President’s Message

As we enter Black History Month, I’m filled with a profound sense of gratitude for the immeasurable contributions of Black musicians to the vibrant tapestry of American music and for the contributions and sacrifices of Black labor and civil rights leaders.

But Black History Month is more than just a retrospective. It’s an opportunity for reflection, for learning, and for action. It’s a time to acknowledge the systemic racism that long plagued our industry, from discriminatory hiring practices to the underrepresentation of Black voices in leadership positions.

As your union president, I am committed to using my platform to advocate for a more equitable and inclusive music industry. We must work together to dismantle the barriers that continue to hold Black musicians back, to amplify their voices, and to create a truly level playing field for all.

TEMPO Fund: Issues for US Musicians

As the 119th Congress gets into full swing following last month’s inauguration, I wanted to remind you about our Taskforce for Employment of Musicians Promotional Organization (TEMPO) fund. This fund supports US lawmakers and candidates who champion issues important to musicians, including artificial intelligence, tax policies, copyright, and performance rights. These lawmakers understand the issues that musicians face every day.

Federal law prohibits your dues money from being used for most political purposes. That’s why musicians have established TEMPO, which is solely funded by small contributions given by AFM musicians—like you.

Below, I have highlighted some of the key legislative issues that AFM Director of Government Affairs Ben Kessler is actively working to address. I invite you to help us by advocating for these legislative proposals and supporting our work through your TEMPO donation.

Protect musicians from artificial intelligence (AI) exploitation—All musicians must have control of their work and receive fair compensation. The Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act (H.R. 9551/ S. 4875) and Preventing Abuse of Digital Replicas Act are meaningful first steps toward protecting artists from exploitation. In addition, the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act would create transparency in AI.

Protect the right of workers to organize and collectively bargain—The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (H.R. 20 / S. 567) would ensure all workers have the right to organize and collectively bargain without interference.

Ensure artists are compensated fairly for use of their recordings—The American Music Fairness Act (H.R. 791) would ensure artists are compensated when their music is played over terrestrial radio. The Protect Working Musicians Act (H.R. 5576) would allow artists to collectively negotiate with platforms and receive fair compensation for their streaming work (see page 6 for more information on streaming compensation).

Support and build strong arts education—The Arts Education for All Act (H.R. 5463) would expand arts education programming, creating more opportunities for working musicians, expanding access to arts participation, and training the next generation of artists.

Update outdated copyright regulations—Section 512 of the Copyright Act, which limits a service provider’s liability for infringed materials, needs to be updated. The safe harbor provisions are outdated and do not reflect changes in technology over the last 25 years.

Ensure equality among musicians and other workers—The Equality Act would prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Federation supports policy measures that promote diverse talent pipelines and inclusive hiring.

Increase federal funding for the arts—National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants create jobs for musicians—with strong workplace protections—in all states and jurisdictions. The AFM supports increased NEA funding to at least $1 per capita (roughly $336 million).

Implement fairer tax policy and deductions for performing artists and union members—The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (H.R. 2871) would update the Qualified Performing Artist tax deduction. Tax Fairness for Workers Act (H.R. 4963/S. 738) would make union dues tax deductible once again. The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act (H.R. 5456/S. 737) would end tax benefits for interfering in workers’ right to organize.

Reform ticket sale laws to protect music fans from exploitive pricing—The Fans First Act (S. 3457) would empower artists to control and protect consumers from predatory ticket sale practices.

All musicians deserve good wages, decent working conditions, health care, and a secure retirement. Your TEMPO contribution will allow the AFM to support lawmakers and candidates who advocate for these issues important to working musicians.

Please visit: www.afm.org/what-we-are-doing/legislative/tempo/ to donate today. Your donation of any amount will make a difference when it comes to ensuring the voice of musicians is heard in Washington, DC.

Contributions to TEMPO, PCC, the AFM’s separate segregated political fund, are used to help members of Congress who support AFM issues. TEMPO contributions can only be accepted from US members and are NOT tax deductible. Your decision to give is strictly voluntary and is NOT a requirement of membership in the union. For more information, please contact: TEMPO Coordinator Sandra Grier, 212-869-1330 ext. 215 or sgrier@afm.org.

Let me start by saying that I was delighted to attend the Kennedy Center Honors on December 8, and it was truly an amazing event, especially to see our members front and center, along with our SAG-AFTRA siblings.

