Gene Wilder publicity photo, 1970 (public domain)
It’s never easy to say goodbye to a friend. Gene Wilder was a friend to many the world over, who were familiar with his zany genius starring in such classic films as The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and so many more.
He too was a friend to the Los Angeles music scoring community, whose members created the music to a majority of his most beloved films. Continue reading
Going over 30 years strong, nonprofit music outreach group Saturday Night Bath continues to deliver music therapy to those who need it most, from at-risk youth to senior citizens and the greater community.
Each year, Saturday Night Bath visits an average of 20 continuation high schools and correctional facilities. To date they have presented nearly 600 interactive concerts at local juvenile halls, elementary, middle and continuation high schools, and probation camps throughout the state, connecting directly with 37,000 young people. Through this outreach SNB is able to provide vital hands-on music therapy, and in recent years have given preference to pregnant teen sites. Continue reading
One of the biggest challenges facing musicians is generating income. Although sales of recorded music have dropped significantly, there are many new sources of income available to musicians.
Our friends at Bandzoogle have put together a free eBook called “23 Ways Musicians Can Make Money” to help musicians and bands find ways to generate more money for their careers. Continue reading
For his forthcoming album, hip hop artist Kid Cudi went with the very best musicians: members of AFM Local 47! Continue reading
This month, ProMusicDB took a big step on behalf of musicians everywhere and filed the platform’s technical specifications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which describe how ProMusicDB can preserve, protect, and authenticate the digital identity of music creators and musical works in the digital realm.
These technical tasks are accomplished in the form of an artist-contributed, non-profit music credits database and digital archive, to be created by musical artist contribution for the public good, forever. Continue reading
UPDATE 8/4/2016: Today, UFCW reports that the union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, pending ratification by their membership. Congratulations to members of UFCW and their leadership on this new agreement, and thank you to our members who turned out in support of our sisters and brothers! Standing together, we win. Sign up for Local 47 Action Alerts @ bit.ly/L47actionalerts
On Aug 2, 2016, hundreds of union members marched & rallied in support of Vons, Albertsons & Ralphs workers fighting to #MakeEndsMeet. Continue reading
Workers and supporters of the Los Angeles Black Worker Center and former members and family of the historical L.A. musicians union Local 767 join together at the BlackMusic, BlackWork kickoff fundraising event, which took place at the Vision Theatre in Liemert Park July 21. (Photo: Linda A. Rapka)
The richness of Los Angeles comprises stories that move the mind, soul, and conviction. One of these stories is the unsung bravery and artistry of early Central Avenue musicians whose work transformed L.A.’s music industry forever.
BlackMusic, BlackWork, an upcoming historical exhibit of the Los Angeles Black musicians union Local 767, aims to share dynamic history of organizing in the arts that spans the founding of the city’s Black musicians union in the 1920s to the contemporary struggles of working musicians who understand the transformative power of art and culture.
Artifacts from the historical Los Angeles Black musicians union Local 767 from the 1920s through the 1950s.
In a major kickoff event to raise funds for this historic exhibition set to debut in February 2017 during Black History Month, AFM Local 47, the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, UCLA Labor Center, and the City of Los Angeles hosted the Jam Session for Justice in the Arts Fundraiser at the Vision Theatre in Liemert Park on July 21.
Continue reading
Congratulations to the following Los Angeles Local 47 & AFM members who received 2016 Annual Emmy Awards nominations, and to all of the talented L.A. musicians who performed on over FIFTY of this year’s nominated series, commercials & TV specials! Winners will be announced Sunday, Sept. 18, 4 p.m. (PT) on ABC. Continue reading
As an AFM member, you shape your future through participation in the decision-making process at local and national levels. When you work under AFM contracts, employers make contributions toward your retirement fund. When you meet eligible earnings thresholds, you and your dependents have access to health and life insurance. Continue reading
by Gordon Grayson, EMD Administrator
Every Monday the Local sends a stack of automatically generated letters to all sorts of non-member musicians from all sorts of places for all sorts of engagements. These Taft-Hartley Musician Notifications refer to multitudes of musical employment, but all have one particular thing in common: my signature. The letters are something of a blunt tool, meant to apply to all manner of varied circumstances of employment that today’s musical workplace presents, but they most assuredly are intended to inform rather than offend. They do seemingly never cease to generate curiosity and/or concern among their recipients, who inevitably call the phone number at the bottom to discuss – also mine. Sometimes once a day, sometimes five, I have the opportunity to wax philosophical on the subtle intricacies of congressional legislation as it relates to collective bargaining, labor and union employment… Taft-Brother-Truckin’-Hartley, baby! Continue reading