Atlanta, GA – May 20, 2025 – A new partnership between JoyJam, a digital platform created to serve music creators and their audiences, and Make Music New York, a nonprofit civic arts organization, will focus on the intersection of public space, local culture, and artist visibility. This alliance emphasizes the importance of accessible, non-commercial venues, both physical and digital, for supporting emerging musical talent.
Rather than focusing on algorithmic discovery or genre-based promotion, the collaboration recognizes that career development for music creators increasingly depends on systems of visibility embedded in community, place, and shared experience. With this partnership, JoyJam extends its digital footprint into the urban cultural fabric of New York City, while Make Music New York integrates a next-generation platform into its grassroots programming.
At the heart of the alliance is a shared belief in open cultural infrastructure: accessible technology, democratic performance spaces, and artist-first governance. This approach aligns with Make Music New York’s tradition of city-wide musical activation on the summer solstice, where thousands of performances unfold in streets, parks, and plazas without ticketing, gatekeeping, or hierarchy.
“This partnership is about where music happens and how it’s experienced,” said Howie Conyack, Founder of JoyJam. “By collaborating with Make Music New York, we’re helping ensure that the next generation of artists has both digital and physical environments that support their visibility, growth, and creative independence.”
JoyJam, which is preparing for its public platform launch later this year, is building a network designed around artist ownership, real-time fan connection, and career control. Its tools are created not to replace live music, but to extend its reach, offering creators opportunities to engage audiences beyond the stage and retain direct access to their supporters.
As part of the partnership, James Burke, Executive Director of Make Music New York, will serve on JoyJam’s Advisory Board, contributing experience in civic arts programming, urban performance policy, and community engagement. “Music creators thrive in open ecosystems, not isolated platforms,” Burke said. “What this partnership offers is a connective tissue, between street and screen, audience and artist, visibility and sustainability.”
This partnership reflects a shift in how arts organizations and digital platforms approach creative infrastructure. Instead of treating artists as content providers, both entities are building systems that center creator needs, civic participation, and long-term viability.
By focusing on the convergence of public space and digital innovation, JoyJam and Make Music New York are offering a new model for supporting music creators: one that views music not just as entertainment, but as a public good deserving of intentional systems and platforms.
For additional information, visit JoyJam and Make Music New York.
