The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), a trade body for more than 300 UK music labels, has launched a Copyright Protection Portal that lets rights holders and artists track and report illegal copies of their music. Users upload their songs into BPI’s bespoke crawlers, which provides analysis on tunes that are being pirated and where, as well as information about infringing links that have already been removed. BPI partnered with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) to create the bespoke program. BPI claims to have removed nearly 145 million illegal links to music from Google and carried out 465 physical investigations, resulting in seizures of more than 13 million tracks in 2014.
Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.