President's Message

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra: Big Balls in Cowtown

December 1, 2015

Fast forward to Fort Worth, Texas, where this holiday season, musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) are working under an expired contract and battling the town honchos’ flatfooted attempts to impose unjustified concessions, made to compensate for inept management and to quench the thirst for additional rent and a bigger cut of ticket sales by their landlord, the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall.

A New Era for RMA Los Angeles

December 1, 2015

A New Era for RMA Los Angeles – With more than 700 members in an ever-changing industry, our board’s responsibilities are numerous. With the many disciplines working under our contracts, the needs and concerns of our members come from all angles.

News and Notes from the Secretary-Treasurer’s Desk

December 1, 2015

2016 AFM Budget – The AFM International Executive Board (IEB) held its third quarter board meeting in November. As per the AFM Bylaws, the third quarter is the budget meeting, and according to the Bylaws the IEB is required to have a balanced budget. The IEB approved a balanced budget for 2016.

New Hope for Labour and the Arts Under Canada’s Liberal Government

December 1, 2015

Labour and the Arts Under Canada’s Liberal Government — One of my duties as AFM Vice President from Canada is to sit as a Vice President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). In that capacity, I attend the executive committee meetings. At the last gathering, those in attendance were treated to a question and answer period with Canada’s new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

A Combination of Sun Tzu and Will Rogers

November 5, 2015

Needs to be said and I’m the one to say it! I remember the AFM Convention in 1983 very well. First, because it was when I first ran and became a member of the AFM International Executive Board (IEB), and secondly, because it’s when I first met my friend Ray Hair. You know when you […]

Public Television Contract Negotiations Have Begun

November 5, 2015

Fresh on the heels of last month’s opening round of Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) negotiations, the Federation has just finished the opening round of talks with the Public Television Industry toward a successor National Public Television (NPTV) Agreement. First negotiated in the early 1970’s, the existing agreement was reached in December 2002, and expired […]

Trans-Pacific Partnership—Harper’s Deal with the Devil

November 4, 2015

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has eclipsed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as being the new “gold standard” of global trade. And while it may take years to sign, ratify, and implement, the final agreement remains carefully under wraps. Once signed, the TPP will become the world’s largest economic trade agreement, encompassing more than […]

Be Careful What You Sign—They Don’t Care About You; They Want Your Song

October 5, 2015

Musicians want their music out there to be heard, everyone knows this, but be careful what you sign with companies because they want your song…not you.

Are You Getting the Most from Health Care Reform?

October 5, 2015

It’s been five years since Congress passed health care reform, but many people are still missing out on possible savings, like lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs, just because they don’t know about them.

Record Labels Return to the Table: Seeking Successor to Sound Recording Labor Agreement

October 5, 2015

As I write this column, preliminary caucus meetings have just concluded in preparation for the opening round of talks with major labels representing the sound recording industry toward a successor Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA).