Jazz Forward 2025 and a Free Gift

From all indications, this year's Jazz-Con industry conference was a rousing success. The discussion panels were informative, entertaining and relevant to anyone working in our industry. I found the conversations about AI, music investment and metadata particularly interesting. Executive Producer Jerald Miller did a fantastic job and has something of value to build on for 2026 and beyond. AAJ was proud to be involved in year one.

The Jazz Forward Award program is All About Jazz's way of honoring innovation, discovery, and impact in jazz while supporting the ecosystem that supports the music. This year's honorees (see below) do the challenging work that often goes unseen: cultivating new audiences, nurturing artistic growth, and reinforcing the infrastructure that keeps jazz viable. They exemplify key trends in jazz today: global collaboration, digital innovation, educational inclusion, and community-rooted sustainability. They are setting new standards for how jazz is taught, shared, streamed, and experienced. AAJ is committed to fostering a thriving jazz infrastructure—whether through elevating emerging voices, supporting platforms that broaden access, or spotlighting organizations that deepen local scenes.

We completed the system to support the awards program this year. We then solicited nominations and from those nominations, JazzWeek, Oh! Jazz, Sligo Jazz Project and Seattle Jazz Fellowship were selected as our first group of recipients.  So congratulations to Ed, Jesus, Eddie and Thomas. You can learn about each organization here.

JazzWeek Rochester, USA A key data platform and publication tracking jazz radio airplay across the U.S. and Canada. JazzWeek not only provides industry-standard charts but also supports connectivity among radio stations, labels, and artists—guiding discovery and exposure.	Oh! Jazz  Australia/Global A live and on-demand streaming platform offering high-fidelity jazz performances from clubs around the world. With a mission to support venues and musicians, the platform reinvests a portion of its revenue back into the jazz ecosystem and widens global access to live jazz experiences.
Seattle Jazz Fellowship Seattle, USA A grassroots nonprofit dedicated to preserving jazz culture locally. Known for the presentation of live jazz multiple nights weekly, promoting accessibility, mentorship, and paying artists fairly. The Fellowship is emerging as a cultural anchor in Seattle, particularly in times of venues closing or being displaced.	Sligo Jazz Project  Sligo, Ireland Europe's most inclusive jazz education festival. Sligo Jazz Project combines summer school, performance, education, and immersive experiences. It draws students of varying ages and experience levels from across the globe, fostering both learning and artistic exchange.

AAJ @ 30: A Free Gift For You!

To continue celebrating All About Jazz's 30th anniversary, we're offering you a special gift: a free 2-month subscription to Oh! Jazz—a $40 value! Immerse yourself in a global stage of jazz, with access to hundreds of exclusive concerts streamed live and on-demand directly from iconic clubs around the world. It's a cultural bridge that supports artists and venues, bringing the heartbeat of live jazz to your big or small screen. Claim your gift and discover why Oh! Jazz is becoming a favorite among jazz fans like you. To get started, go to Oh! Jazz, click on "Register" (top right) and enter code jADJy8dD for your free 2-month subscription. This offer expires on September 30th.

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Posted to Publisher's Desk IN THE All About Jazz GROUP
Read more posts by Michael Ricci