Tag Archives: work

A while back I had an opportunity to speak to students at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, about the business of music. It was an interesting experience. The questions were fast and furious. The energy and enthusiasm were contagious. Many of the students weren’t aware of the American Federation of Musicians and the benefits of being a member of the AFM going forward into a career in music.

The Crane Library not only features issues of the International Musician, but has many books about the AFM as well, and extensive reading material on careers in music. However, a lot of today’s college students don’t know the AFM exists. Being a member is an opportunity to be a part of something big. It’s an opportunity for networking, career advancement, pension, and a decent wage. College students who are going out into the world of music want to make a good living. They need guidance and support. Many aren’t aware of the benefits of a union contract. It can mean getting paid and paid fairly. It means not playing for free, for low pay, or for anything but a fair wage. For professional musicians, playing music is a living, not a hobby.

In AFM Organizing & Education Division Director Michael Manley’s IM article last month, he said “no one is impressed by underpaid work.” No one is impressed when you work for substandard wages, and working for “pay to play” or “exposure” does not lead to working with the influential first-call musicians, agents, promoters, and people with whom you hope to share the stage as your career develops.

You must know your worth, whether it is Broadway, symphonic, freelancing, recording, clubs, or onstage. Sometimes musicians need to know when to say “no.” AFM members are professionals. Playing music is how they make their living. Getting a living wage is paramount when you are a member of the AFM.

The International Musician will be at this year’s NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. Music retailers, manufacturers, industry veterans, and music legends will be there, as well as some AFM officers. Music colleges from all over the country will be sending some of their students. Many of the educational sessions will talk about the benefits of the AFM. There is a wide range of opportunities in today’s music industry for music school graduates. The future of the AFM is with the young musicians of today. We have to look ahead.

If you’re a college student picking up this publication in your college library, it might be time to look into joining the AFM (if you’re not already a member.) Many of the locals offer a student membership. This is a great time to be a member!

International Musician, Recent News

Eminem Wins $600,000 in New Zealand Copyright Case

November 9, 2017 IM

In a case hugely significant for global copyright infringements, New Zealand’s high court ruled that their National party infringed on Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself.” The rapper’s publisher was awarded NZ $600,000 (about $414,000 US). In September 2014 they used a version on the tune, a track titled “Eminem Esque,” in an election campaign advertisement. The court’s ruling stated that “Eminem Esque” had substantially copied “Lose Yourself” and that there were minimal differences between the works. The National party advertisement in question was played 186 times over an 11-day period of time.

“This is a warning to soundalike music producers and their clients everywhere,” says Adam Simpson, director of Simpsons solicitors, which acted for Eminem’s music company. Eminem was never approached for permission to use his work.

Wage Gap Growing for Black Workers

September 14, 2017 IM

According to Federal Reserve research, the wage gap for black workers has increased over the past 35-plus years. In 1979, the average black man in America earned 80% as much as the average white man. By 2016, that shortfall had worsened to 70%. The trend holds even when differences in age, education, job type, and geography are taken into account. The authors of the report believe that the pay gap could ultimately be the result of other harder to measure factors like discrimination and school quality difference.

Executive Board Members, Officer Columns

LAANE: New US Film Scoring Policies and Incentive Rules Are Key to More Work

February 25, 2015 IM

by Marc Sazer, RMA President and Member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA)

As AFM President Ray Hair has reported, the American Federation of Musicians recently concluded negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for our collective bargaining agreements covering theatrical motion pictures and television film. We are relieved to have gotten past the negotiating process, and can now set our sights on a top priority for affected musicians: employment. As we have reported previously, the AFM has relatively far fewer signatory producers than any other union in the film and TV industry, and the number of signatories has not grown for decades. This affects our whole union—our pension funds, our relationship with corporate media, and our position with sister media unions.

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