Jay Ungar and Molly Mason

What Jay Ungar and Molly Mason does

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason are a private American acoustic-music duo operating continuously since their partnership began in the late 1970s, with formal duo activity from 1980 onward. They are based in West Hurley, New York, with their music catalog administered through Swinging Door Music (BMI). Their work centers on fiddle, piano, guitar, and vocal performance across Appalachian, Scandinavian, Celtic, Klezmer, and Swing traditions, supported by a content library of original compositions including the iconic "Ashokan Farewell" (1983) and "The Lovers' Waltz" (1993).

The business operates five revenue streams: physical and digital recording sales (via Angel Records, Flying Fish Records, Bandcamp, and their Squarespace storefront at jayandmolly.com), sheet music and books (including "Catskill Mountain Waltzes & Airs" with sixty-plus compositions), live performances booked through FLi Artists, music licensing administered via Sam Fein at The Songwriter's Guild of America, and the Ashokan Music & Dance Camps — week-long residential programs at the 385-acre Ashokan Center in the Catskills, which the duo co-saved in 2006 by founding the Ashokan Foundation. Marketing and community engagement run through a weekly Facebook Live show called "The Quiet Room" (Wednesdays, 8pm ET), Fiddler Magazine (a seasonal digital publication, 2016–present), earned media appearances on CBS, NPR, BBC, and A Prairie Home Companion, and touring with two ensembles: the multi-generational Family Band (with daughter Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda of The Mammals) and the rotating-musician Swingology band.

Their core products are original compositions and recordings, with no software or technology platform — the underlying "technology" is domain expertise in traditional American fiddle and dance music, a 40-year pedagogical community, and a copyright catalog that has produced signature placements (most notably the 59 minutes 33 seconds of Ashokan Farewell in Ken Burns' Civil War documentary, yielding a Grammy for the soundtrack and an Emmy nomination for the composition). The customer base spans individual folk-music consumers buying recordings and sheet music, residential camp attendees (predominantly adults and families), and enterprise media producers licensing sync rights for film, television, and documentary use.

Name

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason

Legal name

Jay Ungar & Molly Mason

Website

https://jayandmolly.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason are a privately held American acoustic-folk music duo, founded in 1980, who perform, record, and publish original compositions in fiddle and traditional dance traditions. They serve individual folk-music enthusiasts via recordings and sheet music, adult residential campers at the Ashokan Center in New York, and media producers licensing their catalog.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Folk Music Performance & Music Education

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (7115), Music Publishers (512230), Record Production and Distribution (51225)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAIABAA

Songwriting & Composition (Topliners, Co-writers, Camps)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Music Publishing (Songwriting, Rights Administration, Licensing)

SECONDARYMPAIAHAF

Songwriting & Composition Services (for hire)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Music Production Services (Studios, Producers, Session Musicians)

SECONDARYMPAIAAAA

Record Labels (Major & Independent)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Recorded Music (Labels, Master Rights, Distribution)

Keywords

• Folk music recordings
• Music education camps
• Acoustic fiddle music
• Sheet music publishing
• Live concert performances

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hurley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Recordings Sales: Physical and digital album sales through their website store and Bandcamp. Albums include American Dreamer, Waltzing with You, The Lovers' Waltz, Harvest Home, A Song of Home, and Relax Your Mind. Released through Angel Records and Flying Fish Records.
2. Sheet Music and Books: Sale of sheet music and educational books including 'Catskill Mountain Waltzes & Airs' containing over sixty compositions.
3. Music Licensing: Licensing fees for use of their music in film, television, documentaries, and other media. Major licensing through Ken Burns' documentary projects including The Civil War.
4. Live Performances: Concert and touring revenue through booking agent FLi Artists. Performances with Family Band, Swingology, and as duo.
5. Ashokan Music & Dance Camps: Week-long and multi-day educational music and dance camps held at the Ashokan Center near Woodstock, NY. Approximately a dozen camps annually for adults and families.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason are a performing musical duo that creates, records, and performs traditional American acoustic and folk music (Appalachian, Scandinavian, Celtic, Klezmer, and Swing). They sell recordings, sheet music, and books directly through their website, offer music licensing for film/TV/media through the Songwriter's Guild of America, perform live concerts via booking agent FLi Artists, and operate the Ashokan Music & Dance Camps at a 385-acre nature preserve in the Catskills.

Product overview

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason offer a portfolio of musical products and services centered on American acoustic and folk traditions. The core offerings include audio Recordings (CDs and digital albums), Sheet Music, and Books. Their Fiddler Magazine provides seasonal digital sheet music publications. The Quiet Room is a weekly Facebook Live performance series. They operate and partner with the Ashokan Music & Dance Camps at The Ashokan Center, a 385-acre nature preserve. They perform with two ensembles: the multi-generational Family Band (with daughter Ruth Ungar and Mike Merenda of Mike + Ruthy) and the swing/Celtic/Cajun band Swingology. Their catalog includes landmark albums American Dreamer (Stephen Foster songs), Harvest Home (with orchestral suite), The Lovers' Waltz, and Relax Your Mind. They also published sheet music for compositions like Ashokan Farewell, Dying Embers, Elephant Hotel, Sumter Soliloquy, and over sixty pieces in 'Catskill Mountain Waltzes & Airs'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Swingology: Band featuring Jay Ungar and Molly Mason with rotating musicians that performs string band, swing, Cajun, Celtic, country and Civil War-era dance orchestra music.
• The Jay Ungar & Molly Mason Family Band
• The Quiet Room
• Ashokan Music & Dance Camps

