Today (April 21, 2020) OffBeat launched a GoFundMe crowdsourcing campaign. The launch is a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on small businesses in New Orleans.

OffBeat publisher and editor-in-chief Jan Ramsey published the following statement in conjunction with the GoFundMe:

“Over the last 33 years, OffBeat Magazine  has been the champion of music, musicians, music businesses and culture in New Orleans and throughout the world. Through its print magazine, web site, weekly newsletter, social media, Best of The Beat Awards, guides to local festivals, the Louisiana Music Directory and Jazz Fest Bible, we’ve endeavored to preserve and grow the music “ecosystem” and create appreciation for our great music worldwide.

OffBeat is not supported by ‘member donations’ and we need your help to keep music journalism and music and music business advocacy alive in New Orleans during this difficult time.

The COVID-19 virus has shuttered live music and culture here in New Orleans: musicians; bands; music venues, bars and restaurants; festivals and concerts; second line parades; Mardi Gras Indians and so much more.

The virus has also shut down our print OffBeat Magazine, which depends on advertising revenue to survive. Advertising from our partners supports our ability to publish our magazine, web site and e-newsletter and to pay our digital staff, contributors, photographers, printers, postage and distribution team, to say nothing of the costs of keeping our web site , Weekly Beat newsletter and social media functioning over the next two months during the time of the pandemic. Our advertising partners are shut down at this point, so our ability to stay alive is threatened because we have no revenue to pay our staff, ISP, mail program and more.

Do you think OffBeat is an important contributor to preserve and promote New Orleans and Louisiana music and musicians?

If you do, your donation will help us to get OffBeat up and running to keep our music coverage and advocacy alive and strong.

Please consider a donation, and thank you most gratefully!”

Those interested in supporting OffBeat directly can click here for the GoFundMe campaign.