Local Note, a New Media entertainment talk show and music docuseries focused on Tulsa’s creative community, is relaunching. Episodes are currently being released on YouTube.
The show is produced and hosted by May Hwen, a musician who first created Local Note while still in high school. After pitching the idea to TPS Channel 20, the program debuted in 2002 and aired in prime time on public access television. Now, more than two decades later, the project is returning in an updated form as both a relaunch and a revival.
The name Local Note reflects the show’s musical roots and its broader mission. The “note” references music, while the “whole note” in the logo represents the full scope and diversity of Tulsa’s entertainment scene. What began as a music docuseries has expanded to include film, television, comedy, and spotlights on local businesses as Tulsa’s creative industry has grown.
Local Note is currently halfway through an eight-part series titled Lowdown on The Lowdown, which features conversations with local film professors and subject matter experts examining the city’s evolving film and television scene. Moving forward, the show plans to produce capsule-style projects, focusing on one production per month — whether that’s a multi-part series or a standalone feature.
Hwen says what sets Local Note apart is its format.
“This is an entertainment talk show, not a podcast,” said Hwen.
Content includes talk show discussions on local film and television, MTV-style music video features, comedian spotlights, and interviews designed to encourage deeper engagement with Tulsa’s arts community. The show also places an emphasis on featuring professors from local colleges to inspire audiences to further study and support local art and artists.
Looking ahead to 2026, Local Note plans to focus on fundraising, launching creative workshops for college students and the public, and hosting live shows to promote Tulsa-based talent and media.
The production is supported by in-kind partners, including Catalyst Coworking, Big Grass Burgers, and Raw Elements Hair Salon at the 15th and Lewis location. The team is also fundraising through Patreon to support crew and equipment needs, and is seeking volunteers, co-hosts, and content submissions.
More information about Local Note can be found at linktr.ee/localnote and YouTube.