Atlanta, GA – May 20, 2025 – JoyJam, a music-centered digital platform built to empower creators, has announced a formal partnership with Make Music New York and the appointment of its Executive Director, James Burke, to the JoyJam Advisory Board. This dual development represents a deepening of JoyJam’s strategic commitment to leadership collaboration and ecosystem-building within the independent music space.
Rather than presenting the partnership as a singular event, both organizations are positioning it as part of a long-term alignment in mission and infrastructure. The announcement emphasizes shared values around artist autonomy, community engagement, and scalable tools for self-directed careers in music.
The move comes as JoyJam continues building toward its public launch, which will offer a platform where music creators can manage visibility, monetize their work, and grow their audiences without third-party interference. Burke’s appointment brings additional credibility and strategic depth to the company’s next phase of growth.
“James Burke brings experience not just in arts programming, but in civic collaboration and systems thinking,” said Howie Conyack, Founder of JoyJam. “His leadership at Make Music New York is proof that culture-driven networks can be sustainable and community-led. His role on our Advisory Board will help ensure we build a platform with long-term value for creators.”
Make Music New York is best known for its annual citywide celebration on June 21, where thousands of musicians take to public spaces across all five boroughs in what has become one of the country’s most inclusive music-making events.
“This partnership isn’t just about one event, it’s about connecting networks. JoyJam understands that artists don’t just need visibility; they need tools, data, and relationships that actually serve them. I’m excited to support a platform built for creators and fans alike, one that empowers artists to grow and gives fans a deeper, more meaningful connection to the music they love.” said Burke.
The partnership introduces a dual-channel engagement model, leveraging both public performances and digital presence, to help artists establish sustained relationships with their audiences. This initiative reflects a broader strategy at JoyJam: aligning with leaders and institutions that already serve creator communities, rather than competing with them. It marks a shift from traditional platform marketing to advisory-informed, relationship-centered growth.
JoyJam’s includes features that allow music creators to publish content, engage fans directly, and generate revenue, all within a flexible system that supports evolving artistic practices. Unlike traditional distribution channels, JoyJam is designed to reflect how creators actually work today: across live, digital, and social contexts.
Make Music New York, meanwhile, continues to lead on the ground with decentralized, hyperlocal performance models that remove barriers between artists and the public. Its work in community music aligns with JoyJam’s emphasis on local-first infrastructure and its commitment to building tools that do not abstract creators from their audiences.
Together, the two organizations represent a new approach to music ecosystem development: one that privileges shared knowledge, real-world relationships, and artist-led governance over scale for scale’s sake.
For more information, visit JoyJam and Make Music New York.
