Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ellis Williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ellis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I started E Willz Entertainment back in 2017 but we didn’t come into our own until just recently. I’m 38 years old and, though I’ve had an amazing career as a performing artist, I do wish that I started this business MUCH sooner and for two reasons.

1. You don’t learn nearing as much as you need to about the music industry in any school. I believe I would’ve been further along my journey if I took the leap of faith and seek alternative methods to entering the field.

2. Although music licensing has been around for decades, only now are people just starting to realize how lucrative this part of the music industry can get.

Either way I’m happy for where my path has taken me and I might not have gained the wisdom and confidence that I currently have at this point in my life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m the son of a singer, husband to a fellow entrepreneur, and friend to all creatives.

Richmond, VA has been the place I called home since 2016. It’s music scene is unlike any other and the talent is out of this world. I spent most of my career as a recording and performing artist up until 2017 when I founded E Willz Entertainment (EWE).

As a business owner I wanted to find a way to give back to the art that raised me while operating outside the norm of your typical agency in the music industry. Initially, EWE suffered with an identify crisis in its beginning stage. We put on public showcases, ran open mics, karaokes, and a music themed game night but we just couldn’t figure out how to breakthrough.

That changed about two years ago I discovered the world of the sync industry. An alternative source of income for music creatives built on royalties earned off of the placement of recorded music in film and other media. I’m proud of the fact that I can serve not only independent artists, but directors and small businesses who are working with a low budget.

Most artists are not educated on how to make a living with their music outside of streaming touring sales. Being an artist myself I am fully aware of the lack of knowledge and devote myself to filling in the gap one musician at a time. The drive comes from me wishing I had that level of assistance when I at the start of my career.

As a music licensor I want my clients to know I’m their biggest fan and that I want them to win. If there’s a project in need of music I want them to trust that my team and I are capable of providing the best song that completes their vision! As of now, we are the only sync agency in Virginia pitching hip hop, r&b, and jazz from its homegrown talent.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Networking Like A Pro: Turning Contacts Into Connections

I didn’t realize it the time but this book was the best gift I’ve ever got off of a friend. My boss at the time (and now one of my best friends) lent me this book after a long conversation we had where I expressed my struggles in networking.

Networking is THE MOST important element in ANY business and it was a skill that I desperately needed better understanding. This book broke it all down to a science and helped build my confidence just in time for the first networking event I ever attended. I walked into that LA conference as an unknown and left with 3 strong connections that still pour into my business today.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was more like a belief.

Up until recently I believe that my superpower was being a music creator. I approached every meeting with that mindset and thought that potential clients would buy into what I was selling simply because I was the passionate creator behind the product. I would send about 30 cold pitches a week hoping for a bite but rarely got a response from music supervisors.

It took another sync agent to show me that my emails were too informal and lacked details that supervisors really wanted to hear. By improving my sales pitch I was able able to increase the number of responses by almost 75%. I had to stop writing like an artist and, instead, write like a marketing representative giving all the necessary details with a little bit of backstory.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ewillzentertainment.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ewelivethemusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ewillzmusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewillzmusic/
• Twitter: https://x.com/ewelivethemusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ewillzmusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ewillzmusic
• Other: https://www.ewillzmusic.com/

Image Credits

Headshots by Bad Brad (@badbrad.pic)