Officer Columns

Exposure, Promotion, and Protection

February 1, 2016

Exposure, Promotion, and Protection — The empty promise of “exposure” is often used to convince musicians and artists to give away what they spent a lifetime creating.

International Musician Looking Forward to Changes and Growth

February 1, 2016

International Musician Looking Forward to Changes and Growth —

2015 Office of Government Relations Review and Look Ahead for 2016

January 1, 2016

2015 Office of Government Relations Review and Look Ahead for 2016 — After years of negotiating and lobbying, the AFM, in partnership with the airline carry-on coalition, marked the implementation of a final rule from the Department of Transportation regarding musical instruments as carry-on and checked baggage.

«Si j’exige un contrat, je vais perdre mon engagement. » Vraiment?

January 1, 2016

«Si j’exige un contrat, je vais perdre mon engagement. » Vraiment? — « Sans contrat », « non Guilde » ou « au noir » sont autant de synonymes du travail que les membres choisissent – ou se laissent convaincre – de faire sans remplir et soumettre la documentation se rapportant à l’une ou l’autre des ententes de l’AFM ou aux tarifs de leur section locale.

If You Ask for a Contract, Will You Lose the Gig?

January 1, 2016

If You Ask for a Contract, Will You Lose the Gig? — The AFM provides legally-tested contracts and report forms for use by members for all types of musical engagements to protect the work they do and the products they create from capricious misuse and unauthorized additional uses.

What Does the Friedrichs Case Really Mean for Working Americans?

January 1, 2016

What Does the Friedrichs Case Really Mean for Working Americans? — Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association (CTA) goes to the heart of public sector workers’ ability to unionize and lobby for standards that protect every American.

Chief Operating Officer Mancini Retires

January 1, 2016

Chief Operating Officer Mancini Retires — Lew Mancini, whose tenure with the Federation began in 1971 as a supervisor in the Booking Agent Department, and who eventually became our highest-ranking employee as chief operating officer (COO), retired from service effective December 31, 2015.

Eight Social Media Channels Important for Musicians

January 1, 2016

Eight Social Media Channels Important for Musicians — Here are eight important sites you need to be aware of (if you are not already) as a professional musician.

Accord de retenue à la source aux États-Unis

December 14, 2015

Accord de retenue à la source aux États-Unis — Si vous êtes un artiste étranger non résident (en d’autres mots, si vous n’êtes pas citoyen américain) et que vous vous produisez aux États-Unis, vous êtes assujetti à une retenue de 30 % de votre revenu brut aux fins d’impôt. Cette exigence ne s’applique pas à tous (des entreprises et organismes sans but lucratif répondant à des critères précis y échappent, et certaines conventions fiscales prévoient des exonérations), mais la plupart des artistes ont intérêt à conclure une entente de retenue à la source appelée « central withholding agreement » (CWA), avec l’Internal Revenue Service (IRS) afin de réduire le montant de la retenue.

Where There’s a Way, There’s a Will

December 1, 2015

Where There’s a Way, There’s a Will — It is always a good idea to release the events of the day. Preparing for and awaking to a fresh outlook and a positive perspective can be a major transformation for the new day. Never forget some of the changes we face are nothing more than just the cycles of life. Our lives should be in a constant state of rejuvenation.