President's Message

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.

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 […]