As we begin 2025, our negotiations with the television networks for a successor to the Television Videotape Agreement continue. Following a second extension signed to carry the current agreement through the end of January, we are still working to resolve outstanding issues, primarily economics and the treatment of new media platforms. While challenging, the process has been cooperative thus far, and we hope to conclude these negotiations before the expiration of the current extension.

As I’ve discussed in my columns during the past year and a half, one of the most pressing challenges our industry faces today is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The rapid advancements in these technologies pose significant threats to musicians’ livelihoods, including the potential for AI generated music to replace human performers and for AI to be misused to replicate artists’ unique styles.

Ben Kessler, the AFM director of government affairs, is leading efforts in Washington, DC, to advocate for legislation that protects musicians’ intellectual property rights and prohibits the theft of intellectual property and the unregulated use of AI in music.

As I write this column, Congress is on the brink of a shutdown. The exact legislative vehicle to fund the government remains unclear. Leading up to this moment, the musicFIRST Coalition, of which AFM is a member, insisted that Congress should not use the funding bill to mandate AM radios in cars so long as musicians still aren’t compensated for spins on those airwaves. We were going against considerable opposition. Because of your advocacy and the steadfast support of Congressional leadership, we were successful. Our fight continues in 2025, as we work toward the passage of the American Music Fairness Act.

Outreach to musicians remains a top priority as we work together toward our shared goals. I am very happy to report that, after some time and much searching, the Freelance Services Department will once again be in full swing. Wages Argott, who led the department for three years, has agreed to return to his role as director of Freelance Services and Membership Development.

Argott, an active freelance musician and veteran of several AFM departments, will work closely with our locals to address the unique challenges that freelance musicians face, which are of great concern to us. Together, we are committed to tackling difficulties encountered by freelancers in the US and Canada and exploring ways our union can provide resources and support to these essential members.

Additionally, the AFM Organizing Division continues to gain momentum as it actively engages with musicians across the US and Canada to educate them about their workplace rights and the protections provided by a union contract. To achieve this goal, we are fostering strong collaboration among all AFM departments—Symphonic Services, Theatre/Touring, Electronic Media Services, Freelance Services, Government Affairs, and Education. By leveraging the unique expertise of each department, we can gain valuable insights into the diverse sectors and the musicians within them. Our aim is to empower musicians across the US and Canada by effectively utilizing the resources and advantages offered by the AFM.

While our industry does face a range of complex challenges, I am confident of our ability to address them effectively. By focusing on organization, collective bargaining, and legislative advocacy in both the US and Canada, we can advocate for fair compensation, equitable working conditions, and a sustainable future for all musicians.

I strongly believe that fostering collaboration across all departments will enable us to effectively address the various issues we encounter as a union. Together, we can strengthen our union and ensure a more resilient future for generations to come.

Access the List of Locals Online

As a reminder, the AFM List of Locals, the directory of Federation staff and all AFM locals across the US and Canada, is available in the Document Library of the members-only website at https://members.afm.org/member/library/. The List of Locals PDF is updated monthly to provide current contact information for each local, including phone numbers, email addresses, and website links.

Additionally, the List of Locals details the geographical jurisdictions and work dues for each local, ensuring musicians and locals can readily identify the appropriate local for their needs. Whether you’re a local officer seeking collaboration or a musician requiring local guidance, the List of Locals serves as a valuable tool for navigating the AFM network.

Together with a robust delegation from the AFM, I attended the Fifth International Orchestra Conference (IOC) of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), October 23-26, in Malmö, Sweden. In addition to myself, the delegation included Vice President from Canada Allistair Elliott, AFM Director of Symphonic Services and Special Counsel Rochelle Skolnick, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) Chair Keith Carrick, Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) President Stephen Wade, Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) President Bob Fraser, OCSM Vice President Ethan Balakrishnan, and Professor Christine Guptill of the University of Ottawa. Also in attendance was AFM Local 149 (Toronto, ON) Executive Director and AFM International Executive Board Member Dusty Kelly.

Previous iterations of the IOC were held in Berlin, Amsterdam, Oslo, and Montreal in 2017. The format of the conference includes a series of panel discussions featuring musicians and advocates for musicians. On the first day, orchestra managers participated, while the remaining days were dedicated solely to musicians and their representatives. This arrangement facilitated open and honest discussions about issues important to the participants. Attendees from across Europe, and as far away as Japan, Australia, and India, were united in a shared passion for their art.

