How do New Orleans musicians and record labels survive the financial bloodbath that the music industry has become?
Music retailers are dropping like flies. Wherehouse Music, which had 11 stores throughout Louisiana and six stores in New Orleans, filed for bankruptcy and will close its last remaining New Orleans store at the end of July. The Tower Records chain is for sale.
Internet sales of music from services like Amazon.com and free downloads are literally killing the music retail business.
Where will it all end? Will local music be able to withstand the demise of music retail?
Because OffBeat is a “niche” music magazine, we’ve experienced the same sorts of problems the retailers have through a ripple effect. Retailers aren’t advertising the way they used to. Record labels—both the majors and the smaller independent labels—are feeling the strain on their resources, too, and are hunkering down. “We’ve cut back on personnel and we’re trying to restructure how we do things,” says Matt Cornell of Tone-Cool Records. “We’ve had to eliminate the horn section and now we’re down to a basic trio.”
Luckily, because most Louisiana music is put out by independents and because our music appeals to smaller audiences, our music will survive. Other than rap, the bulk of Louisiana musicians appeal to a much smaller audience than say, a Radiohead or a Beyonce Knowles, but the audience is there. And it is very loyal. Shouldn’t we then be content to develop our music independently, market it and sell it to that smaller, but rabid, audience?
New Orleans (and corollary, Louisiana) is not, and never will be another Nashville. If anything, a better model for us is Austin, which has created a reputation as a music town and as a music business town. We need to do the same thing.
This column last month called for the creation of an integrated, organized marketing, publicity and advertising program to promote music as a business, and to create some respect within the community for the contributions of music to the culture and economy. Since this is a venture which will ultimately produce an economic impact, the best entity to prepare this campaign are people who have a vested interest in improving the economy of the city and state.
It’s not an easy task, nor is such a campaign one that’s going to produce results overnight. It’s going to take a long-term commitment to make this happen.
The state’s Department of Economic Development and the city’s new entity, New Orleans Inc., are moving in a direction to create jobs in the music and film areas.
But where is the public relations campaign? Even the Port of New Orleans has an ongoing campaign to promote the port as a source of pride and an economic contributor. Shouldn’t our unique music and entertainment industries be doing the same thing?
PONDEROSA STOMP LEGACY
Hot on the trail of the success of this year’s Pondersoa Stomp during Jazz Fest, the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau will present a monthly concert series called “Congo Mombo.” The first series will take place on Saturday, September 6, at Mid-City Lanes, and will feature Barbara “The Empress of Gulf Coast Soul” Lynn with the Li’l Buck Sinegal Band. Ernie “Mr. Dap Walk” Vincent will be on hand and a many more will be announced. The events will lead up to Ponderosa Stomp 2004 and are sponsored by the Louisiana Music Factory, OffBeat, and the New Orleans Music Exchange.
Stay tuned to OffBeat for more info on the upcoming “Mombos.”
CELEBRATING MUSIC HERITAGE DURING ESSENCE FEST
As part of the Congo Square Heritage Series, the International Music Culture Exchange presents the 2003 Bamboula Second Line on Wednesday, July 2 beginning at 10:30 a.m. in Armstrong Park at North Rampart and St. Ann Streets. Another performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
This is a rare opportunity to witness a live performance illustrating the historical relationship of the bamboula rhythm of west Africa to the “second line” syncopation found in the music of the Mardi Gras Indians and brass bands in New Orleans.
The event is free to the public and is dedicated to the memory of Norman Dixon, Sr. (see Geraldine Wyckoff’s Jazzin’ column this month).
Featured performers are Brandi Kilbourne, members of Bamboula 2000, the Spirit of Fi Yi-Yi Mardi Gras Indians, the Hot 8 Brass Band, and the New Orleans All-Stars Social Aid and Pleasure Club in ensemble.
The event is meant to demonstrate the living evolution of the traditional rhythms of ancient Mali that comprise the sound of today’s second line.
The ensemble is sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the New Orleans Jazz National Park and the New Orleans Jazz Commission. For more information, call (504) 948-9452 or email [email protected].
Mark your calendars for the third annual Satchmo SummerFest, from Friday, July 31 through August 4. The festival is held at the Old U.S. Mint at the corner of Esplanade and Decatur Streets. This local tribute to Satchmo has free admission and includes all types of jazz at three music stages, a kids’ stage, exhibits, workshops and noted speakers.
The event’s major evening concert this year is a performance by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra with Ellis Marsalis and Irvin Mayfield, and special guest Patti Austin on Saturday, August 2 at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $25 and $50 and are available from Ticketmaster. Log onto http://www.satchmosummerfest.com/ for complete information on the festival and for special hotel rates.
