Promotion Anxieties: Jazz Promoters Within the UK Scene

Definitions and roles of the promoter within the ecology of the music industries have over recent years become the subject of attention by academics working within the field of popular music studies. It has become accepted that precise definitions are difficult to apply, due to both the varied understanding of the term ‘promoter’, and the diverse nature of their activities. Where the promoter is the conduit between artist and audience, the ways and means by which this is manifested varies greatly between individuals. Rather than further attempting to provide distinct definitions as applied to the promoter, this paper aims to offer a nuanced examination of the motivations, professional networks, and occupational challenges that contribute to the self-perceptions of five promoters working in the context of a local jazz scene within an undisclosed city in the United Kingdom.