Officer Columns

MPTF Awards 125 Music Family Scholarships

December 1, 2020

We are all missing live music dearly—and greatly missing those who perform it. Part of the Music Performance Trust Fund’s (MPTF) mission statement reads that we are to “contribute to the public’s knowledge and appreciation of music.” So in these days when it has become a great challenge to provide the MPTF’s resources for professional musicians […]

Will the Pandemic Cause a Resurgence in Unionism? Solidarity is Key

November 2, 2020

With the advent of COVID-19 and its economic effects, some believe that a union resurgence is underway.

Murder, They Wrote

November 1, 2020

français I have previously articulated that today’s society is blissfully oblivious of how a five-day week, an eight-hour working day, holidays, maternity leave, healthcare, and the simple right to organize (along with many other benefits) transpired. The perceived value of these has become minimized, and the desire to maintain the required solidarity has been lost, […]

State of Touring Theatrical Productions Still Uncertain, But Digital Options Increasing

November 1, 2020

On March 11, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The following day, the governor of New York State banned the gathering of groups larger than 500 people after 5 p.m. each night, effectively shutting down all of Broadway. On March 20, the AFM and the Broadway League came to a settlement agreement […]

Solidarity During Uncertainty is Essential

November 1, 2020

The strength of the AFM and our locals depends on the interest and solidarity of our members. I am often asked, “What does our union do for me?” During this pandemic, this question becomes even more real. We have had to endure unemployment, insecurity, and isolation. Our ability to interact musically with each other has […]

Time to Restore the US as a Welcoming Nation

November 1, 2020

Recently, AFL-CIO transition documents (currently in draft form) contain numerous recommendations for the next US administration, one of which includes a recommendation to restore our identity as a welcoming nation.

Report on the Twenty-Fifth Annual TMA Conference

November 1, 2020

Greetings from the Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) international headquarters, located in north central Massachusetts! Full disclosure: I’m sitting at my kitchen table, reflecting on our 25th annual TMA conference, which took place this past August. Twenty-five years of doing anything is a milestone, and it would be dishonest of me to write I was not […]

Coping with Fear Through Collective Action

October 1, 2020

Looking ahead in this pandemic-driven time of political and economic uncertainty, professional musicians, whether working in the gig economy as freelancers or employed under orchestral or theatrical collective bargaining agreements, are coping with the fear being used to exploit us by employers and by politicians on the local, regional, and federal levels. Fear is the […]

Private Copying – An Important Source of Revenue for Musicians

October 1, 2020

Revisions to Canada’s Copyright Act are imminent, and indications are that many of the recommendations submitted by the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM), perhaps most, have a very good chance of making it into legislation. Contained within our submission was expansion of the private copying regime, administered by the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC), in […]

Resources for Union Members Experiencing Financial Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic

October 1, 2020

As the already lengthy pandemic continues, we are seeing governmental support come to an end, putting increased financial stress on musicians who are out of work. The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO has put together a resource list that may be helpful to you based on your individual situation. Health Insurance (Medicaid) and ACA Health […]