TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Jazz has always been rich in creativity, but making a living as a jazz artist can be a different story. From the earliest days of big bands to today’s streaming era, musicians have had to balance artistry with economic reality. Club dates, touring, teaching, grants, recording, and even crowdfunding now make up the patchwork that supports a career.
Technology opened global audiences but also transformed how musicians get paid. A million online streams might not equal a single sold-out show. That’s why many artists diversify- from leading workshops to collaborating across genres to build sustainable careers.
Yet jazz persists because the art matters. Jazz doesn’t just survive—it adapts, thrives, and keeps swinging.
This has been Rapp On Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by Layman Publishing Partners, celebrating 50 years of expert content creation, authoritative information management, and standards-driven print and digital production157