Baby’s All Right Co-Founder Billy Jones to Be Honored With Memorial Foundation Benefitting Young Music Professionals

The music community is mourning the loss of Billy Jones, a pivotal figure in New York City's independent music landscape, who passed away in June 2025 at the age of 45 after a battle with cancer. Jones, who co-founded the beloved Williamsburg venue Baby's All Right in 2013, was a multifaceted force in the industry, having worked as a musician, promoter, club owner, record shop proprietor, manager, and booking agent at iconic spots like Sin-é, Pianos, the Dance, and Elvis. His most enduring legacy, however, is Baby's All Right, which quickly became a launchpad for emerging talent, hosting early-career performances by artists such as SZA, Billie Eilish, Blood Orange, and Gigi Perez. The venue, known for its intimate live room and eclectic programming, has been widely recognized by industry insiders as a key incubator for indie talent throughout the 2010s, helping to shape the sound of a generation.

In honor of his life and work, Jones's family has announced the creation of the Billy Jones Forever Foundation, a scholarship and mentorship fund designed to support the next wave of music professionals. The foundation will provide annual cohorts with direct financial assistance for expenses like relocation, housing, equipment, and travel—barriers that often prevent early-career talent from pursuing their dreams in the high-cost environment of New York City. Recipients will also receive long-term mentorship and access to an extensive network of industry contacts, mirroring the hands-on guidance Jones himself offered to countless artists. "Billy was devoted to music, to New York and to the creative, talented dreamers and risk takers who make this city what it is," said his sister, BreAnn Tassone. "Though he had to leave us, he still has work to do. We are excited and grateful to know he can still do the work he was so passionate about through the recipients of this organization." Music industry experts have noted that targeted financial support of this kind is rare, and could play a crucial role in addressing the affordability crisis that often sidelines emerging talent in the city. For context, the cost of living in New York has risen sharply in recent years, with median rent in Williamsburg now exceeding $3,500 per month, making such assistance potentially transformative for aspiring artists.

The foundation operates as a fund under Make Something, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a proven track record of backing creative projects, which lends credibility to its operations. Donations and scholarship applications are now open, with applicants directed to billyjonesforever.org/apply and donations accepted at make-something.org/billyjonesforever. This initiative ensures that Jones's passion for nurturing talent will continue to resonate, offering concrete support to those facing financial hurdles in the music industry. By combining direct funding with long-term mentorship, the foundation aims to replicate the kind of guidance that defined Jones's career, providing a lifeline for dreamers in a city that never sleeps but often demands a high price for entry. As one industry observer put it, "Billy understood that talent alone isn't enough—you need a community to back you. This foundation is that community, carrying his spirit forward."