Jazz Education Network

What Jazz Education Network does

Jazz Education Network (JEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with 29 employees. Its mission is to advance jazz education, promote performance, and develop new audiences by serving as the primary national network connecting music educators, students, and professional jazz musicians. The organization serves thousands of educators and students annually, with international reach spanning 24+ countries through its annual conference and 60+ countries through partner content.

JEN operates through a tiered membership model (Full Individual at $125/yr, eJEN at $65/yr, free yJEN for under-18, Collegiate/School/Community Chapters at $125-$475/yr, Institution at $450/yr, Corporate at $650/yr) plus conference registrations, donations, and product sales. The underlying technology consists of a digital membership platform (members.jazzednet.org) hosting a webinar library of 100+ sessions, conference registration, resource access, and an online store, with email marketing delivered via ActiveCampaign. The flagship annual conference (18th edition scheduled for January 6-9, 2027 in Louisville, KY) brings together thousands of attendees for concerts, workshops, and the JENerations Jazz Festival.

The organization's product portfolio includes the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit (10,000 copies distributed nationally), JENerations Jazz Festival, Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo, Young Composer Showcase, JAZZ2U Grants ($300-$500), scholarships, and the JEN Research Journal. JEN partners with the National Endowment for the Arts, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, DownBeat Magazine, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and NAfME, among others. Revenue is diversified across membership dues, conference fees, donations (including the NextJEN Campaign targeting $50,000), and merchandise sales, with no parent company or institutional investors.

Name

Jazz Education Network

Legal name

Jazz Education Network

Website

https://jazzednet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jazz Education Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that serves the jazz arts community through tiered memberships, an annual conference, and educational programs for music educators, students, and professional jazz musicians across 24+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Jazz Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Secular/Nonsectarian Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

Keywords

• Jazz education programs
• Music educator membership
• Jazz performance training
• Music education nonprofit
• Jazz arts community

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individual members (Full Individual $125/yr, eJEN $65/yr, yJEN free for under 18), chapter organizers ($125-$475/yr), institutions ($450/yr), and corporations ($650/yr).
2. Annual Conference Revenue: Conference registration fees, exhibit fees, advertising in conference guide, and sponsorship revenue from the annual JEN conference.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations through the NextJEN Campaign, monthly giving program, and general donations supporting jazz education programs. EIN 26-2880358.
4. Product Sales: Sales of gift cards, merchandise, research journals, and conference-related merchandise through the online store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Jazz Education Network (JEN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers jazz arts education through tiered individual and institutional memberships, an annual international conference, student performance and recognition programs, scholarships, grants, and digital educational resources (webinars, charts, research journals, and curriculum kits). Members access programs such as the JENerations Jazz Festival, Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo, Young Composer Showcase, and the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit.

Product overview

Jazz Education Network operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services centered on jazz arts education. The core offering consists of tiered membership types (Full Individual, eJEN, yJEN, Collegiate/School/Community Chapters, Institution, and Corporate) providing access to educational resources, professional development, and networking opportunities. Key programs include the annual JEN Conference (the 18th annual in January 2027), the JENerations Jazz Festival for student ensembles, Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo, Young Composer Showcase, and the Intercollegiate Community College Honors Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Educational resources include the free Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit, JazzSLAM interactive tools, a Resource Library with 100+ webinars, and the JEN Research Journal. The organization also administers JAZZ2U Grants, student scholarships, and the NextJEN Campaign for fundraising. Member benefits include charts distributed every two months, print and digital magazine subscriptions (Downbeat, JazzED, SBO+), and partner discounts with organizations including Stanford Jazz Workshop, SFJAZZ, Noteflight, TuneCore, and Oxford University Press.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Individual Membership Comprehensive all-access annual membership for artists, directors, and jazz professionals, including print and digital DownBeat and JazzED magazine subscriptions, 6 free charts per year, and eligibility for all JEN programs including JENerations Jazz Festival, Sisters in Jazz, Young Composer Showcase, and scholarships.
• eJEN Membership
• yJEN Membership Free youth membership for students age 18 and under, providing digital DownBeat Magazine subscription, on-demand access to youth-oriented masterclasses, and discounted conference registration.
• Collegiate Chapter Membership Annual chapter membership for college and university directors including one Full Individual membership for the Chapter Organizer, 10 discounted eJEN memberships, and exclusive chapter member benefits.
• School Chapter Membership Annual chapter membership for high school band directors, including one Full Individual membership for the Chapter Organizer, free student memberships, and JAZZ2U Grant eligibility.
• Community Chapter Membership Annual chapter membership for non-profit organizations, including one Full Individual membership and requiring a minimum of 10 additional chapter member purchases at yJEN, eJEN, or Full JEN levels.
• Institution Membership Annual membership for colleges, organizations, and non-profits, providing one Full Individual membership for the Primary Contact, conference exhibit eligibility, and full program eligibility.
• Corporate Membership Annual corporate membership providing conference exhibit eligibility and brand visibility for corporations in the music industry, instrument manufacturing, publishing, and related sectors.
• JEN Conference Annual in-person international conference combining concerts, workshops, research presentations, an exhibition area, and the JENerations Jazz Festival, bringing together thousands of jazz educators, students, and professionals.
• JENerations Jazz Festival International student jazz festival held within the annual JEN Conference, providing student ensembles the opportunity to perform and receive clinics from world-renowned jazz artists and educators.
• Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo Collegiate combo program providing mentorship and performance opportunities for emerging female jazz musicians.
• Young Composer Showcase Program supporting young jazz composers through recognition, mentorship, and performance opportunities for their original compositions.
• Intercollegiate Community College Honors Vocal Jazz Ensemble Honors vocal jazz ensemble program providing intercollegiate and community college students with advanced performance opportunities in vocal jazz.
• Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit Free comprehensive curriculum for teaching New Orleans-based traditional jazz styles, including lesson plans, teacher's guides, music arrangements, audio tracks, and video masterclasses, developed with the Traditional Jazz Educators Network and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation.
• JazzSLAM Interactive jazz education resource available to members through the member portal, providing digital tools for jazz learning and instruction.
• JEN Resource Library Digital library of more than 100 webinars, conference session recordings, research posters, and educational content accessible to members.
• JEN Research Journal Digital research journal providing academic and practical research findings in jazz education, published in multiple volumes (currently up to Volume 7).
• EFCF/JEN Research Fellowship Research fellowship program operated in partnership with the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation that supports jazz education research.

