The Ella Project is set to launch Crescendo Music Business Intensive, a free, seven-week series of music business workshops. These workshops are designed and presented by musician Lou Hill and attorney Bri Whetstone, and will take place at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Avenue. Sessions will be held every Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., starting on September 24, and continuing through November 12, with the exception of Election Day, November 5.
Crescendo is aimed at musicians of all experience levels who are seeking to strengthen their knowledge of the music business. The series will cover topics such as music copyright, contracts, publishing, royalties, booking festival gigs, accounting and publicity.
The workshops will focus on:
- September 24: Intellectual Property for Musicians
- October 1: Publishing and Revenue Streams
- October 8: Working with Labels, Master Recordings, and Record Deals
- October 15: Streaming Royalties and Performing Rights Organizations
- October 22: Music Contracts, Band Agreements, and Trademarks
- October 29: Festivals and Finance
- November 12: Releasing, Pitching, and Monetizing Your Music
Although participants are encouraged to attend the entire series, each session is designed to stand alone, allowing individuals to select topics of particular interest.
Crescendo is presented with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund.
About the Presenters
Lou Hill is a New Orleans-based musician with over 20 years of experience. He is the founder, songwriter, and drummer of the Billboard Top 20 charting band Water Seed. Hill has worked in various areas of the music business and previously led marketing efforts for Louisiana Red Hot Records.
Bri Whetstone is an intellectual property attorney with the New Orleans law firm McCranie Sistrunk Anzelmo Hardy McDaniel & Welch. She has extensive experience in copyright law, contract drafting, and trademark management, and has been a volunteer with The Ella Project since 2017.
About The Ella Project
The Ella Project is a nonprofit organization based in New Orleans that provides pro bono legal assistance and business development services to artists, musicians, and grassroots nonprofits in Louisiana. The organization serves over 1,000 clients annually through its legal clinics, business seminars, and consultancy network, all based at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
For more details and RSVP links can be found at https://ellanola.org/crescendo.
