Publication Subventions Grants and Subventions

Publication subventions are granted to individuals and institutions for any topics within music studies. The endowment supporting general music studies publications was established through the generous bequests of Manfred Bukofzer, Lloyd Hibberd, Otto Kinkeldey, Dragan Plamenac, and Gustave Reese. Publication subventions were later supported by additional funding through the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, and the generous contributions of many individual donors.

Now, the American Musicological Society grants approximately $80,000 each year to help with expenses involved in the publication of works of musical scholarship, including books, essay collections, articles, chapters in essay collections, special issues of journals, and works in non-print media.

Application deadlines are in February and August each year. The next deadline to apply is 17 August 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET.

Individual Applications

Individual authors or editors may apply for assistance to defray costs associated with the preparation of works on music studies that are slated for publication. Examples include costs related to illustrations, musical examples, facsimiles, accompanying audio or video examples, permissions, indexing, translations, and copy-editing.

Proposals from scholars at all stages of their careers are welcome. Projects that make use of newer technologies are also encouraged.

Eligibility:

• Individual applicants must be members of the AMS.
• Applications for any amount up to $2,500 will receive consideration.
• Individual applicants cannot have received an individual subvention within the last three (3) years.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recipients of subventions are requested to forward a copy of the final product (book, article, resource) upon publication. All awards must be claimed within eighteen months of the granting of the subvention. The claiming of awards may require the submission of receipts, invoices, and other documentation.

Required Materials:

• A short abstract (1,000 words maximum) that describes the project and its contribution to musical scholarship.
• A copy of your draft publication, regardless of format (book manuscript, article draft, digital resource, CD, multimedia application, etc.). Please indicate the date and version (if applicable) on your draft.
• A copy of the contract or letter of agreement that demonstrates final acceptance for publication or distribution. Include any clauses that stipulate which expenses are the author’s/creator’s responsibility.
• A budget (itemized list of expenses) describing how the subvention would be used.
  • Optional: copies of invoices or receipts to support the proposed budget. (Consolidate multiple files into one.)
• Copies of the readers’ reports and author’s responses with names redacted. Include the dates the reports were written. (Consolidate multiple files into one.) If submitting an application for a project that does not have readers’ reports, consult the AMS office for guidance.

Institutional Applications

Institutional subventions are available to members of the Coalition of Music Organizations and are intended to support the publication of works on music by reducing the retail price of the book or resource, defraying production costs, or increasing accessibility.

Eligibility:

• Institutional applicants must be members of the Coalition of Music Organizations.
• Applications for any amount up to $4,000 will receive consideration.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recipients of subventions are requested to forward a copy of the final product (book, article, resource) upon publication. All awards must be claimed within eighteen months of the granting of the subvention. The claiming of awards may require the submission of receipts, invoices, and other documentation.

Required Materials:

• The entire manuscript or resource (in electronic form), including its date or version (if applicable).
• Copies of the readers’ reports and author’s responses with names redacted. Include the dates the reports were written. (Consolidate multiple files into one.) If the project does not have readers’ reports, consult the AMS office for guidance.
• A detailed financial statement, indicating:
  • A breakdown of the costs of publication (include details such as projected print run, licensing expenses, and other expenses associated with the project).
  • The amount requested from the AMS as a subvention.
  • The impact the subvention will have on the retail price of the book or resource, cost of production, or potential audience.