Gambit Weekly/nola.com explore "How New Orleans can grow the business behind the music"

Big thanks to John Stanton and Jake Clapp at Gambit Weekly and NOLA.com for covering opportunities for growth in New Orleans music industry. We appreciate that you included Louisiana Music Partners board members Nate Cameron Jr. and Reid Wick. We encourage everyone to read all of the articles in this series--great insight from several local music professionals! 

www.nola.com

Building the Beat: How New Orleans can grow the business behind the music

New Orleans is a music city, and music is a large part of our economy. But too often, people have to leave the city in order to make their music career work. Gambit asked a group of New Orleanians to give us their thoughts, ranging from industry attorneys and venue operators to working musicians and cultural advocates. Their answers point toward turning New Orleans into a music industry city without leaving musicians behind or abandoning what makes us the greatest music city on earth.

"The question is how do we do that in a way that supports our existing industry and artists, respects our cultural traditions and ensures the wealth generated is equitably distributed so it isn’t just C-suite executives who end up reaping the benefits" –John Stanton, Gambit Weekly editor

www.nola.com

Mailbox Money: The Recording Academy’s Reid Wick on growing New Orleans’ music industry

The Recording Academy's Reid Wick recently spoke with Gambit about how to grow, and support, New Orleans' music industry.

"If we really thought through this and really invested in more of the invisible part of the industry, we have an opportunity to really, really grow things here and make a better New Orleans, a better Louisiana," -–Reid Wick, Recording Academy & LMP co-founder

www.nola.com

Helping Hand: New Orleans doesn’t need more talent. It needs more infrastructure.

People love to call New Orleans a music town. And they’re right, writes music industry professional Nate Cameron. The city has the talent. What it needs now is more infrastructure to help artists turn their talent into careers.

"What’s missing is the infrastructure that allows all of it to thrive without requiring people to leave home. For generations, New Orleans has given the world songs, sounds and movements that changed music forever" -–Nate Cameron, Jr., MaCCNO & LMP co-founder

If We Build It, The Music Will Come: Protecting A Rich Music Legacy And Developing A Thriving Music Industry Infrastructure For Shreveport

By Jennifer “Milky” Johnson

Founding Board Member, Louisiana Music Partners

Although the calendar now says July, the month of June annually marks a significant national

recognition for music accolades as Black Music Month. Which can be acknowledged and

celebrated year-round.

One may first reflect on the indelible contributions of Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind and Fire, or

Gladys Knight.

But let’s narrow the focus and take in the tempo on the origins of impactful music birthed right

here in Louisiana. As a state, our music culture is unmatched with an endless list of

world-renowned voices. The Batiste family, the Neville family, Mahalia Jackson, Louis

Armstrong, Ledisi, Luke James, P.J. Morton. All of whom mentioned hailing from New Orleans.

Then narrow it even more within the magnolia state. Specifically the tempo of Shreveport and

Northwest Louisiana.

Shreveport also holds a rhythm like no other place in the state.

Did you know that Shreveport has birthed some incredible world-class music professionals for

quite some time? And not just musicians like world-renowned drummers and brothers Brian

Blade (Grammy® winner) and Brady Blade. Guitar legend, “Ledbelly” Leadbetter. Gospel like

Forever Jones, Country like Willie Jones. 90s R&B group Profyle. R&B newcomer Mariah

Hester. The Seratones. ...the list is joyfully long.

When I think of northwest Louisiana music I actually first think of the “unsung” who performed

and shared their talents without truly becoming national and internationally known, but who

were/are local and regional mainstays like Windstorm. And those who, just for the love of

melody spreading the Gospel - Eddie Giles, The Murff Brothers, – and even in my own family - my cousins, and my dad, Alvin Carter, who could sing and really make a harmonica talk.

Today, perhaps the most recognized music artist connected to Shreveport today, is really being recognized not so much for his music success, but for his television and film accomplishments he is bringing to Shreveport, rapper and entertainment entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

50 Cent may be the shot in the arm for Shreveport’s TV and film industry, but it’s also the guy

behind the scenes with 50 who is keeping the Shreveport music scene on the forefront. Orville

Hall, (who is credited for connecting 50 Cent to Shreveport) is one-half of the late 80’s/early 90’s rap duo the Showboys. Hall, along with Phillip Price - two New Yorkers who now callShreveport home - have produced possibly the most sampled sound in the world today. They both recently received another ASCAP for the use of their song "Drag Rap" in another hit, Cardi B's "Outside".

Noting all of these incredible Shreveport music connections brings me to this point: Shreveport

needs, and deserves, a dedicated office focused solely on scaling its already powerful music

industry.

Composers, performers, that guy who runs the sound at local concerts, the aspiring podcaster

putting female-led businesses on a platform - all of whom could benefit from the support of a

dedicated local government presence giving them the needed resources for thriving in the music industry. Guidance is needed for the business side of things, ranging from knowing how to navigate any available local and state tax music credits for studio recording to earning fair pay for a gig.

Also noteworthy are those using the metronome, setting pace for the local industry like Tomi

Granville, who is a highly sought-after, award-winning music composer and sound engineer for films and for CBS shows like “Landman”. Proving that a music and recording economy can bescaled here with the necessary and needed solid support.

We are definitely not short on homegrown talent in this region of the state. Jackson, Hall and

Price have also already proven - they will come. Let’s build a dedicated office to support music

professionals. This support would likely, hopefully, encourage homegrown talent to stay in

Shreveport to build a strong music economy.

Jennifer “Milky” Johnson is the founder of a forthcoming streaming network and is the

co-founder, The Louisiana Center for Film, Music and Television. She is also a former

assistant professor of New Media at Northwest State University.

50 Cent is Developing an Entertainment District in Shreveport

www.theadvocate.com

After delays, 50 Cent's plans for Shreveport taking shape

Jackson was in Shreveport earlier this month for a ceremonial shoveling of dirt at the site of the G-Dome, a 14-story sphere that will take up a city block downtown.