“Then I met Ashlye [Keaton], and I realized the Ella Project also was helping musicians. This is invaluable resource to me and all musicians,” he said. “They answer all my legal questions, and it’s incredible that this is free.”

Player has used the Ella Project’s assistance for any number of legal issues, including copyrights, trademarks, contracts, operating agreements, partnership agreements, and establishing his LLC. “No matter what my project, I can count on them for excellent legal advice,” Player added. 

He also gave a shout out to the Ella Project’s Crescendo Program. Attorney Bri Whetstone and musician and music entrepreneur Lou Hill lead the sessions, which are free of charge. It is a series of seven workshops on topics such as copyrights, music licensing, collecting royalties, touring, festival gigs, album releases, and keeping up with the technologies changing the music economy. 

The Crescendo program is more of a conversation than a lecture. Musicians’ stories and actual situations are used to present the information. The combination of Whetstone’s and Hill’s perspectives is what makes the series so dynamic. 

 Whetstone’s advice centers on the legalities of the industry — and watching out for red flags. Hill’s guidance centers more on the strategies and processes of the music business. 

 “We want to make the material relatable,” Whetstone said. Now in its sixth year, the series is available virtually in Louisiana and in-person at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Although participants can pick and choose which sessions to attend, the series is designed to build a body of knowledge in sequential order.