Music Village

What Music Village does

Music Village is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 84-2283875) founded in 2019 by Carl Brister and headquartered in West Orange, New Jersey. The organization organizes performing arts programs and provides arts scholarships for students, with a thematic focus on community unity, music education, and diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) training. Its core program portfolio includes the Love+Unity Fest (a free community music festival operating since 2016 and expanded to Love+Unity Week in 2023 and Love+Unity Month in 2025), the "Feel It. Sing It. Live It! The Story of Soul Music & You" assembly program for Grades 3-8 aligned with NJ Visual and Performing Arts Standards, professional development workshops for educators (covering Healing Centered Engagement, Action Through The Arts, and Songwriting Journeys), and the Music Village Scholarship Fund which provides need-based support for instruments, private instruction, summer music camps, and collegiate music studies. The organization has documented school district partnerships with West Orange Public Schools and New Brunswick Public Schools, a 7-member Board of Advisors, and civic recognition including a 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. service award and West Orange Town Council proclamations.

Music Village operates without any proprietary technology platform or AI infrastructure. Its only technology integration is Givelify, used for processing tax-deductible donations. Revenue is generated through donations, fundraiser events (principally the annual Raise The Arts gala launched in February 2025), event sponsorships, and direct bookings of school assemblies and educator workshops. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through direct booking inquiries. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led: public events are offered free to attendees, school programs are booked directly via the website, and donor acquisition relies on earned media coverage (WPIX 11 News, TAPinto West Orange, NJ.com Mosaic, Essex News Daily) and word-of-mouth within northern New Jersey civic and educational networks. Geographic scope is regional, confined to New Jersey.

The organization is led by founder and CEO Carl Brister (a Grammy-nominated international recording artist and licensed New Jersey educator) and co-founder Beverly Brister (Chief Marketing Strategist), with a Board of Advisors spanning law (Michael Moore, Esq., NYC Law Department), finance (Theresa Jacobs Lewis, Neuberger Berman), higher education (Rev. Dr. Forrest M. Pritchett, Seton Hall University), dance (Freddie Moore, Footprints Dance Company / Ailey lineage), and music production (Dylan Kiner, DLK Music Pro). Annual headcount is 1-10 employees, and the organization is actively operating as of 2025.

Name

Music Village

Legal name

Music Village

Website

https://musicvillage.live

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Music Village is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in West Orange, NJ that organizes performing arts programs, school assemblies, and educator DEI workshops, and provides need-based scholarships to aspiring young musicians across New Jersey communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education & Community Programs

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAB

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDAMAAAE

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

SECONDARYEDAJAJAE

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Extracurriculars & Athletics (School-Run)

Keywords

• Performing arts programs
• Music education assemblies
• Community arts events
• DEI professional development
• Arts scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

West Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Music Village operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization relying primarily on donations from individuals and organizations. The organization hosts annual fundraiser events including Raise The Arts galas and accepts contributions through the Givelify platform.
2. Scholarship Fund Support: The Music Village Scholarship Fund provides need-based scholarships to aspiring musicians for instruments, private music instruction, summer music camps, and collegiate musical studies tuition support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Music Village organizes performing arts programming for schools and communities in New Jersey, including the annual Love+Unity Fest music festival, "Feel It. Sing It. Live It!" interactive school assemblies for Grades 3-8, DEI-focused professional development workshops for educators, and a need-based scholarship fund supporting aspiring musicians with instruments, private instruction, summer camps, and collegiate tuition.

Product overview

Music Village is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates as a unified suite of performing arts and community engagement programs. The core offerings include the annual Love+Unity Fest (music festival), the 'Feel It. Sing It. Live It!' educational assembly program, Professional Development & Workshops for DEI through the arts, and the Music Village Scholarship Fund. These programs are designed to work together to inspire community unity through music, provide arts education to students, support professional development for educators, and fund aspiring musicians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Love+Unity Fest An annual free community music festival featuring diverse genres including Rock, Pop, Soul, Gospel, Latin, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Reggae, designed to inspire unity through music for community members in West Orange, NJ and surrounding areas.
• Feel It. Sing It. Live It! The Story of Soul Music & You

