Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Music and OffBeat Magazine proudly announces their partnership on a new monthly podcast series, Fridays Off…Beat. The inaugural episode is set to debut on the magazine’s website this Friday, June 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. CST.

The podcast’s first episode features Ivan Neville, the prominent New Orleans music culture figure. Neville joins Jonathan McHugh, Loyola’s Hilton-Baldridge Chair of Music Industry Studies, to discuss his new solo record and share stories from his extensive music career.

Jan Ramsey, the founder and editor of OffBeat Magazine, expressed her excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We are so thrilled to work with the College of Music & Media at Loyola University on this monthly podcast. Jonathan has been a long-time OffBeat supporter, and we’ve been looking for ways to bring our organizations together. This is a great first step to elevate the cultural knowledge of music for students and the community at large.”

McHugh returned to New Orleans as a teacher after experiencing it as a college student and shared his delight in bringing OffBeat to Loyola’s campus and the Michael J. Early studio. He expressed his gratitude for having Ivan Neville as the first guest, describing it as a dream come true to have his old friend in Loyola’s studio for their inaugural podcast.

Kate Duncan, the newly appointed Director of the School of Music & Theatre Professions at Loyola College of Music, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership between the magazine and the school. She emphasized that the podcast series aligns with their educational and musical mission, fostering a stronger connection between students and the rich musical contributions of the city.

Future episodes of the Fridays Off…Beat podcast will be released on the second Friday of each month, with upcoming guests to be announced shortly.