Category Archives: All News
Tell Congress: Extend Pandemic Relief!
Pandemic unemployment benefits are about to expire!
The supplemental $600 unemployment benefit many musicians have relied on for the past 3 months will end before August, reducing the max unemployment benefit in California from $1,050 to $450/week. In addition, the unemployment benefits extended to independent contractors will also expire at the end of this month.
Please send a letter from your family to the U.S. Senate today. Tell them how the crisis has impacted your ability to work, and why extending these benefits is so important.
Once you’ve sent your letter, please check out Local 47’s COVID19 resources page for more information about assistance available to musicians.
Book Review: ‘Adventures in Arranging’ by Dr. Richard Niles
Composer/arranger/producer, AFM Local 47 member Dr. Richard Niles has had musical adventures with some of the world’s most successful and acclaimed artists from Paul McCartney to Pat Metheny, James Brown to Randy Brecker, Tina Turner to Michael McDonald, Ray Charles to the Pet Shop Boys. Continue reading
Next General Membership Meeting: July 27, 2020
Based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the California Governor’s Office prohibiting group gatherings during the COVID-19 crisis, we will be holding our next General Membership Meeting on July 27, 2020, electronically via Zoom.
This meeting is open to all Local 47 members in good standing. Registration is required. Once your membership is verified, you will receive an email link with the virtual access code. Register at afm47.org/gmm.
New to Zoom? Read our Step-by Step User Guide here.
On the agenda (subject to change):
• Officer Reports
• Phase 2 Feasibility Report
• Old and New Business
Open to all members in good standing.
Please review meeting policies here.
July 2020 Overture Online: Finding a New Rhythm
Inside This Issue:
Finding a New Rhythm
What will returning to work look like for musicians amid COVID-19?
Local 47 Updates
Next General Membership Meeting July 27 via Zoom;
Nominating petitions for General Election available August 1st
Member Spotlight
Clayton Haslop
and more!
Download the FREE App:
Overture Online is optimized for reading via smartphone or tablet. For those without access to a smart device, issues may be viewed on a web browser here. Local 47 members may download archived pdf versions from the members section at afm47.org.
Correction re: 2020 Semi-Annual Membership Dues Invoice
Dear Members:
The printed Membership Dues invoices mailed out earlier this month contained a misprint regarding the timeline of suspensions for non-payment and erroneously stated the date was June 30, 2020, when in fact it is September 30, 2020. Please find the full corrected notice below:
Semi-Annual Membership Dues are due July 1st and must be received by September 30 (three-month grace period) to avoid suspension. If not paid by this date, a $75 reinstatement fee will be assessed. Both dues and reinstatement fee must be paid by December 31 to avoid expulsion.
We regret the error and apologize for any confusion.
If you have already made a payment, thank you for your continued AFM Local 47 Membership! If you have not yet renewed, you may log in to your member account online here. You may also contact our offices at 323.993.3116 or email membership@afm47.org.
Moratorium on 2020 Membership Dues Extended
While we have been working hard to ensure musicians get back to work while protecting everyone’s health and safety, we understand that the vast majority of our members remain unemployed due to the global pandemic.
Today the Local 47 Executive Board voted to extend the moratorium on suspensions and expulsions for delinquent membership dues for an additional 60 days. Your Membership Dues for 2020 are now due by July 31. Continue reading
Final Note: David Johnson
Former Life Member. Percussion
10/1/1948 – 6/7/2020
David Johnson, award-winning musician, 71, died of natural causes on June 7, 2020, two years after retiring to his childhood home in Port Angeles, Washington, to enjoy the beauty and peace of the Pacific Northwest. David enjoyed an accomplished musical career, including winning a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium in 2015 as a member of the PARTCH Ensemble. He also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, toured with the late pianist Roger Williams, and taught at the California Institute of the Arts for 26 years. His music both brought great joy both to David and to his audiences, and he inspired generations of young musicians as a beloved and respected professor of percussive arts. Continue reading
Remote Recording Leader Pay
In consideration of the governmental orders permitting the resumption of in-person recordings, the American Federation of Musicians announced that effective June 22, 2020, its temporary waiving of leader scale for remote recording under the Sound Recording Labor Agreement, the Basic Theatrical Motion Picture Agreement and Basic Television Motion Picture Agreement is hereby lifted and all contract terms shall resume as usual.
If you are called for a remote recording session, you should expect to be paid leader pay, which means that you will be paid double scale for your work. Continue reading
Non-Union Engagement Alert: ‘Soundtrack of Our Lives’
AFM members are advised that “Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Celebration for the Film and TV Music Community” to be presented by MusiCares on Thursday, June 25, 2020 is a non-union engagement, with no protections for fair wages, health & welfare, pension, or other benefits that come with union contracts.
The AFM has been in discussions with management to try and secure an appropriate agreement. Unfortunately they have not agreed to sign a union contract. We recommend that AFM members not participate until such a contract is in place.
If you are contacted to participate in this concert, please alert the President’s Office at 323.993.3181 or email pres_sec@afm47.org. We want to make sure you are paid correctly and receive the proper benefits. Musicians standing together have the power.