Player Conferences, AI Litigation, and Contract Safeguards

September 1, 2026

Allistair Elliott  -  AFM Vice President from Canada

The Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) conference wrapped up last week in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Celebrating their 50th year, delegates from 21 orchestras across Canada met and shared orchestra reports. They also heard from Orchestras Canada Executive Director Katherine Carleton, the Musicians Pension Fund of Canada, and other guest speakers. Attendees took part in an interactive discussion with AFM Symphonic Services (SSD) Director Rochelle Skolnick and Field Negotiator Richard Sandals. Delegates met the newest member of our Canadian SSD staff, Chantal Brunette. As a French speaking bilingual negotiator, Brunette brings additional depth to our staff.

Having attended the Theater Musicians Association (TMA), Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA), Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM), and International Conference of Symphony Musicians (ICSOM) conferences, I want to express my thanks to the leadership and delegates of each. The inclusive hospitality, and opportunities to listen and share about working conditions, victories, and challenges, are vitally important to the health and wellness of our collective players associations. Most of all, thank you for taking time out of your summer to show up and speak up.

As reported in the July International Musician, a breach of contract lawsuit has been filed against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG). The suit alleges that the labels violated the Sound Recording Labor Agreement (SRLA) by failing to compensate session musicians after making lucrative artificial intelligence licensing deals. The legal action follows settlements the labels reached with AI music generators Suno and Udio. While those agreements allow the tech platforms to continue utilizing vast catalogs of recorded music for generative AI training, the AFM argues the labels pocketed the revenue, while completely bypassing the creators who played on the tracks.

The importance of using an AFM recording contract for all recorded music has never been more critical to the protection of your music. Even if you record a solo track as a guest artist on someone’s recording, you should use an AFM recording contract. In this specific instance, the Single Song Overdub Agreement would be the one to look at, although contracting under the SRLA would also be an option. Protecting your sound, compositions, and artistry to make sure you are credited, compensated, and can choose to provide or withhold consent for future use is just smart business practice.

Releasing your recording without such protection, into a world where machine learning is eating up whatever it can find and strengthening the technology with all that it inhales, could mean you are supporting the technology that may eventually replace your spot on the recording. As we fight these battles in negotiations, do your part to make sure you have the protection of an AFM contract. Please reference the EMSD articles in this issue, and always know staff is available to assist through your local. It just might make you more money someday. That’s what the union can do for you, but only if you do it for yourself too!

It is with sadness I share the August 1 passing on of Mark Johnson, former secretary-treasurer and president of Local 547 (Calgary, AB). Johnson joined the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 1978 as principal bass trombone and held that position for 24 seasons. I met him when I first joined the Executive Board of Calgary Musicians Association in the 1990s. Johnson led by example, always putting members first and served with the highest integrity. He also served as vice president of the Canadian Conference, and went on to represent orchestra musicians nationally, working as part of the AFM Canada staff from 2004 to 2006. Sincerest condolences to his wife Stephanie and daughters Katrina and Nicola.

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