NEW ORLEANS — According to WWL Louisiana media partner NOLA.com, longstanding New Orleans music rag OffBeat Magazine will publish its final issue after 37 years of serving the local music scene and its readers.
OffBeat publisher Jan Ramsey told Times-Picayune writer Keith Spera that December's issue will be its last.
Ramsey said the media's shifting landscape was a factor in her decision. She said since the pandemic, OffBeat has only published editions online, excluding its annual "Jazz Fest Bible" festival guide, our partners reported.
Personal factors also played a role. "Ramsey and her husband and business partner, Joseph Irrera, are both 74 and are dealing with various health issues."
"It's time to let go," she told Nola.com.
The history off OffBeat magazine started in 1988 when Nola native Ramsey distributed her first issue.
It was during the Republican National Convention and she hoped to interest visiting members to the city's music scene. Then three months later, a new issue was made and the magazine became a monthly publication.
Each issue included in-depth, long question-and-answer interviews, album reviews and columns on specific genres. One column was called "Mojo Mouth", which advocated for the local musicians and to build an industry that supports them.
According to our partners, Ramsey said, "The New Orleans music community needs a voice. OffBeat tried to be that voice of the music community."
OffBeat reached a national and international audience with over 5,000 print subscribers. The magazine was also distributed for free across southeast Louisiana at 600 locations.
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