Welcome to Music Census Sessions, a free resource for New Orleans music professionals. Designed for folks with all levels of experience, these in-person and virtual workshops, roundtables, and networking events will give you practical tools to build, grow, and sustain your music career.
Born out of the findings of the New Orleans Music Census and countless conversations with our city's music community, the Music Census Sessions initiative addresses the unique challenges and opportunities facing locals in the music industry. By providing access to education, resources, and connections, this initiative aims to empower the next generation of music industry professionals while celebrating and supporting the legacy of those who’ve built New Orleans into the musical powerhouse it is today.
Upcoming Sessions
Putting the “Business” in Music Business.
Being a creative takes immense time, energy, and focus. Navigating the business side of the music industry can often feel overwhelming, pulling attention away from the music itself. That’s why the New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy and The Ella Project teamed up to create Music Census Sessions —to help shoulder that burden and provide the tools, knowledge, and connections New Orleans music industry professionals need to succeed.
This series is tailored for everyone — from those just stepping into the music industry to veterans who’ve been shaping the New Orleans sound for decades. Each session focuses on actionable music industry and business skills, ensuring that no matter your experience level, you’ll walk away with strategies to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.
Session Schedule
Working with the Media - Tuesday 5/14
Focus: The media landscape keeps changing, both nationally and here in New Orleans. For artists, it’s essential to know how to effectively get your message out there. On Tuesday May 14th at 2:00 p.m, join Haley Livaudais, Segment Producer for WWL-TV Channel 4, Jan Ramsey, Founder, Publisher and Editor in Chief of OffBeat and Murf Reeves, Music Director of WWOZ, for Working with the Media, The Ella Project and the New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy’s latest free Music Census Sessions Live Zoom workshop.
Additional 2026 dates coming soon!This schedule is subject to change.
Sessions
Archive
Music Census Sessions recordings will be published here at the end of each block.
Music Census Sessions is a partnership between the New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy, The Ella Project, and The New Orleans Public Library to turn insights from the New Orleans Music Census into action.
Questions? Reach out to Julia at julia.heath@nola.gov.
Learn, Network, Collaborate.
