Julia Heath is the Policy and Outreach Manager for the New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Nighttime Economy. We dig into how New Orleans can be not just the birthplace of American music, but the place it’s headed, and cover Julia’s path from venue work to Covid-era advocacy, why coalition-building saved independent stages, and how the “music ecosystem” powers bars, restaurants, hotels, and tourism across the city.

We get specific on solutions: the public New Orleans Music Census (and what 1,500+ voices told us), the Music Census Sessions with The Ella Project and NOPL, and practical routes for artists: brand/EPK basics, touring, and sync. We also face the tough stuff: housing, weather risk, and policy uncertainty, plus the need for workforce pipelines and stronger city-state coordination. Together, we reflect on how collaboration, advocacy, and creative development can secure the future of New Orleans music for generations to come.

Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. 

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