Welcome to the
New Orleans Music Census
A community-led study to gather real insights on the complete New Orleans music ecosystem.
The Music Census will be open from May 10th - May 31st, 2024
Your voice matters.
The New Orleans Music Census is more than just a study - it's a vital exploration of the heartbeat of a city renowned for its musical heritage. By delving into the entire local music ecosystem, we're shedding light on the diverse tapestry of artists, venues, and supporters, fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural significance and economic impact of music in New Orleans.
The entire ecosystem.
From songwriters to recording engineers to vinyl manufacturers to DJs to instrument repair specialists, it’s all part of the big picture of New Orleans music.
About the New Orleans Music Census
The New Orleans Music Census is a community-led, anonymous survey of the complete network of individuals, businesses, and organizations related to music in New Orleans. By capturing data on both the living and working conditions of contributors to the local music industry, the census will provide data-driven insights to assist community leaders and policymakers in identifying and addressing challenges and opportunities facing the city's rich culture.
Who should take the census?
Musicians, performers, songwriters, composers, educators, and teachers
Music Industry Professionals, promoters, managers, agents, engineers, production, stagehands, music instrument retail, educators, unions, worship ministries, media personalities
Venues, bars, restaurants, dance clubs, promoters, presenters, and businesses that regularly host live performances
Creative Service Providers, designers, photographers, videographers, journalists, influencers who do work related to music
Support Service Providers, lawyers, universities, accountants, and publicists who do work related to music
Nightlife Service Providers, venue workers, bartenders, ticket takers, event staff
What kind of questions will be asked?
Basic respondee demographics, compensation type, reasons for pursuing work outside of music (if relevant), years of experience, music education and professional affiliations, work location, annual spending for professional services, career concerns, workspace status, current barriers, health insurance status, etc. There will also be opportunities for general commentary at various points throughout the survey.
All responses will remain completely anonymous.
Timeline
April 25th, 2024: Census is announced publicly
May 10th - 31st, 2024: Census is live and accepting responses; outreach and marketing efforts continue
June 1st - 7th, 2024: Tentative extension to gather more responses
June - July 2024: Data analysis and community action planning
August through 2025: Continued promotion, action planning, implementation
Press
04/25/2024 OffBeat Magazine “New Orleans Music Census”
04/25/2024 WGNO “City of New Orleans to study local nightlife ecosystem”
04/25/2024 New Orleans Mayor’s Office “Announce Press Release”
FAQs
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Music community leaders in New Orleans recognize the importance of having measurable information about people who do music-related work to better support them. The census results will offer valuable insights to music professionals, venues, organizations, academia, and government agencies in New Orleans, as well as music lovers who contribute to the city’s vibrant entertainment scene.
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The census asks questions specific to the realities of music workers, including general information about their demographics and occupation types and their perspective on issues such as diversity, equity, and inclusion. There are no questions in this census about personal identifiers, such as name or address.
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Yes. The census does not collect any personal identifiers or IP addresses. Any individual responses highlighted in the published results will be attributed as “Census Respondent.”
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It takes 10-20 minutes, depending on your respondent category (creative, venue/presenter, or industry) and whether you type in lengthy comments. The average time spent on the census is 13 minutes.
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Those working or students in the music industry in ANY capacity who are 18 years or older and living in the New Orleans metropolitan area, which includes the following parishes: Jefferson, Orleans (city of New Orleans), Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist. You should participate in the census if you contribute any type of music-related work, with or without compensation, and you believe your skills and commitment are worthy of acknowledgment and support. This includes part-time work, rarely paid or volunteer work, and more administrative than creative work.
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You should participate in the census if you contribute any type of music-related work, with or without compensation, and you believe your skills and commitment are worthy of acknowledgment and support. This includes part-time work, rarely paid work or volunteer work, and work that is more administrative than creative.
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To keep the data analysis manageable, we must limit the census to one entry per person, which means you must select one primary identity (creative, venue/presenter, or industry). That said, we know that most music people work in more than one area, so you will also have an opportunity within the census to provide info on work you do in other identity categories.
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No. You can use a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Note that you must use the same device if you wish to leave and finish your response later.
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We will release the census results in fall of 2024. There will be a Summary Report and an online dashboard.
Contact Us
For more information or to learn more about how you can be involved as an official community partner, contact Julia Heath, Policy & Outreach Manager at the New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy (julia.heath@nola.gov)