Margie Perez-A Most Versatile Singer Songwriter
The Ella Project helped Pérez with BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.), which operates as a bridge between artists and performance venues. It protects copyrights, collects licensing fees, and distributes royalties. “If it weren’t for the Ella Project, I would have made mistakes!” Pérez said. “They had the legal advice I needed for royalties and copyrights.”
Pérez has also attended sessions of the Ella Project’s Crescendo Program. This free, seven-week workshop series is designed to help independent musicians navigate the contemporary industry. It was at one of the Crescendo seminars that Pérez realized that she, in fact, did not have the correct publishing credentials. “Ashlye Keaton helped me correct it. I had not realized that I had to register myself as a ‘publisher,’ ” Pérez said. “This is a slow process that is still in the works.”
Doreen Ketchens, “Queen Clarinet” with a Street Corner Throne
Playing on the street is not without its problems. Issues like harassment and sound levels led Ketchens to seek the legal assistance of the Ella Project. She learned about them word of mouth and then met Ashlye Keaton and Gene Meneray.
“You don’t know you need them until you need them,” Ketchens said. “It’s empowering to be able to concentrate on my music instead of legal issues like people pirating my songs.”
And when she had issues with an appearance on Netflix’s Queer Eye, the Ella Project also was there for her. “The people at the Ella Project always ask, ‘How can I help you?’” she said. “I consider the Ella Project one of these gifts from God.