Music and the politics of space: Acoustic territories in New Orleans

Abstract

Municipalities typically seek to control the production and distribution of sound through noise and zoning ordinances. By virtue of sound’s inherent properties, however, such ordinances also regulate public space, though the spaces in question belie clearly demarcated boundaries. This article considers the cultural discourse surrounding contemporary debates about musical performance in public spaces, paying particular attention to the ways in which the politicization and regulation of acoustic space can be levied to curtail and potentially marginalize cultural expression and labor. I take New Orleans as a case study in light of that city’s ongoing debates surrounding musical performance and the regulation of sound. New Orleans provides a uniquely compelling example, as overzealous policing of the soundscape at times conflicts with the role that live music plays in that city’s broader cultural economy. Ultimately, I assess the stakes of these debates while recognizing the contentious and inherently political dynamics at play.