MPTF Invites Musicians to Amplify Strengths with Cultural Events

March 1, 2026

Greg Linn  -  Trustee, Music Performance Trust Fund

As we approach the close of my first fiscal year as a trustee of the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), I have been struck by the consistency of purpose that defines this organization. We provide annual funding allocations that support local union members to offer their communities cosponsored, admission-free musical events, and we are also able to provide 100% support for unions to celebrate vital contributions, achievements, and struggles in history and society during key times of the year. Three of those fully-funded initiatives stand out as meaningful examples of that work.

Jazz Appreciation Month

Looking ahead to April, Jazz Appreciation Month remains one of our most visible initiatives. Hundreds of admission-free jazz performances will once again be presented throughout the United States and Canada. In 2025, nearly 5,000 professional musicians in 78 markets across North America performed for appreciative audiences from Honolulu to Saskatoon to New Orleans and beyond. Events were held in parks, libraries, schools, art galleries, assisted living residences, community centers, churches, and other venues where communities gather. Sixty-six livestreamed events were available on the MPTF Facebook page to anyone in the United States and Canada. This popular program is organized locally, fully funded through MPTF support, open to the public, and advertised through our multiyear partnership with www.AllAboutJazz.com and JazzNearYou.com.

Some events to look out for are:

French Quarter Festival, Local 174-496 (New Orleans, LA)—A three-day festival in New Orleans with over 20 stages showcasing every genre of local music, from traditional jazz to brass bands and zydeco. Known as the city’s “favorite festival,” this event attracts visitors from around the world to the iconic French Quarter.

International Jazz Day, Local 10-208 (Chicago, IL)—This citywide celebration includes weeks of programming, culminating in a major concert on April 30 at the Lyric Opera House.

Clifford Brown Concerts, Local 21 (Wilmington, DE)—An eight concert series focusing on the music of jazz trumpet great Clifford Brown, who hailed from Wilmington, Delaware. These concerts highlight the rich local jazz tradition as well as the importance of live music and the role that the AFM has in promoting it.

Black History Month

Black History Month programming each February has remained a steady priority. Since developing this program in 2024, over 700 performances have been organized by AFM locals. This initiative brings professional musicians into schools, community centers, libraries, and public spaces to honor the legacy and ongoing influence of Black musical artistry.

Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month programming continues to be an opportunity for us to engage in local communities. These events reflect the depth and diversity of AFM membership and the communities they serve. One way to stay up to date with these upcoming March performances is by tuning in to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/the.mptf). Listen to live music from wherever you are.

Each of these initiatives reflects a shared structure: recording industry funding, AFM local organization, professional musicians being fairly compensated, and communities welcoming the entertainment, which is provided to them free of charge.

The strength of MPTF has always been in the community collaboration that our funding can stimulate. These initiatives are a reminder that when funding, organization, and musicianship align, the result is cultural impact that extends far beyond a single performance.

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