Ashlye Keaton

Ashlye Keaton practices intellectual property and entertainment law, and she also works in cultural advocacy and policy. Ashlye is the Co-Founder of The Ella Project, a nonprofit based in New Orleans that serves Louisiana artists, musicians and culture bearers with direct legal, business and advocacy services. Ashlye is an adjunct professor at Tulane Law School and the University of New Orleans Graduate School in Arts Administration.  She received the distinguished teaching award by Tulane Law class of 2015.  Along with other legal successes, Ashlye helped the Mardi Gras Indians by arguing that their elaborate suits qualified for copyright protection as works of sculpture. She is also noted for her work around the New Orleans municipal noise ordinance and other arts-related policies and regulations. Ashlye co-founded and serves on the board of Music Policy Forum, a North American organization dedicated to providing resources and strengthening networks within the music sector, and she was a part of the national leadership team for Reopen Every Venue Safely (REVS) during the recent pandemic.  Ashlye served the creative industries sub-committee for Mayor Cantrell’s transition team; she is the Chair of the community advisory board for WWOZ 90.7FM; she has served on numerous boards for arts and culture related organizations, including the Recording Academy.  Beyond New Orleans, Ashlye has convened stakeholders and presented at conferences at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Georgetown University, Canadian Music Week, the NoncomMusic Alliance, National Endowment for the Arts, South Arts, and other organizations steeped in conversations around developing best practices and facilitating fairness and equity in promoting thriving creative industries and cultural ecosystems. Ashlye has been recognized with numerous accolades for her commitment to arts and culture, including Avenue Magazine’s 2022 Activists of the Year; OffBeat Magazine’s Best Music Attorney for nine consecutive years; The Advocate’s Forty under 40; New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law; and the Mardi Gras Indian Hall of Fame Legal Eagle Award for her work with Mardi Gras Indians.