Quantifiable outcome

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. service award received in 2024 for leadership in West Orange community through the arts
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kurly KürtőshminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 20252025 Silent Auction Sponsor for Raise The Arts 2025 fundraiser event. Contributed auction item to support Music Village's need-based scholarship mission.
• Journey To Africa with Lady T (Toussaint Duchess Entertainment)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 20252025 Silent Auction Sponsor for Raise The Arts 2025 fundraiser event. Contributed auction item to support Music Village's scholarship programs.
• PowerPro AssistantsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 20252025 Silent Auction Sponsor for Raise The Arts 2025 fundraiser event.
• Geltrude CPAs & Profitability AdvisorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 20252025 Silent Auction Sponsor for Raise The Arts 2025 fundraiser event.
• Zin EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for 2025 Love+Unity Month Expressions of Love+Unity Poetry Night event. Co-presenting poetry and spoken word showcase.
• CryOut CavecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for 2025 Love+Unity Month Expressions of Love+Unity Poetry Night event.
• Freddie Moore (Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre & Footprints Dance Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector of Expressions of Love+Unity dance showcase. Choreographer and dance programming chair with extensive credentials including Ailey School and Ailey II.
• Purple HazecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHip Hop workshop provider during Love+Unity Week 2024 events.
• Eastside Dance ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerforming dance ensemble featured at Expressions of Love+Unity poetry night event.
• Footprints Dance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance company led by Freddie Moore. Performed at Expressions of Love+Unity event. Mt. Pisgah Liturgical Dance Ministry also performed.
• Premiere Theater Dance TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance ensemble featured at Expressions of Love+Unity poetry night event.
• Gifts In Good CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-writer Natasha Gallop's company. Co-creator of 'Feel It. Sing It, Live It' program with Carl Brister. Provides dynamic, culturally rich art experiences.
• New Brunswick Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner hosting Feel It. Sing It. Live It! assemblies and arts education programs.
• West Orange Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school district partner hosting multiple events including assemblies, WPIX news feature, and community events at various schools.
• Seton Hall UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder Carl Brister holds degree from Seton Hall. Rev. Dr. Forrest M. Pritchett serves as Director of MLK Leadership Program and Senior Adviser to Provost on DEI at Seton Hall.
• Neuberger BermanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard member Theresa Jacobs Lewis (Tess) is Vice President and Fiduciary Officer at Neuberger Berman. Company sponsors Love+Unity events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National network delivering arts-in-education programming and professional development to schools. Comparable as a school-facing performing arts education provider with assembly-style delivery and educator workshops.
• Little Kids Rock: Nonprofit providing music education, instruments, and teacher training to under-resourced K–12 schools. Closely comparable to Music Village in serving schools, music education focus, and reliance on donations and corporate sponsorship.
• Berklee City Music: Berklee's community music education program serving underserved youth with instruction, scholarships, and performance opportunities. Comparable to Music Village's scholarship fund and music education mission for aspiring young musicians.
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: A national music education nonprofit that partners with schools to provide instruments, programming, and resources for students. Directly comparable to Music Village in mission, school-assembly-style delivery, and donor-funded operating model.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Nonprofit dedicated to music education through instrument donations and school programming. Comparable to Music Village in music-focused school programs, scholarship-style giving to students, and donor-supported model.

Emerging players

• The Sphinx Organization: Nonprofit promoting diversity in classical music through education, performance opportunities, and career development for Black and Latinx musicians. Comparable in DEI-through-arts programming and scholarship-style support for young musicians.
• Songbirds Foundation: Music education nonprofit focused on instruments and access for young students. Comparable niche focus on instrument access and music education for youth, with a smaller scale than the largest national players.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center Education: Education arm of Lincoln Center offering school programs, teacher training, and community performances. Comparable in school-facing performing arts education and educator professional development, though with a much wider portfolio.
• Carnegie Hall (Education & Community Programs): Major performing arts institution with extensive K–12 music education programs, teacher professional development, and community concerts. Comparable in delivering school-based music education and educator PD, but at far greater scale and breadth.

Regional players

• ArtsEd NJ: New Jersey statewide coalition advocating for arts education, professional development, and school programming. Comparable as a NJ-focused arts education resource and potential partner/peer in the same geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MusicVillageNJ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/music-village

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Music Village