Studios’ refusal to provide New Media residuals threatens livelihood of musicians
LOS ANGELES, CA (March 13, 2019) — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians, AFL-CIO, held a press conference calling on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers to engage in fair contract negotiations and protect the future careers of professional musicians as the industry shifts to streaming and online distribution (aka “new media”). Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (January 14, 2019) — American Federation of Musicians Local 47 proudly stands with the thousands of brave workers who are striking for our communities, our families and our children.
Members of the United Teachers Los Angeles union are taking a stand to be treated with dignity and respect. The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest in the country, yet our schools are painfully underfunded, understaffed, and overcrowded. Continue reading
Chris Pierce (left) and Siddhartha Khosla (front right) perform with Rickey Minor and his band at the Keeping the Score in California kickoff concert at Los Angeles City Hall Aug. 19, 2017, in support of music tax credits. [File photo/Linda A. Rapka/AFM Local 47]
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 5, 2018) — Musicians and the entertainment industry celebrate a major victory with the update to California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program that for the first time includes meaningful support for music-scoring jobs.
California has suffered an exodus of film and television music jobs for decades, and the state budget signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown gives the California Film Commission authority to create regulations that will have a significant impact in bringing these music jobs back home. In version 3.0 of the program, productions will now receive points based on how many music-scoring jobs will be created in California. These points don’t increase the incentive a production receives — they actually help a production qualify. Continue reading
Today’s disappointing Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME ruled in favor of a corporate interest power-grab over working Americans and their unions.
Wealthy special interest groups spent millions of dollars on this case with the express intent to diminish working people’s numbers in union representation. Breaking a precedent set over 40 years ago, public-sector workers who are not union members but are protected by a union contract are now told they do not have to pay their fair share. The goal was clear: to undercut unions’ abilities to effectively advocate and negotiate on behalf of their members, weaken their position at the bargaining table, and undermine all of organized labor — all at the expense of working people. Continue reading
Audience members outside of “The Late Late Show With James Corden” taping at CBS Television Studios Dec. 6, 2017, support TV musicians and call on the networks to #RespectTheBand.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2017 – Musicians working on late-night, award, and other live television shows are calling on the networks to pay band members when they appear on YouTube and network websites.
“Other performers are all paid when Jimmy Kimmel Live! streams on YouTube or other online outlets, yet musicians are paid nothing. Musicians just want to be compensated for our likeness and our music,” said Cleto Escobedo III, Musical Director of Cleto and the Cletones. “I love Jimmy, the producers, and everyone we work with. We just need to make sure the networks treat us and ALL of our colleagues fairly.” Continue reading
Musicians of the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal Aug. 16, 2016.
LOS ANGELES (December 1, 2017) — Musicians of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS orchestras voted today by an overwhelming majority to authorize a strike, potentially halting concerts during the popular holiday season and into the New Year.
Musicians have been without a contract since September of 2015, when their last agreement expired. Ten years ago, when the orchestra faced financial uncertainty, the musicians did everything possible to ensure the orchestra’s survival: absorbing cost-saving cuts, forgoing raises for years, even playing without compensation. At the time, the Pasadena Symphony Association promised musicians that these cuts would be temporary. Current management has disavowed those commitments. Now, a decade after the crisis, Pasadena Symphony musicians have yet to reach an agreement that restores their generous concessions. Continue reading
Free concert Saturday at LA City Hall to promote AB 1300 to feature Rickey Minor (‘American Idol,’ ‘The Tonight Show’), composer Siddhartha Khosla (‘This Is Us’), surprise musical guests
LOS ANGELES, CA (August 16, 2017) — Los Angeles film and television musicians will perform a free concert at City Hall on Saturday, Aug. 19 to raise awareness of AB 1300, the Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill aimed at bringing back more of the entertainment industry’s scoring and composing work to California.
As momentum for the bill builds, Randy Newman is the latest high-profile musician to back the legislation. “The studio musicians here in Los Angeles are one of the greatest resources this city has,” said the legendary singer-songwriter and composer. Continue reading
August 11, 2017 – The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association (LA Phil) and American Federation of Musicians Local 47, AFL-CIO, today jointly announced agreement on a new five-year labor contract, effective September 18. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Musicians Rickey Minor (‘American Idol,’ Grammys), Siddhartha Khosla (‘This Is Us’) and special guests to perform live in support of Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill AB 1300
Rickey Minor
LOS ANGELES, CA (August 3, 2017) — Los Angeles film and television musicians will perform a free concert at City Hall on Saturday, Aug. 19 to raise awareness of AB 1300, the Music Scoring Tax Credit Bill aimed at bringing more of this work to California.
Keeping the Score in California, a free concert and media event sponsored by the American Federation of Musicians Local 47, will feature live performances by Emmy-nominated music director Rickey Minor (“American Idol,” Grammy Awards, Super Bowl Halftime Show); Siddhartha Khosla, composer for the hit TV series “This is Us” recently nominated for 11 Emmys; and special surprise musicians to be announced. Continue reading
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 20, 2017) — Today Healthy California launched first in a series of “Schoolhouse Rock!”-inspired music videos created by a Los Angeles musician in support of the Healthy California SB 562, a bill that will create a single-payer system that guarantees healthcare for all Californians.
Created by Los Angeles composer and lyricist Clifford J. Tasner, a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47, the retro-themed video titled “Middleman” points out the flaws of our broken healthcare system by taking aim at greedy health insurance companies responsible for the rising cost of medical care. SB 562 would create a “Medicare for All” system in that includes medical, dental, vision, reproductive, and mental health for all Californians. Continue reading
