Cole Williams-Be ready so you don’t have to get ready.
By Bethany Paulsen
In her 20+ year career, Cole Williams has frequently worked as a songwriter and studio musician. Early on she learned the importance of clear agreements before embarking on creative projects. Cole's belief that being ready, so you don’t have to get ready, ensured that she always prioritized handling split sheets and formalizing other agreements before initiating any studio work.
Cole understands that a split sheet serves as a written agreement that comprehensively outlines the contributions of all collaborators to a song or a recording, along with their respective ownership percentages. Although these signed split sheets are legally binding instruments that ensure proper credits, Cole often encountered situations where fellow collaborators neglected the crucial business side of music before diving into the creative process, which sometimes resulted in musicians not getting their dues - or worse - music projects being shelved. Cole quickly took it upon herself to advocate, not only for herself, but for other members of her band and the entire music community, to make sure that everyone knew to get their share of the earnings due to them when it came time for licensing and publishing.
Cole's knowledge of this essential aspect of the music industry has been instrumental in quickly resolving cases that she’s brought to The Ella Project, particularly when her rights as a creator have been being compromised. Thanks to her diligent approach in securing agreements prior to songwriting recording, along with her support from The Ella Project, she has quickly received favorable outcomes ensuring she gets the payments she’s entitled to when challenging those infringing on her rights and violating her contracts around royalties and other revenue.
With pro bono legal assistance from The Ella Project, Cole not only finds resolution for issues encountered as a performer and recording artist, but she also continually enhances her knowledge around the business side of music. This ongoing education has broadened her opportunities for success in the industry.
In Cole's words, “Ashlye makes me feel like I'm the only person she speaks to. I’m so grateful and appreciate the long-term, quality advice I continue to receive working with The Ella Project. This support extends beyond individual projects; it's about long-term education and growth.”
A significant part of The Ella Project's mission centers around helping musicians and artists to identify and document their interests as rights holders so they can organize, manage, and control the use of their creative work in the marketplace and beyond.
The Ella Project offers comprehensive support, from assisting artists in obtaining split sheets as part of their workflow to ensuring proper recourse when their work is published and licensed so that when their rights are at risk of compromise, they don’t have to get ready – they are ready.
