NEW ORLEANS — Music and New Orleans go hand in hand.
“You ask anyone all over the world what they associate with New Orleans, and they are probably going to say music and food,” said Julia Heath of the New Orleans office of Nighttime Economy.
In May, Heath’s office was busy conducting a survey called the Nola Music Census to gather data that could help the office, and its partners better understand the challenges and successes of the industry in New Orleans.
“On the survey, someone said, ‘Music is New Orleans, New Orleans is music’,” recalled Heath.
Heath says that in many cases, the results proved what her office suspected, and other things stood out.
For example, the survey found that 83 percent of the more than 1500 participants had at least ten years of experience in music.
“Looking at that number I see an opportunity to put together a mentorship program,” said Heath. “Where we can have a sort of creative hub and have all of these people who have decades of experience, and we can connect them with younger people who are looking for ways to learn and grow.”
Heath believes it also exposes a vulnerability and a gap when it comes to young people choosing to make a career out of music in the Crescent City. Only 3 percent of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 24.
“That is something that we should try to help,” she said.
And when it comes to wages, Heath says that is still a major challenge that needs to be addressed.
“Most of the respondents of the survey have other employment outside of music to supplement their income,” she said. “There is just all kinds of data points that show they just need to make more money in order to invest more time in music.”
Last month, the New Orleans City Council moved to pay musicians more. Now anyone hired at city-sponsored events will get a minimum of 200 dollars per hour, for each musician in the band.
So, what’s next? – The data will live online at nolamusiccensus.org meanwhile Heath’s office is planning to host a series of roundtable discussions over the results.
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