Members of the AFM delegation participated as panelists or moderators in discussions on various important topics. These included environmental and climate issues impacting orchestras (Fraser), musicians’ health concerns (Guptill), bullying and harassment (Skolnick), and the evolving nature of orchestra musicians’ work due to changes in repertoire and audience demographics (Skolnick). I was part of a panel focused on fostering solidarity within orchestras and on an international level. Additional panels covered themes such as transparency and fairness in recruitment practices to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion; work-life balance for orchestra musicians; and the rights of freelance musicians.

In addition to the panel discussions, attendees were invited to a concert by Malmö Symphony Orchestra, held in their beautiful concert hall, which was conveniently attached to the conference hotel. The City of Malmö also hosted a reception at its historic City Hall. However, the most important aspect of the event was the lively exchange of ideas and information among orchestra musicians from around the world. While the challenges we face are remarkably similar, each country approaches these challenges slightly differently, leading to both success stories and disappointments. This diversity of perspectives makes an event like the FIM IOC a valuable forum for learning from one another and reinforcing the shared solidarity of orchestra musicians globally.

Early in November, our negotiations with the television networks for a successor to the Television Videotape Agreement continued; a second extension agreement was signed to carry the agreement through the end of January. Both parties met for a productive week at the AFM offices in New York City, where significant movement was made on structural issues in the contract. Though some issues remain open, including economics and new media, the process has been cooperative thus far. The parties will meet again for three days in early January.

I am excited about the substantial progress we’ve made at the negotiating table this year. Notably, the historic breakthroughs in streaming residuals, artificial intelligence protections, wage increases, and other improvements for musicians in the agreement with Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), Pamphlet B negotiations, and our current Live TV Videotape agreement negotiations. These developments demonstrate the AFM’s commitment to advocating for the rights and interests of its members and securing a sustainable future for the music industry.

Finally, I hope you take the time to enjoy the remaining year-end holidays with your family and friends. Wishing all of you a happy holiday and a healthy, prosperous new year!

One of the many satisfying elements of my position in our union is the opportunity to meet every year with the officers of the various regional local conferences and officers and delegates of the player conferences. We just concluded another conference season. I want to bring attention to our conferences because they are important to our structure. They facilitate communication and provide an opportunity to share experiences with each other.

We live in an ever changing and evolving industry. It is critical that we speak with one voice to gain the leverage we need to overcome difficulties in the workplace, whether through collective bargaining or political action. The conference season is a chance for the union to report on internal issues, such as staffing needs and administrative changes.

Local and player conferences bring to light external issues that affect us and need to be addressed. This year was important for discussions of sexual misconduct in the workplace as well as the need for a more robust system of reporting egregious activity and better education programs to help meet the challenges we face as musicians.

There is no shortage of challenges, and one of the many ways we address them is through political action, whether on Capitol Hill or in Ottawa. One important issue is the ability of our Canadian members to cross the border to perform. Musicians are losing work, and venues are losing revenue, hurting all our communities. The strongest way we can address this problem is by taking advantage of the leverage we have: one union, two countries. We will coordinate our political pressure in the US and Canada by standing together as one union. Together, we can succeed.

Another critical issue is the two letters that have become anathema to the human creative process—AI, or artificial intelligence. We need unity to combat this threat. We cannot stand by and let our sound and style be stolen and used for the creation of artificial musical expression. This will require collaboration on the local, state, provincial, and federal levels. Working together, we can use our strength to influence legislative activity that will protect the rights of all performers and creators.

The AFM can be a clearinghouse of information for addressing these issues, but only if we band together with communication and resource sharing. Together, we can be the union we deserve to be and have the strength to make the changes to protect us for generations to come.

We are on the verge of electing a new US president. The American labor movement and our union depend on the outcome of this election. I want to encourage all of you to participate in the election and vote like your life depends on it because it does.

AFM Members Providing Aid: Emergency Relief Fund

As we go to press, some of our colleagues have been devastated by severe weather patterns. My heart goes out to the musicians and their communities affected by recent hurricanes that hit Florida and the southern states in rapid succession. As we continue to experience the real effects of climate change, large wildfires, tornadoes, and severe storms are becoming more common. The destruction they cause is sobering.

Each year, many of our musicians lose their homes, instruments, and livelihood because of natural disasters. During these times of crisis, it is more important than ever to come together and support our fellow members in need.

