Welcome to the Baton Rouge Region Music Census
The Baton Rouge Region Music Census is a community-led initiative organized to gain a better understanding of the current strengths, opportunities and needs of the Baton Rouge Region music community to cultivate the region’s ever-growing music community. A keystone of this initiative is conducting a Music Census that captures key information about our music economy to help the region, its cities, and community make better informed, data-driven decisions to support our music ecosystem moving forward. The census asks questions specific to the realities of music and live entertainment workers, creators, educators and industry including general information about their demographics and occupation types as well as their perspective on issues such as economic opportunity, professional development, affordability, music-friendly regulations, funding support, diversity, and belonging.
The Census will open in September 2025. During that time we are calling on anyone (18+) that identifies as being a part of the Baton Rouge Region music ecosystem/industry/scene to participate. Please plan to share your voice!
This initiative is being led by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, and the City of Baton Rouge. The Census is administered by Sound Music Cities, a civic-oriented and leading provider of music ecosystem studies and music census work.
Calling All Community Partners!
Calling All Community Partners!
It Takes A Village To Reach a Village!
Become a Community Engagement Partner and help us conduct the most extensive survey of the Baton Rouge Region music and live entertainment ecosystem.
What we’re asking:
We will begin our survey in September 2025, and we’re asking you to send the survey to your contacts in the music and live entertainment ecosystem, encouraging individuals to take the survey. We also will ask you to periodically make social media posts to announce the launch of the survey, and encourage participation.
What you’ll get:
Most importantly, representation in the survey results – we want to be as inclusive as possible, which means we want the folks you work with and serve to have their voices heard. We will give community engagement partners a sneak peak of the survey data results before finalizing and publishing our dashboard report. And we would love to add your logo to our list of engaged partners!
Please add your information in the form – contact name, email and telephone, and upload your organization’s logo to add it to the list of partners working to reach every part of our music and live entertainment ecosystem, and help us capture Baton Rouge Region’s rich heritage and vibrant music scene.
-
![]()
“To move our music scene forward, we’ve got to understand where we’re at right now. The Baton Rouge Music Census highlights the people and places that make our music community special, and makes sure they’re part of our city’s future.”
Mayor-President Sid Edwards
-
![]()
“We need the voices of those who are out there doing the work, gigging, mentoring, producing, rehearsing, recording, teaching. That’s where the real knowledge lives, and it’s why we’re calling on community partners and local ambassadors to help us reach every corner of our music scene.”
Jonathan Grimes, President and CEO of Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
-
![]()
“Whether you're talking about talent, entrepreneurship, or tourism—music is in the mix. The Baton Rouge Music Census is a smart step toward better understanding how this sector functions and how we can foster its growth in the Baton Rouge Area.”
Lori Melancon, President and CEO of Baton Rouge Area Chamber
-
![]()
"Data from the Music Census will allow our region to make informed decisions about how to cultivate a thriving music culture in Baton Rouge, we have to start by listening to those already doing the work."
Chris Meyer, President and CEO of Baton Rouge Area Foundation
-
![]()
“Understanding our music community is the first step toward growing it. The Baton Rouge Music Census helps us create more pathways for musicians, educators, and graduates to build lasting careers right here in Baton Rouge.”
Dr. James L. Byo, Director of LSU School of Music
FAQs
-
Oddly no, even though your continued support and interest is probably the most important benefit that a music scene can hope for, this Census is aimed at people working in music in any capacity instead of fans. On behalf of all the tireless workers in music who create what you love, we appreciate and thank you. If you know of any people working in music, please encourage them to take the census so that we can understand and strengthen the music scene.
-
Music community leaders here in the Baton Rouge Region and around the world have identified the importance of having measurable information about people who do music related work to provide them with better support. The results of this census will be made available to the thousands of music industry professionals, nonprofits, and government agencies in our area, as well as to the countless music patrons and consumers who are the lifeblood of our music ecosystem.
-
The census asks questions specific to the realities of music workers, including general information about their demographics and occupation types as well as their perspective on issues such as diversity, equity, and belonging.
-
Yes. The census does not collect any personal identifiers or IP addresses. Any individual responses highlighted in the published results will be attributed as “Census Respondent.”
-
From 10-20 minutes, depending on your respondent category (creative, venue owner, or industry) and whether you type in lengthy comments. 13 minutes is the average time spent on the census.
-
Those working in the Baton Rouge Region music ecosystem in ANY capacity (paid or unpaid) who are 18 years or older and living in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupée, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, West Feliciana, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. If you work as part of the Baton Rouge Region music ecosystem, even if you live outside the parishes listed, please take the Census.
-
You should participate in the census if you contribute any type of music-related work, with or without compensation, and you believe your skills and commitment are worthy of acknowledgement and support. This includes part-time work, rarely paid work or volunteer work, and work that is more administrative than creative.
-
To keep the data analysis manageable, we must limit the census to one entry per person, which means you must select one primary identity (creative, venue owner, or industry). That said, we know that most music people work in more than one area, so you will also have an opportunity within the census to provide info on work you do in other identity categories.
-
No. You can use a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Note that if you wish to leave and finish your response later, you will need to use the same device.
-
Currently the plans are to release the data in the fall of 2025 through a series of reports, online dashboards, and community events.
Jonathan Grimes
CEO & President
225-344-8558 ext. 236
jgrimes@artsbr.org