2024 Detroit Jazz Fest reaches more than 2 million streaming viewers globally

The 2024 edition of the Detroit Jazz Festival, one of the region's largest cultural events, reached a global livestream audience of more than 2 million unique viewers during Labor Day weekend.

The data was confirmed by New York-based analytics service provider Calmetrics, Inc.

Despite stormy weather that drove the event's first night indoors for a virtual-only broadcast , more than 300,000 people attended the festival in person during the weekend in Hart Plaza and Cadillac Square, in addition to those streaming around the world. Viewers tuned in from across the United States, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. The festival's more than 50 live performances were streamed for free on the festival's website and social media channels (Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Instagram). Detroit's Arts and Entertainment Channel and detroitiptv (an affiliate of the Urban Information Network) also carried the livestreams.

This year's festival also expanded its programming to include free jazz performances at the new state-of-the-art Gretchen C. Valade Jazz Center, located on the Wayne State University campus.

"We're grateful to our sponsors, donors and grantors for the support we receive to keep this truly unique Detroit Jazz Festival tradition free and available for all to enjoy," said Detroit Jazz Festival Foundation President and Artistic Director Chris Collins. "It's rewarding to see our mission of jazz, set forth by our Angel of Jazz, the late Gretchen C. Valade, be embraced by the community and witness our efforts cultivate the next generation of jazz audiences in Detroit and around the world."

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at