The Philly POPS
The Philly POPS is a Philadelphia-based non-profit popular music orchestra that produces full-orchestra concerts of Broadway, Motown, jazz, folk, and rock at the Kimmel Center, Mann Center, and community venues, serving general audiences and families through subscriptions, individual tickets, merchandise, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Philly POPS does
The Philly POPS is a Philadelphia-based non-profit 501(c)(3) popular music orchestra, founded in 2023 by musicians displaced from the former Philly Pops (1979-2013). It produces full-orchestra concerts of genre-crossing popular music — including Broadway revues, Motown/R&B tributes, jazz, folk, and rock celebrations — performed at marquee Philadelphia venues such as the Kimmel Center's Marian Anderson Hall, the Mann Center's TD Pavilion, Villanova University's Finneran Pavilion, and free outdoor community concerts at Dilworth Park. Its core product is a subscription season of three mainstage concerts per year (15% subscriber discount and guaranteed seating via the Ensemble Arts booking platform), supplemented by individual ticketing through Ticketmaster and a branded WooCommerce merchandise shop. The organization monetizes through ticket sales, season subscriptions, merchandise, individual donations and fundraising events, and corporate sponsorships such as the renewed Wawa Welcome America 'Pops on Independence' partnership. A lean internal staff of 11-50 (Executive Director Matthew Koveal, Director of Creative and Marketing, Director of Production, Director of Public Relations, Development Lead, Grant Writer, Librarian, Financial Consultant, and coordinators) supports an extended artistic roster of 50-60 professional musicians.
The org's underlying technology stack is operational rather than proprietary: it leans on third-party ticketing platforms (Ticketmaster, Ensemble Arts), a WooCommerce e-commerce front for merchandise, and calendar subscription integrations (Google, iCal, Outlook 365, Outlook Live) for event distribution. Its most significant proprietary asset is the 'The Philly Pops' trademark and the Peter Nero Score Archive — scores, sheet music, and recordings acquired from the Nero family on October 31, 2024 — which enables the 'Broadway à la Nero' signature series and legal reclamation of the historic brand name on July 1, 2025. Recent growth signals include sold-out performances under Executive Director Koveal, the Best of Philly 2025 'Best Creative Comeback' award, and the appointment of Christopher Dragon (Greensboro Symphony Music Director and Colorado Symphony Resident Conductor) as Music Director in March 2025. Customer-facing touchpoints span direct-to-consumer subscriptions/merchandise on phillypops.org, venue partnerships, donor cultivation, and earned-media coverage across regional outlets.
The Philly POPS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Philly POPS
- Legal name
- The Philly Pops
- Website
- https://phillypops.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Philly POPS is a Philadelphia-based non-profit popular music orchestra that produces full-orchestra concerts of Broadway, Motown, jazz, folk, and rock at the Kimmel Center, Mann Center, and community venues, serving general audiences and families through subscriptions, individual tickets, merchandise, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Philly POPS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Orchestral Pops Performances
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
Keywords
Where The Philly POPS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Philly POPS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Individual event tickets sold through Ticketmaster and Ensemble Arts platforms for concerts at venues including the Kimmel Center, Mann Center, and outdoor venues.
- Season Subscriptions: Full season subscription packages offering 15% discount with guaranteed seats for all three main stage concerts. Subscriptions available before individual tickets go on sale.
- Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including apparel (quarter zip pullovers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, polo shirts), accessories (hats, bags, mugs, water bottles), and stickers sold through the online shop.
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations and fundraising events to support the organization's mission. First fundraiser held June 13, 2024 at Jim Gardner and Amy Goldman's home.
- Sponsorship and Partnerships: Partnerships with organizations like Wawa Welcome America for Pops on Independence. Corporate sponsorships and community partnerships generate revenue and visibility.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Full Season Subscription - Three main stage concerts with 15% discount |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Event Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded Merchandise |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Philly POPS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Philly POPS is a nonprofit symphonic pops orchestra that produces and performs live concert programming spanning Broadway, Motown, R&B, jazz, folk, indie, and rock tribute genres, performed by a roster of 50–60 professional musicians at Philadelphia-area venues. The organization sells subscriptions to its seasonal mainstage series (three concerts per season), individual event tickets, branded merchandise, and accepts donations and sponsorships to support performances and community education outreach including free outdoor concerts.
