New Orleans doesn't need to be Austin. It's already a music industry city.

For as long as I have lived in New Orleans, which is several decades, there has been a lot of talk and numerous initiatives around developing a “real music industry” in this city. I myself am guilty of saying that there’s no real music business infrastructure in New Orleans. But, at some point, I had kind of an “aha moment” that changed my perspective. When I really think about what defines and constitutes a music industry, for me, it is obvious that New Orleans is actually a music industry city and has been for decades.