Blogs
Kr3wcial On The Best of the Beat Awards
Over the weekend, OffBeat received critique on social media from Kr3wcial on the Best of The Beat Awards. Kr3wcial, is a well-respected local hip-hop artist whom OffBeat has covered in […]
Loyola New Orleans makes Billboard’s Top 20 music business schools
Rock on! For the second time running, Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Music and Media is named among Billboard magazine’s Top Music Business Schools in 2022. The news appears […]
New Orleans can be a true music city, but it’s time for changes
Now that the “music city” of New Orleans has someone (Howie Kaplan, director of New Orleans Nighttime Economy office) who can be the liaison between music, musicians, venues, bars and […]
Howie Kaplan Takes Over the Helm for Nighttime Economy Office
In 2017, OffBeat’s Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Jan Ramsey wrote a feature in Mojo Mouth urging New Orleans to consider establishing a new “cabinet level” position of “Night Mayor” after learning that these positions were being created in cities worldwide, like New York, London, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Seattle, Portland, Orlando and many more. Most of these cities do not have anywhere near the so-called “nighttime economy” of New Orleans. Things don’t move fast in New Orleans, but under Mayor LaToya Cantrell, this position—so crucial to the development and maintenance of our city as a hub of hospitality, entertainment and music—has finally been established. The city advertised for a qualified person to fill the position and lucky for us, the person selected for the job is not a politician with no experience in the business, but someone who has been in the trenches in the New Orleans music and culture scene for over 25 years.
Noise ordinance on the table, again
Noise ordinance on the table, again? Here we go again…one of the frustrations with having been in this business for almost 35 years is that I’ve seen things happen over […]
Fest Memories
Jazz Fest 2022 came to an end on May 8. It’s been a whirlwind. Two weeks of the city running on all cylinders, and the weekends at the Fair Grounds […]
Back Where We Belong
Welcome to Jazz Fest! Finally, I can say that, after three canceled dates. We’re back where we belong, still here and still loving local music. I always thank our subscribers, […]
Jim McCormick Takes On Music Publishing in New Orleans
I met Jim McCormick many years ago, when the very accomplished singer-songwriter was performing locally with the band the Bingemen, and teaching a class in English at the University of […]
The OffBeat Year in Review 2021
OffBeat’s Year In Review summarizes all the stories, musicians, cultural references and more.
New Orleans Nightlife Office Funding Approved and Coming Soon
The City Council today approved funding for a “Nightlife Office” within the Mayor’s Office. The responsibilities and duties of the office are yet to be determined however, pending input from the public and stakeholders., But there is funding to dire a director, staff and for operations, which is pretty much a guarantee that this is definitely going to happen.
