Executive Board Members, Officer Columns

Are You Using the AFM Joint Venture Agreement to Protect your Intellectual Property?

July 2, 2018

The AFM Joint Venture Agreement is designed for self-contained bands who want to document their recordings and business relationship with a no-cost contract that protects everyone involved.

The MPTF Advantage: Employment, Audience Building, Recognition

June 5, 2018

The Federation’s recently concluded Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) has brought new life to both the Sound Recording Special Payments Fund (SPF) and the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), which are important residual components of that agreement. As music consumption transitioned to streaming, both funds experienced declining revenue due to the precipitous drop in royalties from physical recorded product (CDs, etc.) and digital downloads, which had been the sole sources of revenue for the funds. 

Advocacy and Pension Reform Take Precedence in Washington, DC

April 16, 2018

As AFM members are confronted with the uncertainties of both tax and pension reform, AFM President Ray Hair has refocused the work of the union’s Office of Government Relations to maximize its visibility and effectiveness relating to issues that impact our jobs and lives.

Community Engagement Is Essential to Our Mission

April 2, 2018

In these complex times, it is more important than ever for all musicians and concerned citizens to remain engaged in our communities—and if possible, take things up a notch.

It’s Time for Solidarity

January 17, 2018

So, now is a time for great discipline. We need to trust what we know and not allow outside influences to distract us. We know that working together we have strength and can build. It’s a time for solidarity.

Nightlife Office and Advisory Committee

October 2, 2017

If this office is to be impactful, and if other municipalities are to follow New York City’s example, the Nightlife Office must work with locally elected community leaders and administration to develop regulatory mechanisms that empower the director to protect performers who are otherwise unsupported and unprotected.

Music Makes the World Smaller

October 2, 2017

Music brings people together under many different circumstances. It is still the common thread in the complex fabric of life in the 21st century. One way that I describe this phenomenon is to say that music makes the world smaller.

Building a Strong Union

August 14, 2017

Recently in Los Angeles, the California State Labor Federation, along with state labor federations from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, held a conference to address what is deemed to be the inevitable implementation of national “right to work” legislation by the current US Congress. Several hundred union leaders gathered to discuss best practices for unions already facing right to work. Invaluable information was distributed to those in attendance.

Light Summer Reading: A Real-Life Fairytale

July 24, 2017

Once upon a time there was a musicians’ local of the AFM. They didn’t really know much about the ways of the nonmusician or “civilian” world. The local did its best to assist member musicians. They were generally happy in their musician world, talking about music and instruments, telling and listening to stories about their lives and gigs, and solving problems in the symphonic workplace. But they weren’t satisfied. Musicians were still struggling to find work and they could tell the civilians were being deprived of the amazing art form that had been developed and passed along through generations.

Traveling Engagements—Who Plays and Who Gets Paid?

June 30, 2017

However, there seems to be an issue as to which musicians are to be employed for this work and what is the correct scale for these traveling engagements