Blake Goodwin
Fretmonkey Founder and Studio Owner
Fretmonkey Waymaker Foundation
Mission Statement
The Fretmonkey Waymaker Foundation supports a community space that empowers musicians, performing artists, and budding industry professionals through a safety net of critical assistance including health, wellness, and faith-based initiatives that directly influence their success and the arts and entertainment community at-large.
Since its inception in 2015, Fretmonkey has been a leader among the music community both in the US and abroad. What started as a home recording studio in 2015 in Conway, Arkansas quickly morphed into an international record label that launched in early 2016. Since those early days, we have networked around the world to build an international network of musicians and music/gear manufacturers that work side-by-side for the greater good. The 2019 expansion of the Fretmonkey Studio to a Conway downtown storefront has allowed us to use our international music brand to grow and identify local talent... and it has worked! Now with the Conway Chamber of Commerce conducting long-range strategic planning for arts, entertainment, and culture development, it is crystal clear that Conway is situated to become a flourishing arts and entertainment city; however, we must prepare our citizens and provide local artists and budding industry professionals the tools necessary to be successful yet face the challenges (and struggles) that are often pervasive in the industry.
During the pandemic, our team has been afforded much-needed time to reflect on our God-given purpose in the music industry. One of the most compelling take-aways from our 5 years in the industry is the sheer hopelessness that many musicians and performing artists we work with express on a daily basis. Some struggle with drug addiction – historically, a pervasive problem found across the music industry. Others struggle with depression and mental health issues including suicidal thoughts. Regardless of issue, there is often a common denominator among them that gets very little attention– many are Godless. They do not know Jesus is a “Waymaker”… that is, he is a miracle worker, a promise keeper, and a light in the darkness (ISAIAH 42:16).
We are teaming up with some of the best industry professionals and music manufacturers to participate in a variety of ways including artist development services, music publishing and licensing services, website and album graphic design, and a suite of other development programs. We are also partnering with several music industry businesses in Nashville, and Conway community churches and non-profit businesses like Deliver Hope. We are thrilled to be working with national organizations like the I’ll Fly Away Foundation to offer songwriting workshops for all ages and are currently coordinating services with the Grammy's Musicares Foundation to offer addiction recovery services to local artists FREE OF CHARGE. Other partners include the regional office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to offer mental health services to participants wanting those services.
We hope to be up and running by early 2021. However, we need your help! We are fundraising $50,000, the amount needed to launch services. Every single dollar counts. If you are unable to financially give, we greatly appreciate in-kind donations consisting of office furniture, coffee bar, artsy lounge/living room furniture, paint and painters, tech people, etc. You name it, we need it! And if you are a local business and would like to partner with us or contribute your own business services, PLEASE contact us! Most importantly, please pray for us as we embark on this path to prepare Conway's talent to engage in the arts and entertainment industry as well as provide critical assistance to meet them where they are at in life.
Blake