New local nonprofit empowers San Diego artists with affordable studios and industry mentorship

Dedicated to enriching the local music culture, The Music Company, a 501c3 nonprofit music studio located in Pacific Beach, provides a broad spectrum of innovative programs and services tailored to empower emerging talents and foster a robust community of independent artists. With affordable access to top-notch recording and rehearsal spaces, musicians of all genres can find professional-quality resources designed to support artists at every career stage, facilitating easier creation, refinement, and distribution of their music.

“The Music Company was inspired by my lifelong love of music, art, and community, combined with a desire to give back,” says TMC Founder and Executive Director Ted Pawela, who launched the nonprofit with his son Jack, a fellow musician and tech expert. “As someone who’s balanced a career in engineering and business with creative pursuits like playing guitar, painting, and surfing, I’ve always valued mentorship,” adds Pawela. “Having the right mentors accelerated my own career, and I wanted to offer that same kind of support and guidance to others. Musicians today face unique challenges — they must be both artists and entrepreneurs, often without access to business experience or resources. I saw an opportunity to bring my background in building companies into the music world to help artists bridge that gap.”

In addition to world-class facilities, TMC provides an array of educational workshops covering essential topics such as music production, songwriting, marketing, and music business management. “Our educational workshops are led by professionals and creatives from within San Diego’s vibrant music community — people who bring both knowledge and firsthand expertise. For example, a recent songwriting workshop was led by Patricio Pickslay, president of Pacific Records and an artist himself,” says Pawela.

TMC is also passionate about creating original content that showcases local talent and facilitates connections. “Our productions — Beach Break Sessions, Audio Espresso, and our video podcast — are designed to provide artists with meaningful opportunities to share their work, grow their audience, and engage with the broader community through The Music Company YouTube channel,” he adds. 

To expedite its growth, TMC has expanded its winter programs and launched a multi-faceted fundraising campaign. As part of this initiative, TMC’s Music Matters benefit concert will take place on March 15 in The Barrel Room at AleSmith Brewing. “We’ll be featuring three talented local artists, who will be revealed one by one over the next several weeks, and a silent auction with some great items from iconic music brands as well as many local businesses,” says Pawela. 

For tickets as well as sponsorship and donor opportunities, please visit musicmatters.tmcmusic.org. tmcmusic.org