Why We Exist
Jazz music is America’s only original artform yet, it is America’s least valued. Today’s musical ecosystem places value on hip hop, pop and country music. Most listeners see jazz as the music of older generations or irrelevant. Jazz makes up a mere 1% of the music industry leaving its artists underappreciated, undercompensated and largely unrecognized. The lack of economic parity has left most Jazz artists financially destitute, unable to provide for their daily financial needs, heath care or retirement. And then there was COVID-19. In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began to obliterate the already frail Jazz music sector.
Although many artists have used COVID-19 as a way to pivot and enhance their digital and virtual capabilities, Jazz is unique in that it is collaborative and improvisational. As such, Jazz artists can’t simply “hope on Zoom” and safely play with one another due to the latency of sound (sound delay). This leaves artists with no way to virtually collaborate without risking their health. Furthermore, already struggling Jazz venues have closed by the dozens since the onset of the pandemic leaving a permanent void for both artists and enthusiasts alike.
What We’re Doing to Make A Difference
The American Jazz Music Society was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the purpose of providing funding to Jazz artists through grants and funding of virtual and COVID-19 compliant in-person performance opportunities.
Beyond COVID-19 relief, the American Jazz Music Society is strategically growing to enable financial freedom for Jazz musicians through the following activities:
Grants for artists to complete studio projects.
Jazz audience development through live and virtual performances.
Healthcare and retirement subsidies for artists.
Jazz education to K-12 schools to sustain the legacy of jazz.
Safe and affordable rehearsal venues for artists.
Financial and Operational Management tools for artists to effectively manage their personal finances and careers.
and many more…
Our strategic approach to revitalizing Jazz will support Jazz artists and solidify Jazz within the musical ecosystem for decades to come.