April 30, 2026 | From City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy and The Ella Project Announce Continuation of Music Census Sessions
New Orleans, LA — The City of New Orleans Office of Nighttime Economy (O.N.E.), in partnership with The Ella Project, announced the continuation of the Music Census Sessions, a free professional development series designed to support local musicians and music industry professionals. Following a successful inaugural year funded by the City of New Orleans, the 2026 series will be supported through grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
Launched in 2025, the Music Census Sessions were created in response to findings from the New Orleans Music Census, which identified a clear need for accessible, practical business education and career development resources for musicians at all stages.
The 2026 series will build on that foundation, continuing to offer free, actionable sessions focused on topics such as revenue generation, touring, audience development, and navigating the modern music industry landscape. This year will kick off on May 14th with “Working with the Media” featuring Haley Livaudais, Segment Producer for WWL-TV Channel 4, Murf Reeves, Music Director of WWOZ, and Jan Ramsey, Founder, Publisher and Editor in Chief of OffBeat. Registration is now open at www.nolamusiccensus.org/sessions.
“Last year’s Music Census Sessions demonstrated both the demand for and the impact of this kind of programming,” said Julia Heath, Policy and Outreach Manager for the Mayor’s Office of Nighttime Economy. “We saw strong attendance, meaningful engagement, and immediate application of the information being shared. Continuing this series with The Ella Project allows us to deepen that impact and ensure that New Orleans musicians have access to the tools and knowledge they need to build sustainable careers.”
"Ensuring New Orleans musicians have the tools to succeed in the ever-evolving music business world is a key part of The Ella Project's mission,” said Gene Meneray, co-founder of The Ella Project. “Working with a smart, engaged partner like the Office of Nighttime Economy makes sure this information is both top notch and gets to as wide an audience as possible. We're thrilled to have support from the Arts Endowment and look forward to presenting a fantastic series of workshops and seminars throughout 2026."
Over the course of its first year, the series reached hundreds of participants across the state of Louisiana and featured industry professionals from the local and national music landscape. Sessions covered topics including music publishing, branding, funding opportunities, and contracts, with an emphasis on practical, real-world application. Recordings of past sessions remain available as a free resource at www.nolamusiccensus.org/sessions, extending the reach of the program beyond live attendees.
The Music Census Sessions are a key component of the Office of Nighttime Economy’s broader strategy to support New Orleans’ music ecosystem through workforce development, industry education, and direct engagement with the local music community.
More information on upcoming sessions, speakers, and registration will be announced soon. All sessions are free and open to the public, with advance registration encouraged.
For more information and to access archived sessions, visit www.nolamusiccensus.org/sessions.
For press inquires, email Julia Heath, Office of Nighttime Economy, at julia.heath@nola.gov.