If you are able, I am asking for your solidarity, compassion, and generous contributions to help other musicians recover from disasters. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference and help provide much-needed support to those facing these crises.

On our AFM Emergency Assistance webpage (afm.org/emergency-assistance), you may donate to the AFM Emergency Relief Fund. If you prefer to donate by check, make it payable to “AFM Emergency Relief Fund” and send by mail to: American Federation of Musicians; 1501 Broadway, Ninth Floor; New York, NY 10036.

For those who need help, you can download an AFM Emergency Relief application and find other helpful resources for times of crisis on the Emergency Assistance webpage.

I am proud of how our members demonstrate support and solidarity toward each other in times of crisis. It is gratifying to see the generosity of our membership and the empathy they show for their fellow musicians impacted by these disasters. Thanks to all who have already donated.

On September 4, the Federation opened negotiations with the major television networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) for a successor Live Television Videotape Agreement. During this first round, both sides exchanged opening proposals and returned initial impressions to the other side.

In addition to much-needed structural changes to some sections of the agreement, the AFM is focusing on advancements toward new media parity with agreements from other guilds. We are seeking protections against the encroachment of artificial intelligence (AI), increased health care contributions, and better compliance and enforcement procedures within the contract.

The parties will reconvene for a second round of bargaining in early November. (You can read additional details about these negotiations and our kick-off rally on page 11.)

Legislative Priorities

During mid-September, my focus shifted to our legislative priorities and connecting with our allies on Capitol Hill. I traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with Ben Kessler, our new director of government affairs. Together, we attended a Labor Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the impact of AI on musicians.

While in Washington, DC, we met with AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond. We discussed many issues facing all workers, and especially AFM members. The most important outcome of such meetings is our work to strengthen relationships with other AFL-CIO affiliate unions.

We attended the Department of Labor’s Century of Service Celebration, which paid tribute to nine labor unions who, as of this year, have fought for worker rights for more than 100 years. (The AFM, founded in 1896, was inducted 28 years ago.)

Following the induction, Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su led a panel discussion on the labor movement’s future and how to build on worker equity to create a multiracial, multicultural, multilingual, and multigenerational movement that benefits all workers. The discussion highlighted national and local union commitments to foster a diverse workforce and establish committees for underrepresented workers to encourage deeper involvement in their unions.

We attended a “For the Record” event at the Capitol Visitors Center, which was co-hosted by the Recording Academy, Kennedy Center, and the Library of Congress. This provided an opportunity to speak with members of Congress, representatives from the Copyright Office, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and other stakeholders about some of our legislative priorities. Among those discussions:

• Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) expressed support for the Performing Arts Tax Parity Act (PATPA) of 2023. We discussed other tax proposals that benefit unions and how we can work together in the future.
• With Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), we discussed a range of issues, including immigration and instrument handling at airports. She is chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus and lead Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the NEA.
• Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) is lead democrat on the Judiciary Committee, which has intellectual property jurisdiction. I thanked him for his steadfast support on copyright and AI issues. Nadler expressed his general support for human artistry and musicians.
• In our meeting with Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), we voiced support for her Arts Education for All proposal and discussed the importance of arts education and the harm it causes when its cut. We also discussed the Bipartisan Taskforce on AI and how it can protect musicians.

While in DC, I attended the NEA National Heritage Fellowship ceremony at the Library of Congress. The fellowship is known as the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts and celebrated 10 extraordinary artists who shape America’s cultural heritage. This year’s music honorees included rockabilly and country musician Rosie Flores, fiddler Trimble Gilbert, koto player and Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) member June Kuramoto, along with traditional Zuni dancers and singers Zuni Olla Maidens.

Strategic Planning

At the end of September, members of the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) traveled to Washington, DC, for a strategic planning session, in accordance with AFM Bylaws, which require the IEB to formulate a three-year plan. To help us facilitate our plan, we worked with Susan Schurman, professor of labor studies and employment relations at Rutgers University and former executive director of the George Meany Center. Her research and teaching focus on leadership, organizational effectiveness, and labor-management relations.

Schurman serves as an advisor to many national unions and is no stranger to the AFM. She oversaw the creation of the AFM’s officer education program in 1999. In 2012, she helped guide the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

We are just getting started with this process, and we are optimistic that this strategic planning will help guide the future of the Federation.