How would you build a startup to make jazz more popular?

One problem which plagues jazz is the barrier to entry. A-lot of people would appreciate it more if they sort of had an 'a-ha' moment when they experienced jazz. So - if you lay it on too thick or make it too 'jazzy' , that wont work. What I am driving at is an approach to marketing the app/web app/website as a tool for a more "serious/aspiring to be serious" musician ....similar to how reddit has an appearance of being interesting but is still crammed with lolcats.

Avoid the cats , feature the jazz semi prominently and then try to market it to a more mature fanbase while keeping it cool/hip. Then have elements of building blocks to jazz which can be in the form of short videos by musicians who explain jazz and its relatability to any other kind of music.

Don't go all Coltrane upfront, but start with Jamie Cullum and try to meander over to Miles Davis.

I think one of the biggest reasons that jazz is not as popular is that its not used in movies enough. Why dont you start out by making a resource where u can get samplings / full blown songs for use for free / cheap / subscription. You could probably target the NYU /Colombia crowd studying movie making. Im sure they would love to get their honds on a easy to afford collection of classe/intense background music. You could also offer it as a platform where up and coming bands could offer samples of or full versions of their tracks for free. I dont think that it is possible to help grow a genre based on an app or a site alone however. A multi pronged approach would be necessary. Set up listening sessions where , as jaetldev suggested, you have guided listening starting with the more popesque jazz bands . Get local artisanal breweries to provide the drinks , new restaurants to provide venue and food. you can also feature a local band. People could pay to come get a quick idea of h ow jazz is along with food booze and probably to meet some new interesting people of the opposite sex. This is just off the top of my head after wakinng up from a Huge nightmare so gimme a few and ill try to come up wwith something more interesting.

I came to Jazz via its margins: Jazz Funk, Rap samples, Movie soundtracks or Salsa.

Show how it's at the middle of everything.

I'm not sure if a startup is the best solution to making jazz more popular. I think becoming a popular musician in a genre heavily influenced by jazz is a better shot.

I have seen an iPad app called "The History of Jazz" which is aimed really at people who are already fans, but something like that could be good education for others too.

You could make a site that informs people of jazz events near users. Then offer discounts or promotions..

There are a lot of models that exist already, but try to form them into something for jazz. (look up a startup called Will Call)

make jazz more popular? did you ever go to a big jazz fest like in Montreal or Newport? I think it's big enough personally. That's the funniest thing I heard in a while. It won't be more popular. You re talking about culture not a boys band, prefabricated ideas. It's like wine, it's a taste you develop through the senses slowly.

Use jazz to teach X. A new method for learning.