Products and services

• Recordings Audio recordings (CDs and digital albums) of original compositions and traditional American folk, fiddle, swing, Celtic, Appalachian, Scandinavian, and Klezmer music, sold directly to consumers through the artist's website and Bandcamp.
• Sheet Music Published sheet music for fiddle tunes, waltzes, and traditional pieces composed or arranged by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, available to musicians seeking to learn and perform these works.
• Books Educational music books featuring original compositions by Jay & Molly, including 'Catskill Mountain Waltzes & Airs' containing over sixty compositions for fiddle and other instruments.
• Ashokan Music & Dance Camps Week-long and multi-day residential music and dance camps for adults and families, held annually at the Ashokan Center in the Catskill Mountains near Woodstock, NY. Approximately a dozen camps per year covering fiddle, guitar, dance calling, and related folk traditions.
• Live Performances Concert performances and touring appearances by the duo, Family Band (with Mike + Ruthy), and Swingology ensemble, booked through FLi Artists.
• Music Licensing Licensing of Jay Ungar and Molly Mason compositions for film, television, documentaries, video, print, CD-ROM, internet, and other commercial media uses, administered through The Songwriter's Guild of America.
• Fiddler Magazine Seasonal digital publication featuring sheet music, tune histories, compositions, and teaching materials from Jay Ungar and Molly Mason for fiddle players and traditional music enthusiasts.
• American Dreamer (album) Album released on Angel Records featuring the songs of Stephen Foster, performed in collaboration with baritone Thomas Hampson and pianist David Alpher.
• Harvest Home (album) 1999 release on Angel Records featuring the 20-minute orchestral work 'The Harvest Home Suite' performed with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
• Relax Your Mind (album) Album by Jay & Molly with their band Swingology on Angel Records, featuring American dance music with a focus on country blues and swing.
• The Lovers' Waltz (album) Album of romantic fiddle music featuring melodies from Appalachian, Scandinavian, Celtic, Klezmer, and Swing traditions, including a medley of compositions by James Horner.
• A Song of Home (album) 2002 collaborative recording for RCA featuring flutist Sir James Galway, mandolinist Peter Ostroushko, and bassist Steve Rust.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grammy Award for The Civil War soundtrack album
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• FLi ArtistscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBooking agency representing Jay Ungar & Molly Mason for live performances and tours. Contact: Matt Greenhill. Handles all booking inquiries and artist management for concert appearances.
• The Songwriter's Guild of AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensing representative (SAM Fein) handling music licensing for film, video, print, CD-ROM, internet, and other commercial uses. Contact: 209 19th Avenue South, Suite 321, Nashville, TN 37203.
• Ashokan FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization founded in 2006 by Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, and Fiddle & Dance attendees to save the 385-acre Ashokan Field Campus. Mission to inspire learning and build community through shared experiences in nature, history, music, and art. Operates the Ashokan Center where Music & Dance Camps are held.
• Mike + Ruthy (The Merenda Family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRuth Ungar (daughter of Jay & Molly) and Mike Merenda form the indie-folk duo Mike + Ruthy and lead The Mammals. Collaborate with Jay & Molly as 'The Family Band' for performances featuring multi-instrumental skills and compelling vocal performances.
• Swingology BandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJay & Molly's performing ensemble featuring rotating musicians including Peter Davis (clarinet, sax, piano, banjo, mandolin, guitar, whistle, vocals), Dave Davies (trombone, vocals), bassist Harry Aceto, and drummer Jerry Marotta. Morphs from string band to swing band, Cajun band to Celtic band.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Béla Fleck: Banjo virtuoso and composer with comparable genre-crossing approach (folk, classical, jazz, world music), substantial catalog of original compositions, multiple Grammy awards, and a similar mix of recordings, orchestral commissions, and educational outreach.
• Nickel Creek: Platinum-selling progressive acoustic trio (Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins) whose string-led folk/bluegrass catalog, recordings, and touring model parallel Jay & Molly's combination of original compositions, recordings, and live performance in the acoustic/Americana space.
• April Verch: Canadian fiddle, step-dance, and song artist with similar focus on traditional repertoire, original compositions, recordings, touring, and music camps. Operates at a similar scale with a comparable diversified revenue model.
• Mark O'Connor: American fiddle champion, composer, and educator with comparable cross-genre work (Appalachian, classical, jazz) and a comparable emphasis on original compositions, educational programming (O'Connor Method), and orchestral/ensemble recordings.
• Natalie MacMaster: Cape Breton fiddler performing and recording traditional fiddle music with a similar revenue mix of touring, recordings, sheet music, and appearances with symphony orchestras. Comparable artist-level business model focused on a single iconic fiddle tradition.
• Bruce Molsky: Old-time fiddle, banjo, and song artist with similar focus on Appalachian and traditional American repertoire, recordings, touring, and teaching at music camps comparable to Ashokan. Operates at a similar artist-scale with diversified revenue.
• Chris Thile: Mandolin virtuoso and host of A Prairie Home Companion (where Molly Mason worked); combines original compositions, recordings, and live performance across folk/bluegrass/Americana. Comparable mix of performing, composing, and hosting/educational roles.
• Mike + Ruthy / The Mammals: Indie-folk/Americana duo led by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason's daughter Ruth Ungar and son-in-law Mike Merenda; they perform with Jay & Molly as The Family Band and operate a parallel touring/recording business in the same genre. The Mammals are a documented partnership and direct comparison.

Emerging players

• Punch Brothers: Progressive acoustic band led by Chris Thile, performing original compositions and arrangements across folk, bluegrass, and classical. Operates with a comparable mix of original compositions, recordings, and high-profile live performance at venues similar to where Jay & Molly tour.
• Sarah Jarosz: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist working in folk/Americana with a similar focus on original songwriting, recordings, and a more recent catalog of works that intersects with the same audience Jay & Molly serve. Comparable but newer generation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/jayandmolly
• Xx.com/jayandmolly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swinging-door-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Jay Ungar and Molly Mason