Electronic Media Services, International Musician

EMSD Special Issue Highlights

September 4, 2018

The Electronic Media Services Division (EMSD) is the division of the AFM charged with serving and protecting the interests of nonsymphonic recording musicians. (The AFM Symphonic Services Division represents opera, ballet, and chamber orchestra electronic media projects.)

AFM Leadership Meets Representatives at LCC/PCC Conference

August 6, 2018

On June 17-18, the LCC/PCC Conference was held at the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Saturday began with a meeting of AFM leadership and staff with delegates from both the LCC and PCC.

Using wagechart.afm.org to Understand the Symphonic World

July 30, 2018

Wagechart is an online platform where most current, as well as historic, data about wages and working conditions for symphony orchestras affiliated to the players conferences are collected and made available for ad hoc industry analysis.

It’s Back to Basics to Maintain Our Rights as Workers

July 23, 2018

During a recent AFM local officer training session, in the question session at the end of my presentation on “right to work” laws, a new officer raised her hand and stated: “It looks like we have to get back to basics.” Not coincidentally, this is also the current strategy that many unions, including the AFM, have adopted.

Partnering with Our Communities

July 20, 2018

Being accessible and vital partners in our communities is key to the success of our International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) orchestras.

Symphonic Services Division Making Connections on Stage and Beyond

July 4, 2018

Welcome to the 2018 Symphonic Services Division (SSD) special edition of the International Musician! In this issue we focus attention on a range of musician-led initiatives to connect musicians with their communities in ways that yield benefits for all involved.

Preparation for Bargaining Is Continuous

July 2, 2018

Preparation for negotiating your collective bargaining agreement no longer begins six months in advance of your agreement’s expiration, nor does it end with tentative agreement on its successor. Much of this preparation occurs throughout the term of the agreement. Using the time between rounds of active bargaining to choose effective representatives, build important relationships, gather information, and exploit resources is now an essential part of preparation for bargaining.

The Role of the Orchestra Committee Under the Integrated Media Agreement

July 2, 2018

You have just been elected to the orchestra committee. Congratulations! Perhaps this is your first time serving on the committee and you are not yet sure of your responsibilities. You probably suspect that there will be issues the committee regularly deals with related to the enforcement of the local contract, but what you may not know is that the orchestra committee has an essential role in the workings of the AFM Symphony Opera Ballet Integrated Media Agreement (IMA). 

ROPA’s 34th Annual Conference: Working with Other Player Conferences and the AFM

July 2, 2018

The Regional Orchestra Players’ Association will hold its 34th annual conference in Portland, Oregon, July 31-August 2. The conference will be held at University Place Hotel & Conference Center, on the campus of Portland State University. Our conference will feature presentations on a variety of subjects of interest to our members, including hearing wellness, sexual harassment, performance anxiety, and diversity and inclusiveness in our orchestras, opera, and ballet companies.

What to Expect If You Are Elected to the Orchestra Committee

July 2, 2018

The best experiences I have as an AFM negotiator are getting to meet and work with the musicians who are part of their organization’s orchestra committee.