Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V.

What Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V. does

Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) that operates a dedicated jazz venue and cultural program in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Officially founded on November 28, 1969, the club traces its origins to post-WWII jazz activity in Karlsruhe dating to 1945. After operating as a "wandering" club across multiple temporary venues for decades, it opened a permanent, purpose-converted home in 2023 at Kaiserpassage 6 in the former cinema "Die Kurbel," featuring a stage, a cinema-format screen, red velvet seating, an on-site jazz bar in the foyer, full wheelchair accessibility via elevator, and a ListenWiFi hearing-assistance system.

The core product is a recurring live-jazz program combining ticketed concerts (jazz, funk, soul, fusion) with free educational workshops (Young Lions for young musicians; Sunday Afternoon Jam for working amateurs) and a monthly public JazzSession. Supporting revenue lines include an annual membership program with discounted tickets, a paid venue-rental service ("Club for Rent") for corporate and private events, a jazz bar, merchandise and commemorative book sales via SpreadShop and direct order, tax-deductible donations, and corporate sponsorships around an annual Jazzfestival Karlsruhe. The organization's technology stack is entirely off-the-shelf (WordPress, webgo hosting, Stager ticketing, YouTube, ListenWiFi) with no proprietary systems or AI components.

Operationally the club is run by an all-volunteer three-person board (Niklas König as 1. Vorsitzender, Torsten Antoni as 2. Vorsitzender, and Steffen Schumacher as 3. Vorsitzender/Schriftführer) supported by approximately six staff and a wider volunteer network. Programming, ticket distribution, and rental sales are executed domestically only, with no disclosed international footprint. The club has secured long-standing cultural-institution partnerships, most notably with Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe (Theaternacht cooperation since at least 2024) and the City of Karlsruhe (which approved the permanent venue concept in 2018 with a 40-8 council vote).

Name

Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V.

Legal name

Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V.

Website

https://jazzclub.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V. is a volunteer-led, non-profit jazz venue and cultural association in Karlsruhe, Germany, founded in 1969 and operating from its permanent Kaiserpassage 6 location since 2023. It serves local jazz enthusiasts, musicians, and event renters through concerts, educational workshops, jam sessions, an annual festival, venue rentals, and a membership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Venue

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Live jazz concerts
• Jazz music venue
• Concert programming
• Music education workshops
• Event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from concert tickets sold online (€2.50 cheaper) and at the door. Tiered pricing: regular, reduced (students, SWR2 members, jazz association members, people with disabilities), and member rates.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership providing discounted ticket prices, early access to information, and other benefits. Membership details are available via a PDF application form.
3. Venue Rental: The club's venue is available for rent for events including afterwork parties, conferences, and film productions. Includes technical equipment (lighting, sound, projector with cinema-format screen).
4. Bar/Concessions: Jazz bar in the foyer serving drinks during concerts and for private events.
5. Merchandise and Books: Sale of the 50th anniversary book ('50 Jahre Jazzclub'), gift certificates, and branded merchandise via SpreadShop (T-shirts, bags, bottle openers, mugs).
6. Donations and Sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations accepted via PayPal or bank transfer. The club actively seeks corporate sponsors for events and the annual Jazz Festival.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V. is a non-profit cultural association that operates a dedicated live jazz venue in central Karlsruhe, presenting a regular program of professional concerts, monthly jam sessions, and free educational workshops for young and amateur musicians. It also runs the annual Jazzfestival Karlsruhe and rents out its venue for private and corporate events through the Club for Rent service.

Product overview

Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V. is a non-profit jazz music venue and cultural association founded in 1969, operating from its permanent location at Kaiserpassage 6 since 2023. The club offers a unified portfolio centered on live jazz music experiences, combining regular concert programming with educational workshops (Young Lions and Sunday Afternoon Jam), jam sessions, and an annual jazz festival. Supporting offerings include venue rental services, a jazz bar, merchandise sales including commemorative books and gift vouchers, and a video archive. The club maintains social media presence across multiple platforms and provides accessibility features including hearing loop technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Monthly JazzSession events create ongoing community engagement
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Badisches Staatstheater KarlsruhecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2026Annual cooperation for Theaternacht Karlsruhe event. The jazz club and state theater alternate contributions, with jazz club presenting 'Gemälde & Grooves' collaborations featuring jazz musicians with visual artists and state theater singers performing musical theater selections. This is an ongoing partnership with the 2026 edition being the third collaboration.
• Kinemathek KarlsruheminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization; the club promotes Kinemathek events on its website and vice versa, indicating cross-promotion for cinema and jazz enthusiasts.
• Deco EventminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFurniture rental partner for the Club for Rent service. Deco Event provides décor options (retro to modern) for events held at the jazz club venue.
• Baden-Württemberg JazzverbändeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAll members of Baden-Württemberg jazz associations receive reduced ticket prices at the club, indicating mutual promotional support between regional jazz organizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe: Karlsruhe cultural institution that has hosted Jazzclub Karlsruhe's jazz festival in the past. Regional peer competing for cultural audiences and sponsorship attention in the same metropolitan market.
• Tollhaus Karlsruhe: Karlsruhe-based music venue hosting a diverse program across genres including jazz. Operates in the same city as Jazzclub Karlsruhe and competes for the same local audience's entertainment spend, making it a direct local market peer.

Direct peers

• A-Trane Berlin: Berlin jazz club presenting jazz, soul, and funk concerts in an intimate venue. Closely comparable programming mix, audience targeting, and pricing structure to Jazzclub Karlsruhe's concert program.
• Jazzhaus Freiburg: Long-established German jazz club operating a year-round concert and jam session program in a city venue. Directly comparable to Jazzclub Karlsruhe as a regional German jazz venue with tiered ticketing, membership offerings, and a mix of national/international bookings.
• Domicil Dortmund: Concert venue in Dortmund with a strong jazz and contemporary music program. Comparable as a German club venue combining ticketed concerts, session culture, and educational programming for emerging musicians.
• Unterfahrt Jazz Club Munich: Munich-based jazz club running nightly concerts, jam sessions, and workshops. Directly comparable on operating model (ticketed live jazz, jam sessions, member benefits) and as a fellow German e.V.-style organization.
• Birdland Hamburg: Hamburg jazz club with regular concerts, jam sessions, and educational events. Comparable as a northern German jazz venue with similar tiered pricing and member discount structures.
• Stadtgarten Cologne: Cologne-based music venue with a dedicated jazz program, jam sessions, and workshop offerings. Comparable in combining regular concerts with educational and community events for jazz enthusiasts.
• Porgy & Bess Vienna: Viennese jazz club presenting nightly concerts across jazz sub-genres with subscription-style ticketing. Comparable as an established European jazz venue operating year-round ticketed programming and membership incentives.

Broad incumbents

• Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe: Karlsruhe state theater and a cooperation partner of the jazz club for Theaternacht. Overlaps with Jazzclub Karlsruhe in live performance programming and audience demographics, while operating at a much larger institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@JazzclubKarlsruhe
• Facebookfacebook.com/jazzclub.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jazzclub-karlsruhe-e.v.
• Instagraminstagram.com/jazzclub_karlsruhe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jazzclub Karlsruhe e.V.