Quantifiable outcome

• JEN has hosted hundreds of performances by musicians from more than 24 countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthersProvided funding for the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit project, helping to develop and distribute the first-ever comprehensive curriculum for teaching New Orleans-based styles of jazz to student musicians.
• Ella Fitzgerald Charitable FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided funding for the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit and partners with JEN on the EFCF/JEN Research Fellowship program supporting jazz education research.
• Ella Fitzgerald Charitable FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRandal Rosman, Vice President of the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, serves on JEN's Board of Directors. The foundation sponsors the EFCF/JEN Research Fellowship.
• DownBeat MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDownBeat Magazine serves as the official magazine of the JEN Conference and provides print and digital magazine subscriptions to members as a core membership benefit. The Conference Guide is published by DownBeat.
• BandzoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides JEN members with an extended 3-month free trial plus 15% off the first year of website building services for musicians.
• TuneCoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital music distribution partner offering JEN members a 20% discount on services to help musicians distribute their music to streaming platforms.
• JazzTimes MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides JEN members with 50% discount on print or digital JazzTimes Magazine subscriptions.
• Stanford Jazz WorkshopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides JEN members with $200 off tuition for jazz workshops.
• SFJAZZminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSFJAZZ Digital Lab provides online classes as a member benefit.
• Oxford University PressminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides JEN members with 20% off all books.
• Traditional Jazz Educators Network (TJEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with JEN to develop the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit, the first-ever comprehensive curriculum for teaching New Orleans-based styles of jazz.
• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. John Edward Hasse, Curator of American Music at the Smithsonian Institution, served as consultant for the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit development.
• National Association for Music Education (NAfME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBethany Robinson serves as NAfME Liaison Board Member and Chair of NAfME Jazz Council, facilitating collaboration between JEN and NAfME.
• Jazz at Lincoln CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJEN has partnered with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Bethany Robinson has adjudicated Essentially Ellington Regionals as JEN's representative for Jazz at Lincoln Center. Indiana Jazz Educators Association partnered with Jazz at Lincoln Center.
• New England Jazz EnsembleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteven Bulmer leads the New England Jazz Ensemble, a nonprofit dedicated to commissioning, performing, and recording new jazz works, with six recordings to its credit.
• Hartford Jazz SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteven Bulmer serves as Secretary of the Hartford Jazz Society, overseeing technology operations, website management, digital communications, and education committee.
• George Mason UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavid Robinson, Jr., Adjunct Professor of Music at George Mason University, led development of the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• SFJAZZ: Jazz performance and education organization providing concerts, education programs, and Digital Lab classes. Listed as a JEN partner; both operate as jazz-centered nonprofits with membership, education, and performance programming.
• Jazz at Lincoln Center: Dedicated jazz organization running educational programs, performances, and competitions for jazz students and educators nationally. Direct peer: JEN lists Jazz at Lincoln Center as a strategic partner and both compete for the same educator and student audiences.
• Stanford Jazz Workshop: Jazz education nonprofit offering summer workshops, concerts, and youth programs. Listed as a JEN GTM partner offering member discounts; both serve jazz students and educators with comparable programmatic offerings.
• Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz: Jazz-focused education nonprofit running competitions, scholarships, and educational programming for jazz students and educators. Highly comparable mission, member/audience profile, and program structure to JEN.

Broad incumbents

• National Association for Music Education (NAfME): Largest U.S. music education association serving K-12 and collegiate music educators across all genres. JEN has a board-level liaison relationship with NAfME; both compete for music educator memberships, though NAfME covers all genres.
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: Largest arts-in-education nonprofit network in the U.S., serving K-12 students across all art forms including music. Comparable nonprofit structure and K-12 arts education mission, but at much larger scale and broader scope than JEN.
• Berklee College of Music: Premier jazz and contemporary music higher-education institution with multiple JEN board members on faculty (Trineice Robinson-Martin, Tia Fuller, Ayn Inserto). Competes for the same jazz educator professional development audience and student pipeline.

Regional players

• Jazz Education Network of Australia: Peer jazz education organization serving the Australian/New Zealand region with conferences, programs, and member services. Operates the same membership-and-conference model as JEN but in a different geography.

Others

• DownBeat Magazine: Long-standing jazz media publication serving as JEN's official conference publication and member benefit partner. Serves overlapping jazz audiences but is a media company rather than an educational nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Smithsonian National Museum of American Music (Jazz Program): Smithsonian's jazz curation and education efforts, with Dr. John Edward Hasse having consulted on JEN's Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit. Both serve jazz education and preservation, though JEN is membership-driven and the Smithsonian is federally chartered.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JazzEdNet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/JazzEdNet
• Facebookfacebook.com/JazzEdNet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jazz-education-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/jazzednet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Jazz Education Network