08/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/19/2024 13:45
August 19, 2024 | From City of New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS - The Mayor's Office of Nighttime Economy (ONE), in collaboration with a coalition of local partners, including OffBeat Magazine, The Ella Project, New Orleans Musician's Clinic, Preservation Hall Foundation and StayLocal New Orleans, is excited to unveil the results of the 2024 New Orleans Music Census. This comprehensive community-led study, conducted from May to June of this year, gathered 1,504 responses from individuals across the New Orleans metropolitan area who are involved in various aspects of the music industry. The findings are now available for public exploration atnolamusiccensus.org.
"The City of New Orleans is pleased to unveil the 2024 New Orleans Music Census Report, a transformative toolkit for our city and our music community," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "This effort has given us unique insights into the challenges and opportunities within our local music scene, which my administration will use to craft policies that will make a real impact for our renowned culture-bearers. The Mayor's Office of Nighttime Economy plays a crucial role in this initiative, working hand-in-hand with our community and local music organizations to set new standards. Together, we are committed to creating a thriving, sustainable music industry that reflects the true soul of New Orleans and leads the way in innovative change."
New Orleans was part of a multi-city cohort administered by Sound Music Cities that included Nashville, TN; Minneapolis, MN; Tulsa, OK; Washington, D.C. and other cities that implemented the census while meeting regularly and sharing insights on localized music policy best practices. The goal of the music census is to gather real insights on the complete New Orleans music ecosystem and capture data on the living and working conditions of contributors to the local music industry.
"We are thrilled to unveil the results of the 2024 New Orleans Music Census, an effort that has provided us with a wealth of data on both the broad narrative and individual stories within our vibrant music community," said ONE Policy & Outreach Manager Julia Heath. "This detailed insight is crucial for crafting meaningful support and policies that reflect the true needs of our local music industry. While the modern music sector faces significant challenges nationwide, I believe that transformative change begins at the local level. The Mayor's Office of Nighttime Economy is committed to continuing to work with the community to set a benchmark for other cities, demonstrating how focused music policy and collaboration can drive impactful improvements."
Overview of Key Findings
Opportunities for Growth and Support
The census highlights several key opportunities for supporting the New Orleans music scene, including:
Next Steps and Community Engagement
To further explore and address these findings, a series of community roundtables will be held, inviting local music professionals and stakeholders to discuss the results and collaboratively develop strategies for enhancing the music ecosystem.
To learn more about ONE and their programs, visit nola.gov/night.
For more information, please contact ONE Policy & Outreach Manager Julia Heath at [email protected].
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