DJ outcry proves worth of donor-supported events, Moreno says
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Mardi Gras parade viewing at Gallier Hall may be trimmed down in 2026, but it'll still sound great, thanks to more than $40,000 raised in donations to cover the cost of hiring DJs for this year's festivities.
Why it matters: Mayor Helena Moreno said Monday that she sees the solution — private donations supporting a public event — as a repeatable option for future projects.
Catch up quick: With New Orleans facing an ongoing budget crisis, one of the first things Moreno's administration took aim at was the city's official Mardi Gras celebrations.
- That included slashing an annual mayoral ball and cutting costs for two weeks of parade viewing at Gallier Hall.
- That put DJs, which have previously cost $15,000, on the chopping block.
Between the lines: New Orleans takes its culture bearers seriously, and DJs like Jubilee, Soul Sister, Captain Charles, Arie Spins and Raj Smoove have more than left their mark on the city's modern music landscape.
- Many interpreted an initial suggestion that Gallier Hall's festivities might rely on DIY playlists or volunteer DJs as an affront to that history.
- I "understand business is business, but do not try to make the DJ the bad guy [or the scapegoat]," Captain Charles wrote on Facebook. "I love my City. I would do anything to make this city look good but just appreciate what we bring to the table."
- "I'm ALL IN," Arie Spins said on Instagram, referencing Moreno's campaign slogan. "Pay us though. Respectfully."
The public outcry prompted Moreno to apologize and announce a plan to fund music at Gallier Hall with sponsorships.
- The donations were routed to the GNO Inc. Foundation, Moreno said Monday.
- "This entire city wants to support our musicians, our DJs, our artists," she said. "The outpouring really showed us that that level of participation is there, so this is probably something we'll continue to request year after year."
By the numbers: The city received 320 applications for DJs to perform at Gallier Hall, a spokesman for Moreno said, and 13 were selected for the jobs through a partnership with IHeart Media's "Uptown" Angela Watson Charles.
- They'll receive a city-mandated pay rate of at least $200 per hour.