Established in 1948, the Music Performance Fund (“MPTF”) has been vital to “making music a part of every child’s life experience.” Below are some of the ways MPTF touches the lives of kids here in the LA area, as told by music organizations in their own words.

In the spirit of Sharing September, I’d like to share with you how I try to approach each week in service to you, our members and our musical community.

There are so many different areas of endeavor that our Local 47 is engaged with and responsible for that keeping track and keeping up, isn’t always easy. We administer (and bargain) over 50 local collective bargaining agreements, responsible for administering and participating in all of our major and minor media agreements, keep up and participate in labor movement, political and legislative worlds, supervise staff and administer the business of Local 47, run the brick and mortar building – it’s a lot.

If you’ve spent any time on the “gig circuit” the endless rotation of clubs, weddings, corporate events, and session work you know the reality. We piece together a living from dozens of different sources, often juggling more hats than a stagehand on opening night. It’s a hustle that defines the Los Angeles music scene. But while the hustle is real, the benefits shouldn’t be a pipe dream.

Do you remember your first music teacher or your first music classes in school? I certainly do!

My middle school band director sat in his office week after week and smoked cigarettes while us students played scales, creating musical mayhem. Fortunately there was more structure in high school and I was lucky to play in orchestra, wind ensemble and jazz band. I will never forget playing a Hayden symphony on the school string bass that was made out of aluminum (or some type of metal). Somehow, those experiences launched me into a joyful career as a professional musician.

A Local 47 Member Profile

Sheila Cecilia Escovedo, known as Sheila E., rose to prominence in the 1980s with her single, “The Glamorous Life,” and  her work with Prince. Often referred to as the “Queen of Percussion,” Sheila E. is regarded as one of the greatest percussionists of our time, playing a variety of styles from funk to Latin pop to jazz.

New AFM Local 47 member Samson Trinh is a music copyist, composer, and orchestrator based in Los Angeles, specializing in music for film, television, recordings, and live performance. Film and TV music credits include The Disinvited, Audience Award winner for Best Feature at Dances With Films (Los Angeles), as well as the holiday films A Date by Christmas Eve and A Christmas Arrangement, which continue to air internationally on major networks and streaming platforms.

Samson shared his thoughts on becoming a Local 47 member.

Hi, I’m Xochitl Rodriguez, your friendly neighborhood Business Rep.!  I cover and help enforce the AFM’s Theatrical Motion Picture and Television Film Agreements for Local 47.  Part of my job includes ensuring that your wage checks get to you on time.  And while I do have control over the wage checks that get mailed to us at the Local once we receive them and we do our absolute best to ensure these go right back in the mail to you as quickly as possible, there is a lot I don’t have control over.  This includes the timing of when we receive those checks and whether they’ve come to us late. 

In 1894, Labor Day became a federal holiday after the historic and violent Pullman Strike. Since then, millions of Americans every year use that day to remember the hard-fought union wins that workers enjoy today, such as overtime, pension, safety on the job, and more.

On August 4^th, 2026, at 12:14PM the music paused for just a moment as Terry William Trotter graduated to the big band in the sky.

It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Terry William Trotter, an extraordinary pianist, composer, arranger, educator, and beloved family man, who passed away peacefully at the age of 85.