Jo Lee Becomes First Official Wavy Artist, Starts Recording The Size Queen at Carriage City Studios
"This is what it should feel like," Jo Lee said.
Carriage City is my new home away from home. I LOVED it there.”
The emerging artist raised $1,000 through The Wavys' 501(c)(3) status and started recording their debut album last weekend — proving a new model for artist support can actually work.
Wavy Music News | Staff Report
Something rare happened in Rahway, New Jersey this weekend.
Emerging artist Jo Lee walked into Carriage City Studios and began recording their new EP with, get this, no label deal, no advance debt, no master rights signed away. Just $1,000 raised (so far) from their own community and a subsidized studio rate negotiated through The Wavys.
Jo Lee is the first participant in our 2026 Wavy Ambassador Program Pilot Initiative, a newly launched program from The Wavys — the 501(c)(3) nonprofit backed by the NYC Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment that's been championing marginalized artists for six years now.
The model is pretty dern straightforward. Jo Lee linked their GoFundMe directly to The Wavys' nonprofit status, (b/c PayPal Charity is cool like that, and we’re using them after the Flipcause debacle) which made every contribution tax-deductible for supporters — something no label advance can offer. The Wavys then connected Jo Lee with Carriage City Studios at a subsidized rate negotiated specifically for program artists. The nonprofit retains a 20% admin fee to fund program operations and the next artist. Jo Lee keeps the rest — and 100% of their masters. !!!
"This is what it should feel like," Jo Lee said. Carriage City is my new home away from home. I LOVED it there.”
The significance goes beyond one recording session. The traditional label advance model has defined music industry economics for sixty years, and most artists who sign under it never see royalties after recoupment. The alternative models that have emerged like Patreon, Kickstarter, Bandcamp — offer crowdfunding infrastructure, but no nonprofit backing, no tax incentive for supporters, and no coordinated industry access.
The Wavys is trying something different: use the nonprofit's institutional credibility and coalition network to give indie artists (like Jo Lee) what labels traditionally offered (access, infrastructure, subsidized services) without what labels traditionally took (masters, royalties, creative control).
"We've spent six years building trust with artists and institutions," said Rebecca Autumn Sansom, founder of The Wavys. "Now we're using that trust to build something better than what the industry gave artists before. Jo Lee just showed it works.”
The Wavys has operated its flagship emerging artists award ceremony since 2021. In 2026, the organization is expanding significantly, including the trademarked Wavy Certified program for aligned orgs and the forthcoming Wavy World Tour, a traveling cultural experience on American passenger rail that will serve as the next chapter of Sansom's documentary Trainsforming America II.
"This is a crucial moment," Sansom added. "The old economic models aren't working for artists. We're proud to be building what comes next."
For now, the focus is on Jo Lee's EP, The Size Queen. Sessions continue in the coming weeks, with a release expected later in 2026 or early 2027.
Artists interested in joining the Wavy Ambassador Program Pilot Initiative can apply at thewavys.org. Supporters can back Jo Lee's album directly through their linked fundraiser, or contribute to The Wavys' general fund to support the next Wavy Artist in the pipeline.
