Third Way Cultural Alliance connects significant musical projects with communities for lasting social impact.
To preserve the future of the Album as Art, we connect contemporary musicians with resources and relationships in support of culturally relevant projects that facilitate artists’ creative visions in meaningfully and lasting ways.
To realize our mission, Third Way Cultural Alliance pursues three discrete but related initiatives:
Curation
Recognizing the limitations of the commercial market and gaps in support from traditional non-profit networks, TWCA curates culturally significant musical projects by facilitating funding and providing artists with logistical support for albums and related creative works including film, video, and electronic media. The goals of the curation initiative are to develop creative, socially impactful music projects, document the legacies of creative musicians, and preserve the album as a cultural and social force.
Community
Across the world organizations serve their communities in a variety of ways. Some are based on immediate need - advocating for the houseless, feeding people, providing mental health services are a few examples. Others have a larger, longer term initiative, such as developing solutions for blighted communities, programs for incarcerated individuals, and addressing the effects of climate change. What these organizations share is the desire and need to bring communities together; insuring that all are vested in the outcome. Third Way delivers musical experiences that draw community members together, making the experience more memorable.
Education
Navigating the complex and everchanging landscape of the music industry can be daunting. TWCA fosters educational resources and artistic communities to provide musicians with frameworks for sustainable artistry in the context of contemporary cultural and economic circumstances. TWCA provides artists access to industry expertise, consultants, professional networks, and artistic communities of practice. The goals of the education initiative are to empower musicians to fully realize their visions and to support economically, emotionally, and practically sustainable artistic lives.
“When I first arrived in the music business, a top exec told me ‘the album will be dead’. My response of ‘when?’ was answered with laughter and a schooling on iTunes and the way the business works. 17 years later and the album is still with us, and I’m glad it is … but today’s market of UGC and AI may finally destroy it.”
“…and all of a sudden, you're desperate for making sense out of this life…And that’s when art’s not a luxury, it’s actually sustenance… We need it” (Ethan Hawke)
The Third Way Cultural Alliance includes four seasoned professionals with years of experience and a profound understanding of the challenges artists face. From the boardroom to the classroom, from the studio to the stage, from the office to the shipping floor: their broad knowledge of the industry prepares them for this unique new endeavor.
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Louis Marks
With 45 years of independent business experience, Marks brings a persistent spirit of advocacy to all that he does. Marks has led independent label Ropeadope since 2006, curating an historically important collection of contemporary music.
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Joe PIgnato
Hailed by Tape Op as a “musician, educator, and music business visionary,” Pignato regularly consults organizations in the areas of music, music technology, and music education. He has held management positions at leading music companies, including N2K Incorporated, BMG Classics, RCA Victor, ECM Records, CMP Records, and Latin Percussion.
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Fabian Brown
Musician, entrepreneur, educator, and community advocate, Fabian Brown has gained a wide range of experience in his 20 years in music.
Fabian’s passion for lifting up artists and community is evident in all of his roles, from VP at Ropeadope to co-founding the Non-Profit organization Heights In progress.