The Atmospheric Music Alliance (AMA) is a program of StretchMetal, the first nonprofit arts service organization dedicated exclusively to supporting ambient music and the artists who create it. Founded in Chicago and supporting programs across the country, AMA expands public engagement with ambient music through live performances, educational programs, artist grants, publishing, and long-term documentation.

What Your Support Makes Possible

300+ Ambient Artists Supported
Through performances, grants, publishing, educational programs, and community partnerships, AMA has supported more than 300 ambient artists since 2023.

115 Public Performances
AMA has presented more than 115 concerts, listening events, and public programs, creating spaces where artists and audiences can gather through attentive listening.

$20,000+ Paid Directly to Artists
From artist honoraria to grant funding, AMA has distributed more than $20,000 directly to artists, helping sustain creative practice and support new work.

Growing Direct Support for Artists

AMA is proud to operate one of the only grant programs dedicated exclusively to ambient artists. After awarding $2,400 in grants in 2025, we're expanding the program to provide $5,400 in artist grants in 2026, investing directly in new creative work.

Education & Artist Resources
AMA provides workshops, artist talks, professional development, publishing opportunities, and community gatherings that help artists build skills, connect with peers, and sustain their careers.

Preserving the History of Ambient Music
Through the Chicago Ambient Archive and related documentation projects, AMA is recording artist conversations, preserving community histories, and building a lasting public archive of contemporary ambient music.

Questions about reserve giving, major gifts, planned giving, or supporting a specific AMA program: Gray Schiller, Executive Director, gray@stretchmetal.org

What is Ambient Music?

Ambient music is a genre of music that creates a sense of atmosphere. Just as ambient lighting affects how we feel in a space, ambient music uses sound to shape an environment or accompany everyday life. Rather than following traditional song structures, it often explores slowly evolving sounds, sustained tones, and found sounds. Ambient music invites listeners to slow down, reflect, and engage more deeply with the world around them.

Today, ambient music can be heard almost everywhere, from concert halls and listening rooms to film and television, museums, video games, wellness spaces, public art installations, and everyday environment.

Atmospheric Music Alliance Reserve Fund

Building a Stronger Foundation for Ambient Music and Artists