Product overview
The Philly POPS is a popular music orchestra offering a diverse portfolio of live musical performances. The core offering consists of full orchestra concerts featuring genre-crossing popular music including Broadway shows (Broadway à la Nero, A Philly Holiday Spectacular), Motown and R&B (ICON – The Voices That Changed Music), jazz (Jazz Combo performances), folk/indie (Gregory Alan Isakov concerts), and rock tributes (Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration). The organization also presents Pops in the Pavilion as an annual scholarship fundraiser and features the Philly Pops Chorus as a volunteer choral ensemble. The 2026/27 subscription season offers three mainstage performances with subscriber benefits including 15% discounts and early access. Merchandise including branded apparel and accessories is available through the online shop.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Subscription Season Packages Full season subscription guaranteeing seats for all three mainstage concerts of the season with a 15% discount, early access to tickets before individual ticket sales, and best seat selection. Designed for regular concert attendees.
- A Philly Holiday Spectacular Annual holiday concert series featuring Broadway stars, festive guests, and holiday favorites performed by the full Philly Pops orchestra. Targeted at families and general audiences seeking seasonal programming.
- Broadway à la Nero Subscription mainstage concert celebrating Peter Nero's legacy, featuring Broadway music presented through his distinctive orchestral style and signature piano flair. Targeted at Broadway and theater enthusiasts.
- ICON – The Voices That Changed Music Subscription mainstage concert celebrating iconic artists who defined contemporary popular music, featuring orchestral reimaginings of songs by Prince, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, and Michael Jackson. Targeted at fans of Motown, R&B, and soul music.
- Pops in the Pavilion Annual fundraising concert for student scholarships held at Villanova University's Finneran Pavilion, featuring student and professional musicians and guest artists. Targeted at corporate sponsors, donors, and community supporters.
- Made in Philadelphia (Jazz Combo Performance) Smaller ensemble free outdoor concert presented as part of the Arts on Center Stage series at Dilworth Park, featuring jazz combo performances of the jazz vocal songbook and classic jazz repertoire. Targeted at general community members and families.
- Gregory Alan Isakov with the Philly Pops Full orchestra concert at TD Pavilion at the Mann Center featuring indie-folk artist Gregory Alan Isakov. Targeted at indie and folk music audiences.
- Boyz II Men with the Philly Pops Full orchestra concert at TD Pavilion at the Highmark Mann featuring headlining R&B group Boyz II Men. Targeted at R&B and Philly Pride audiences.
- Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration Full orchestra concert featuring a symphonic celebration of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead legacy, in partnership with the Jerry Garcia Estate. Targeted at jam band and rock audiences.
- Philly Pops Chorus Auditioned volunteer chorus organization for singers ranging from high school students to retired professionals, performing alongside professional artists. Targeted at community singers seeking performance opportunities.
- Philly Pops Branded Merchandise Online merchandise store selling branded apparel (quarter zip pullovers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, polo shirts), accessories (hats, bags, mugs, water bottles), and stickers. Targeted at fans and concert attendees.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sold-out performances since formation in 2023
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Philly POPS
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Philly POPS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
The Philly POPS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wawa Welcome AmericacoreRenewed partnership reviving the beloved tradition of Pops on Independence to celebrate the nation's birthday. The partnership was announced March 30, 2025 at the She's Got Soul concert at Kimmel Center.
- Nero FamilycoreAcquired the trademark 'The Philly Pops' from the Nero family along with Peter Nero's scores, sheet music, recordings, and other archival materials. This partnership restored the organization's historic identity.
- Center City DistrictminorArts on Center Stage partnership presenting free outdoor concerts at Dilworth Park. Joint programming brings orchestral music directly to the community.
