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The Circle of One Fund

“The Circle of One Fund builds on success and will ensure that new generations of performers and audiences will be able to experience the work of the most talented and creative new songwriters.”

Please help continue to support great, original songs and the artists who make them! Be a part of tomorrows' rising stars. Your donation will go to help supporting our efforts to provide young songwriters with a platform to perform their work and a yearly stipend granted to an outstanding young songwriter to help them start their careers in the music industry.

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Our Mission

The Mission of the Circle of One Fund is to support and sustain the vitality and creativity of America’s songwriting community by investing in the talent of young songwriters and creating pathways to launch their success.  Enabling the most talented young songwriters to showcase, share and thrive in their field is vital to the success of the music industry.

The Circle of One Fund responds to the realities of a business that is mobilizing to survive a complete transformation.  The role of Internet music streaming companies has completely changed the way music is accessed and purchased. A result of this change has been a paradigm shift in the way songwriters are compensated for their work – leaving few options for new and young songwriters to break into and sustain a life in the business.

The Circle of One Fund is born of and linked to the legendary work of the New York Songwriters Circle.  For over thirty years the New York Songwriters Circle has provided a platform, using monthly “in the round” listening showcases and engaging the industry’s top entertainment talent, for bringing great original songs to the public, highlighting outstanding new songwriters and introducing tomorrow’s greatest stars.

The vision of the Not-for-Profit Circle of One Fund is to extend the work of the New York Songwriter’s Circle — offering stipends to the most talented young songwriters to focus on and continue their work.  In the footsteps of initiatives such as the MacArthur Genius Awards, these stipends are an investment in the talent and potential of young writers and in securing the foundation of the industry.

The Circle of One Fund will be working to secure funding for the stipends over the next few months.

Tina Shafer

Singer/Songwriter and Founder of NYSC

Tina Shafer is the creator of the Circle of One Fund. She has led the work of the New York Songwriter’s Circle for over thirty years. As a songwriter who has sold over 33 million records working with artists including Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Donna Summers and many others. Tina understands what needs to be done to invigorate a business that has seen monumental change.