Jazz Education Network
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Jazz Education Network firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Jazz Education Network industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Jazz Education Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Jazz Education Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- 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).
- Annual Conference Revenue: Conference registration fees, exhibit fees, advertising in conference guide, and sponsorship revenue from the annual JEN conference.
- Donations and Fundraising: Donations through the NextJEN Campaign, monthly giving program, and general donations supporting jazz education programs. EIN 26-2880358.
- Product Sales: Sales of gift cards, merchandise, research journals, and conference-related merchandise through the online store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Full Individual - All Access Membership for professionals and directors |
| Subscription | Annual | eJEN - Limited Access Membership for college students |
| Freemium | Annual | yJEN - Youth Membership for students age 18 and under |
| Subscription | Annual | Collegiate Chapter - For college and university directors |
| Subscription | Annual | School Chapter - For high school band directors |
| Subscription | Annual | Community Chapter - For non-profit organizations |
| Subscription | Annual | Institution Membership - For colleges, organizations, and non-profits |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Membership - For corporations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Jazz Education Network product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Jazz Education Network
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Jazz Education Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Jazz Education Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Endowment for the ArtscoreProvided 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 FoundationcoreProvided 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 FoundationcoreRandal 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 MagazinecoreDownBeat 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.
- BandzoogleminorProvides JEN members with an extended 3-month free trial plus 15% off the first year of website building services for musicians.
- TuneCoreminorDigital music distribution partner offering JEN members a 20% discount on services to help musicians distribute their music to streaming platforms.
- JazzTimes MagazineminorProvides JEN members with 50% discount on print or digital JazzTimes Magazine subscriptions.
- Stanford Jazz WorkshopminorProvides JEN members with $200 off tuition for jazz workshops.
- SFJAZZminorSFJAZZ Digital Lab provides online classes as a member benefit.
- Oxford University PressminorProvides JEN members with 20% off all books.
- Traditional Jazz Educators Network (TJEN)corePartnered with JEN to develop the Traditional Jazz Curriculum Kit, the first-ever comprehensive curriculum for teaching New Orleans-based styles of jazz.
- Smithsonian InstitutioncoreDr. 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)coreBethany Robinson serves as NAfME Liaison Board Member and Chair of NAfME Jazz Council, facilitating collaboration between JEN and NAfME.
- Jazz at Lincoln CentercoreJEN 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 EnsembleminorSteven 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 SocietyminorSteven Bulmer serves as Secretary of the Hartford Jazz Society, overseeing technology operations, website management, digital communications, and education committee.
- George Mason UniversitycoreDavid 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
Jazz Education Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Jazz Education Network social profiles
Digital presenceJazz Education Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jazz Education Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Jazz Education Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jazz Education Network 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 Jazz Education Network
What does Jazz Education Network do?
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.
Is Jazz Education Network a public or private company?
Jazz Education Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Jazz Education Network founded?
Jazz Education Network was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Jazz Education Network based?
Jazz Education Network is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jazz Education Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are annual Conference Revenue, donations and Fundraising and product Sales.
Who are Jazz Education Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SFJAZZ, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Stanford Jazz Workshop and Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Broad incumbents are National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Young Audiences Arts for Learning and Berklee College of Music. Jazz Education Network of Australia is listed as a regional player. DownBeat Magazine is listed as an others. Smithsonian National Museum of American Music (Jazz Program) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Jazz Education Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jazz Education Network.
What industry is Jazz Education Network in?
Jazz Education Network's product category is Jazz Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAG, Secular/Nonsectarian Liberal Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAJACAC, Charter School Networks (Multi-Site). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.