- Villanova UniversityminorHost venue for Pops in the Pavilion, a scholarship fundraiser featuring student and professional musicians. Partnership supports educational access and opportunity.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Philly POPS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Philadelphia Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra is the city's flagship classical symphony, sharing the Kimmel Center and the same Philadelphia patron base. The Philly Pops competes for overlapping subscription audiences, corporate sponsorships, and donor dollars, though The Philadelphia Orchestra focuses on classical repertoire while the Philly Pops specializes in popular music orchestral interpretations.
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony is a large-scale regional orchestra operating a pops subscription series alongside its classical programming. Comparable in mixed classical/pops model and nonprofit arts organization structure.
Direct peers
- Boston Pops: The Boston Pops is America's most iconic pops orchestra, performing similar Broadway, popular, and light classical repertoire with celebrity guest artists. It serves as a direct stylistic and business-model comparable for The Philly Pops's subscription-driven pops programming.
- Cincinnati Pops: The Cincinnati Pops is one of the longest-running pops orchestras in the U.S., presenting popular music arrangements in a subscription format with the Cincinnati Symphony as parent organization. Highly comparable in mission and repertoire focus.
- The New York Pops: The New York Pops is a Carnegie Hall-based pops orchestra presenting Broadway, holiday, and popular music with guest artists. It is the most direct Broadway/popular music orchestral peer in a different metro.
Regional players
- Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony is a regional professional symphony orchestra serving Pennsylvania, comparable in scale and Northeast U.S. positioning. While classical-leaning, its BNY Mellon Grand Classics pops series overlaps with The Philly Pops's repertoire approach.
- Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: The Baltimore Symphony is a Mid-Atlantic regional professional orchestra offering pops programming alongside classical concerts. Comparable as a peer-sized regional orchestra with similar subscription and educational mission elements.
- Greensboro Symphony Orchestra: The Greensboro Symphony is the orchestra where Music Director Christopher Dragon also serves as Music Director, providing direct insight into his programming style and operational scale expectations for The Philly Pops's parent tenure.
Others
- The Philadelphia Orchestra Association: Sing Philadelphia / Philly Music Fund: Philly Music Fund and adjacent Philadelphia-area youth and community music nonprofits are thematic peers, sharing mission of expanding access to orchestral music in Philadelphia schools and underserved neighborhoods.
- Live Nation Philadelphia: Live Nation Philadelphia is an indirect competitor/ecosystem player, booking the touring pop, rock, and Broadway artists whose orchestral collaborations The Philly Pops curates (e.g., Boyz II Men, Gregory Alan Isakov) at the same venues.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
The Philly POPS social profiles
Digital presenceThe Philly POPS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Philly POPS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles27 records
The Philly POPS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Philly POPS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Philly POPS
What does The Philly POPS do?
The Philly POPS is a nonprofit symphonic pops orchestra that produces and performs live concert programming spanning Broadway, Motown, R&B, jazz, folk, indie, and rock tribute genres, performed by a roster of 50–60 professional musicians at Philadelphia-area venues. The organization sells subscriptions to its seasonal mainstage series (three concerts per season), individual event tickets, branded merchandise, and accepts donations and sponsorships to support performances and community education outreach including free outdoor concerts.
Is The Philly POPS a public or private company?
The Philly POPS is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Philly POPS founded?
The Philly POPS was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Philly POPS based?
The Philly POPS is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Philly POPS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are season Subscriptions, merchandise Sales, donations and Fundraising and sponsorship and Partnerships.
Who are The Philly POPS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Philadelphia Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Direct peers are Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops and The New York Pops. Regional players are Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. Others are The Philadelphia Orchestra Association: Sing Philadelphia / Philly Music Fund and Live Nation Philadelphia.
Does The Philly POPS have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Philly POPS.
What industry is The Philly POPS in?
The Philly POPS's product category is Live Orchestral Pops Performances. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAFAA, Concerts & Music Festivals, with a secondary code of MPAGABAG, Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe). Its NAICS code is 71113.