Make Your Music the Next Hollywood Soundtrack

The New Orleans Business Alliance and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation today announced the third jointly-hosted Sync Up workshop to help local musicians earn more money for their art. This time the event focuses on Hollywood.

“Every day, we see the film trucks and set crews as evidence of the resurgent film and television industry in New Orleans,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., president and CEO of the New Orleans Business Alliance. “We want to equip talented local musicians with the tools to protect and profit from their artistry, so they get their scores and music into productions that are filmed here and elsewhere. Royalties are the stepping stones to wealth creation for musicians and ultimately, we want local artists to have multiple revenue streams beyond performance income.”

Workshop Scheduled to Teach Musicians Steps to Increase Earnings

• Sync Up Workshop: Make Your Music the Next Hollywood Soundtrack
• Wednesday, September 18, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, 1205 N. Rampart Street.
• Free Admission. Register here.

Presenters will teach local artists how to clear samples for use, register copyrighted music, and how to get their works into film, commercials and TV productions.

“In the changing music economy, having your work licensed for use in films and TV productions has become increasingly important. This Sync Up workshop is designed to help our local musicians and composers learn how to pursue these amazing opportunities,” said Don Marshall, executive director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.

Jazz Icon John Boutté shares experiences with the business of entertainment

The workshop features a discussion with John Boutté, local jazz icon, whose “Treme Song” became the theme for the acclaimed HBO series Treme.

In addition, film, music and law experts will discuss the nuances of registering music for licensing or use. Panelists include:

• Sarah Bromberg, music supervisor, Bonfire Collective (music supervision for NBC’s Smash, Pitch Perfect 2 and commercials for Walmart, Subaru, Budweiser and more)
• Erica Falls, artist (lead singing role of the award-winning Lee Daniels film The Butler, currently touring with funk band Galactic)
• Dino Gankendorff, entertainment attorney, Provosty & Gankendorff (clients include Chuck D, Cupid, Mavis Staples, Rebirth Brass Band and Trombone Shorty among others)
• Kyle Lamy, music and location supervisor, NCIS New Orleans
• Reid Wick, senior director & project manager, The Recording Academy (GRAMMYS).

Sync Up Attendees Get Opportunity for Legal Assistance

Attendees can sign up for free assistance sessions with The ELLA Project, a nonprofit that uses volunteer lawyers to help artists protect their copyrights. The attorneys will help musicians and songwriters organize their catalogs, and take the necessary steps to register copyrights.

The first 50 artists who register, attend the Sync Up, sign up and complete an ELLA Project assistance session will earn a grant from the New Orleans Business Alliance to substantially offset the fees for copyright registration. 

Sponsors include: Louisiana Economic Development and The ELLA Project.

About the New Orleans Business Alliance

One of fewer than 70 Accredited Economic Development Organizations worldwide, the New Orleans Business Alliance is the official 501(c)(3) not-for-profit economic development organization created as the partnership between the City of New Orleans and the business community to enhance the economic security of all New Orleanians by accelerating the diversification of the local economy, developing local talent and expanding entrepreneurial opportunity.By pursuing an inclusive economic development strategy, we will create the perfect intersection of culture and commerce resulting in more equity and greater prosperity for all.

About Sync Up

The Sync Up entertainment industry development workshops are a program of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. The Foundation is the nonprofit that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. It uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other raised fund, for year-round programs in education, economic development and cultural enrichment.