The B.A.K Sandbox is an initiative* led by Big.Ass.Kids to provide resources to music professionals who have been impacted by the recent industry layoffs, helping them re-establish their career.
Approximately 100,000 music, music/tech, and music adjacent positions have been eliminated in the past 2 years, and the layoffs are not slowing down.
We are raising funds to provide professional development resources + opportunities for career sustainability.
Due To Layoff Trends
Music Professionals are Facing a Variety of Challenges
Job Insecurity
- Limited positions with lower salaries
- Few senior roles available
- Lack of comprehensive solutions for job security
Healthcare Challenges
- Limited access to affordable health and dental care
- New medical concerns for middle-aged professionals
- Declining mental health, with many in crisis
Professional Development
- Lack of community and communication channels
- Reduced access to leadership and mentorship
- Limited education on music industry freelancing
- Absence of standardized freelance pricing
Financial Strain
- Inconsistent work leading to unreliable income
- Rising cost of living
- Expensive job hunting process
- Inability to save or plan for retirement
Big.Ass.Kids is now, more than ever, dedicated to being the change that we want to see in music.
With the funds raised, Big.Ass.Kids will be able to offer impacted music professionals the following resources:
Free memberships to The B.A.K Play.Ground
- Direct access to music artists, agencies and companies who are looking to hire freelancers
- Professional development resources and workshops
- Mental health and neurodivergent support
- Financial planning and business management tools & resources
Our Solutions
- Executive-led Workshops
- Peer-led Courses
- Community
- Conversations
- Networking
- Job Boards
- Freelance Gigs
- Direct from Artist Gigs
- Mentorship
- Internships
- Mental Health Specialists
- Neurodivergent Support
- Financial Advisors
- Business Management
If You've Been Impacted by the layoffs and need support
Apply for a complimentary one year membership at the BAK Play.Ground.
Apply TodayThe B.A.K Play.Ground
Music Professionals who qualify for Sandbox support receive a one-year complimentary membership to The B.A.K Play.Ground
Learn More
Network Access
Access a global sandbox of vetted music professionals, artists, labels, and companies seeking connections and resource sharing
Personalized Onboarding
Receive a 30-minute kickoff consultation to walk through the platform and learn best practices
Enhanced Visibility
Create a detailed profile highlighting your work, portfolio, and services, increasing visibility to artists and hiring teams
Career Opportunities
Gain access to direct hiring opportunities and curated job boards
Ongoing Support
Participate in monthly group career workshops supporting your entrepreneurial journey
Partnership Opportunities
Want to offer extended partnership and get involved with The B.A.K community?
Let's work together and create an authentic moment for our members to experience your brand. Sponsor content, livestreams, educational resources, events, member discounts, and more.
Product Donations
- Professional software licenses
- Memberships
- Educational Courses
- Office Supplies
- Travel Vouchers
- Tech Products
Who We Are
Carolyn Ortiz is the Co-Founder and C.O.O of Big.Ass.Kids has worked in the music industry for over 15 years, starting as a publicist in NYC specializing in emerging artists, sponsorships, and events. She later joined Universal Music Group to help launch the first central brand partnership team at a major label. In 2021, Carolyn co-founded Big.Ass.Kids, expanding it into a full music ecosystem. Carolyn launched The B.A.K Play.Ground platform in 2023 and is now spearheading an initiative for music professionals affected by layoffs. Carolyn's career is defined by her dedication to emerging talent, fostering mentorship, and leaving a lasting industry impact.
le'Roy Benros is the Co-Founder and C.E.O of Big.Ass.Kids. A 15 year music industry veteran, he launched his management company Noizy Cricket!! in 2009 as a joint venture with iconic label and management company VIOLATOR where he also oversaw artist development for the company's early signings. His knack for identifying talent early landed him the role of lead talent buyer at the legendary NYC music venue SOBs in 2011 where he introduced artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Doja Cat and many others to the NYC music scene.
In 2021 le'Roy founded Big.Ass.Kids as a record label with a focus on collaborative projects such as See You Next Year - an annual emerging artist campaign & compilation album in partnership with Pigeons & Planes.. He recently launched Music Man, BAK's music distribution service incorporating the Play.Ground team curation and artist funding services. le'Roy is currently a member of the Grammy's Recording Academy.
What is Big.Ass.Kids (B.A.K)?
Music Discovery
Distribution
Artist Services
Experiential
Community
Editorial
Education
Mentorship
Impact
Big.Ass.Kids, known as the Home of The Projects, began its journey in 2021 as a record label with the intention of creating really cool and impactful collaborative projects.
At its inception, BAK created the inaugural See You Next Year, an annual emerging artist campaign & compilation album in partnership with Pigeons and Planes. The campaign was designed to bring a collection of artists together who we felt were on the verge of cultural impact to create a magical experience.
Over the last few years we've challenged ourselves to become much more impactful... and a bit disruptive. The needs of our ever-growing artist & music professional community has led to the evolution of who we are today: an all-encompassing music ecosystem providing resources, tools and opportunities fueled by collaboration.
In 2024 BAK, launched several verticals: The Play.Ground, a membership community allowing artists to customize their team or hire as needed from a global sandbox of music professionals, Music Man, an intelligent music distribution, team curation and artist funding platform available for independent artists and The BAK Sandbox, an initiative to provide resources to music professionals who have been impacted by the recent industry layoffs, helping them re-establish their career.
* The BAK Sandbox is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Good Fund, a California nonprofit corporation and registered 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 46-1323531.