In the next installment of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Sync Up workshop series, the topic of discussion will be the mechanics (and importance) of properly registering music copyrights.

The New Orleans Business Alliance is partnering with the Foundation for the January 23 workshop, which will be presented in part by Big Freedia,  film composer Jay Weigel and music manager Robin Burgess.

According to the Foundation, this workshop is “the first step in a multi-phase effort to help more local artists get their music into film and TV productions.”

Attendees will be informed as to why the registration of copyrights is so important, as well as practical advice about how to go about registering them. There will be opportunities to gain free help in the registration process, plus big discounts on the cost thereof. As always, the Sync Up workshop will offer networking opportunities for those in attendance.

“Nearly all New Orleans musicians and composers want to license their music for use in films, TV productions, commercials and videogames,” said Don Marshall, Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. “But films, video games and the like won’t consider music that isn’t properly copyrighted, something many local artists neglect to do.”

The ELLA Project will help sign folks up for free assistance sessions. In these sessions, attorneys will help musicians and songwriters not only organize their catalogs, but also take the necessary steps to register their copyrights.

“Economic development only matters because people matter. For too long, local musicians who are important parts of making New Orleans known across the globe have not been fully able to realize the financial fruits of their artistry. We want to change that,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr. president and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance.  “When we increase the earnings of local musicians, we not only begin to recognize their value to our economy but also we position our city to be more economically competitive for everyone.”

The interview portion of the evening will feature Freedia and her manager, Midcitizen Entertainment’s Reid Martin. On the panel, which will focus on the proper steps for copyright registration, Burgess (manager of Terence Blanchard and Quiana Lynell) will be joined by Weigel as well as entertainment attorney Tim Kappel and Victoria Adams Phipps of the New Orleans Business Alliance.

The first 50 artists who register for the workshop and complete an ELLA Project assistance session will earn a grant from the New Orleans Business Alliance to substantially offset the fees for registering copyrights. Admission to the workshop is free but seating is limited and registration is required.  Register to attend here.
LICENSING MUSIC TO FILM & TV:
Step One: Make Sure Your Copyrights are Registered
Wednesday, Jan. 23
5:30 p.m. at the Jazz & Heritage Center
Free Admission