Officer Columns, Vice President from Canada

Alan Willaert – AFM Vice President from Canada

Canadian Office Prepares for Busy Season

May 13, 2019

As we enter the spring and summer seasons, the Canadian Office will be embroiled in a plethora of negotiations, both for successor and new agreements.

Married to the Band

April 15, 2019

In the absence of a written agreement, there is automatic equal ownership of the assets, equal distribution of income, joint and several liability, and the duties and responsibilities are not apportioned. Quite literally, you are married to the band.

Changes at the Musicians’ Pension Fund of Canada/CBC Agreement Update

March 1, 2019

I have been advised that long-time employer trustee and chair of the Musicians’ Pension Fund of Canada, Stanley J. Shortt, has retired from the board of trustees for personal reasons.

Streaming Leads to Slim Profits

February 22, 2019

As discussed last month, album sales have dropped dramatically as consumption has moved decisively toward streaming as the preferred platform. Recent information available online through Digitalmusicnews.com paints a different picture in terms of how artists can expect to benefit from various streaming services.

Maximize Your Income from Recordings

January 10, 2019

I am pleased to report that the General Agreement for Commercial Announcements (Canada) has been ratified. While there have been some delays in editing, I expect printing and distribution to take place shortly.

Is the Album Doomed?

December 1, 2018

According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), album sales in the US for the first half of 2018 (including downloads, CDs, and vinyl) were down 25.8%, compared to a year earlier.

The Value of AFM Membership Is Realized Through Proper Contracts

November 19, 2018

The shocking thing for me is discovering that these members are unaware of benefits they should have been receiving for years, such as payments for new use of their recordings, special payments, and pension statements laden with employer contributions. After a considerable number of recordings and a substantial amount of national success, how can this be? In a word: contracts.

Canadian Federation of Musicians Bargaining Roundup

October 10, 2018

The summer and fall of this year have shaped up to be negotiation-heavy. While exhausting, we see this as an opportunity to secure better wages and benefits for our members who work under those agreements.

Union Contracts Strengthen Our Union in the Digital World

September 10, 2018

Working off-contract creates the kind of divisiveness employers look for to unravel union strength. Only by insisting that everything you do is on an AFM contract, can we hope to prevent further erosion.

Copyright Reform: Why Bother?

July 24, 2018

On May 29, I appeared before the Heritage Committee and, on June 5, before the Committee on Industry, Science, and Technology, all part of the statutory review of Canada’s Copyright Act. Why is this important, and how does it affect you, our members?