New Orleans musicians could see standard pay rate for all city music performances

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — New Orleans musicians could soon see a pay rate increase backed by the city under a new council proposal.

“Musicians are worth it. They are worth it. We should be paying them with what they are worth,” said New Orleans City Council President Helena Moreno.

Council members voted to pass an ordinance proposing that musicians hired for city-funded events make $200 per musician per hour, even while still earning tips. The ordinance also includes vocalists, DJs and conductors in its definition of musicians.

Danovon Calhoun-Bettis, with the music and culture coalition of New Orleans, believes it shows how the city values musicians living and working there.

“We lead this nation in music. I mean, we can go everywhere and be appreciated at top dollar. We want to be able to stay in our city and do that,” said Calhoun-Bettis.

Along with the minimum compensation of $200, an act with 10 or more musicians would be paid at least $2,000 per performance.

Moreno says the idea came from Austin, Texas, where the city government is doing the same thing. She says this sets the tone for what the rest of the city should be doing.

“They’re our culture bearers. They are so much of what the city is about. So, they should be paid appropriately. We hear about musicians who just can’t make ends meet, so it’s hard to continue on with their craft,” said Moreno.

Currently, 50% of musicians spend more than half of their earnings on rent while living in New Orleans. One advocate is happy to hear that it will change but says that it must be enforced.

“Our ordinances are only as good as enforcement and implementation make them. They effectively mean nothing but their good intent unless we have an enforcement mechanism behind them,” said Erika Zucker, a policy advocate with the Workplace Justice Project.

Councilman JP Morrell agrees that this sends a clear message to all agencies looking to hire musicians.

“We are going to make departments affirm monthly or quarterly that they are actually following the ordinance to make sure everyone knows you will have to affirm you are in compliance,” said Morrell.

Moreno says once the proposal passes the full council, she wants it to go into effect immediately, saying that musicians have waited too long for pay they should have been receiving.

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