Secretary-Treasurer

Check Out Your Health Insurance Choices on November 15!

November 1, 2014

On November 15, the second open enrollment period will begin, allowing you to enroll in health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you don’t have health insurance, this is the time to sign up; if you do have coverage, it’s important to re-evaluate your health care needs.

Relocation, Part Two: Temporarily Postponed, but Very Much Alive

November 1, 2014

As previously reported in this column in July, Secretary-Treasurer Sam Folio and I, as fully authorized by your International Executive Board (IEB), opted to negotiate an agreement to purchase an office condo located in the financial district of lower Manhattan to serve as the AFM’s new home. In my June column, I also provided a […]

Time to Be a Union

November 1, 2014

by Bruce Fife, AFM International Executive Board Member and President of Local 99 (Portland, OR) We are the union. It’s our union, and it works on a pretty simple premise that, when put into practice, can be used to create amazing outcomes. People try to make it more complicated than that, but the basis couldn’t be […]

The Underachieving Tariff 8 and Other Scary Stuff

November 1, 2014

As consumers of music shift toward the “all you can eat” digital streaming services as the preferred platform, that should create more revenue for musicians, right? Musicians don’t need to be signed to a major label to distribute their recordings, and that means more airplay/streams and therefore more earnings, correct?  In a word, no.

Need Health Insurance? Check Out the Working America Health Care Program

October 1, 2014

Did you know an unexpected trip to the hospital could cost you and your family nearly $2,000 a day? The hefty price tag does not even include prescription drugs or medical procedures, which easily can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. It’s no joke. Roughly 62% of all bankruptcies in the US are […]

The Too Much Information Age

October 1, 2014

The downside of the information age is that far too often there is just simply too much information. The constant barrage of images, data, and noise coming at us from every angle makes it an ongoing challenge to extract the meaningful from the trivial, but that is exactly why music, art, and creativity still matter.

Carry-on Talks with DOT: We Have Liftoff

October 1, 2014

By the time this column is published, the AFM and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) will have convened a second historic meeting at DOT headquarters in Washington, DC, to address the difficulties professional musicians face when traveling by air with musical instruments. Our initial meeting was convened in July by DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx […]

Canadian Update: Local 145 Trusteeship Ends

October 1, 2014

AFM Local 145 (Vancouver, BC) has been removed from trusteeship and control of the AFM according to a September 11 BC Supreme Court ruling. The trusteeship and controversy began in June 2013, when it was discovered that Local 145 had entered into an agreement with the owner of Vancouver Film Orchestra (VFO) in relative secrecy, […]

CFM Moves Forward with a Full Dance Card

September 2, 2014

One year into this term of office, we look back on a year of internal conflict and turmoil on the Canadian scene. While continuing to look for the best solutions for all concerned, there is much work to be done, especially in the area of negotiations.

Is It Time for a Coverage Check-Up?

September 2, 2014

When was the last time you looked at the fine details of your insurance policies to make sure you are getting adequate coverage, and not over-paying for that coverage? The US Small Business Administration recommends annual reviews of insurance policies. Below I have detailed some insurance policies designed for musicians and offered to AFM members.