ASPEN -- Jazz Aspen Snowmass has come along way since 1991 when its troubled beginnings indicated it might not make it. Fast forward 17 years, and it has become a multimillion-dollar nonprofit that brings some of the biggest music shows to the area, as well as funds music educational programs.
JAS began as two concerts in the Aspen music festival tent in 1991. Snowmass wooed the new organization with the offer of a little support, and in 1995, the group added the Labor Day festival.
Now, the June festival is held in the Rio Grande Park over four days. The Labor Day festival is held in Snowmass Town Park.
This year's Labor Day festival started on Thursday with Widespread Panic and Global Noize, and ends Monday with headliner the Yonder Mountain String Band. Sandwiched in between was Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam, John Fogerty and a host of other artists.
During the tax year of Oct. 1 2006 to Sept. 30, 2007, the 501(c)(3) public charity brought in a little more than $6.5 million. Its expenses were $5.8 million, leaving almost $934,000 in net assets for the organization, according to its IRS tax filing.
Jim Horowitz, president of Jazz Aspen Snowmass, said the cost of producing the Labor Day festival hovers around $3 million. Costs associated with the set up alone for all of the tents and equipment in Snowmass Town Park cost nearly $1 million, he said.
JAS began as two concerts in the Aspen music festival tent in 1991. Snowmass wooed the new organization with the offer of a little support, and in 1995, the group added the Labor Day festival.
Now, the June festival is held in the Rio Grande Park over four days. The Labor Day festival is held in Snowmass Town Park.
This year's Labor Day festival started on Thursday with Widespread Panic and Global Noize, and ends Monday with headliner the Yonder Mountain String Band. Sandwiched in between was Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam, John Fogerty and a host of other artists.
During the tax year of Oct. 1 2006 to Sept. 30, 2007, the 501(c)(3) public charity brought in a little more than $6.5 million. Its expenses were $5.8 million, leaving almost $934,000 in net assets for the organization, according to its IRS tax filing.
Jim Horowitz, president of Jazz Aspen Snowmass, said the cost of producing the Labor Day festival hovers around $3 million. Costs associated with the set up alone for all of the tents and equipment in Snowmass Town Park cost nearly $1 million, he said.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
